I sympathize with the author: I'm Jewish, and read the Narnia books when I was a kid. I absolutely loved them, and read them all multiple times -- except for the last one, which I never understood, and which struck me as completely weird.
When I was 16, I stayed with friends of my parents while traveling. I saw a book analyzing Narnia, and it talked about CS Lewis as a Christian theologian. My response was: Wow, that's fascinating; I guess he managed to keep that out of the Narnia books, right?
But then I kept reading that book about CS Lewis, and it described how Narnia was all Christian, and how its symbolism, and characters, and language, were all about Christianity. I was absolutely shocked. How could I have missed it?
But I missed it because I was the wrong audience. The "dog whistles," as they're known in the political realm nowadays, failed to work for me, because I hadn't been raised to think in those terms.
By the way, I encouraged my kids to read Narnia I even read many of the books to them when they were younger. But I told them that the last book would be really weird, and that it reflects the author's Christian perspective. None of them got into the series as much as I did, so much less explaining had to happen -- but I did talk about it with them, and I think that they were almost as surprised as I was.
My experience mirrors yours almost exactly. I don't remember the story all that clearly any more (probably because I didn't end up reading a a work analyzing it, but I vaguely remember it being weird towards the end. When the movies came out and people were commenting how it was very heavily Christian, I was somewhat surprised, not having caught that when I read it while younger.
I'm not Jewish though. I was raised rather Agnostically, but relatives are Protestant, and I guess my Parents are? I've only been to Church three or four times for service, twice of those in Sunday school because I was young, and all because we were visiting relatives. Interestingly, it wasn't until I was 16 or 17 that I can recall asking my dad if he believed in God, and when he responded "probably", I was genuinely surprised. I had assumed he was Atheist, as I was and am. Religion was such a non-existent part of my upbringing that I didn't know my parents beliefs (I later found out my Mother used to teach Sunday school before I was born). I did go to a Protestant preschool, but when young that indoctrination wears off pretty quickly without reinforcement.
My own children occasionally ask me about God or Jesus (the younger ones went to a preschool based at a Methodist church because it's a good preschool). When asked a general question, I'll say "some people believe that" and explain a belief to the best of my ability. If asked my own opinion on it I'll tell them I don't believe, but it's up to them to make their own choice.
Don't feel bad, I was raised in a heavily evangelical Christian environment, and I read these books around grade 4 or so and I also didn't pick up on it until my parents told me later. And then it seemed so obvious.
My daughter (8) just read The Lion etc. and liked it. She is not familiar with the Bible, etc. (though she knows Greek & Norse mythology better than I do) so didn't pick up on it. I don't want to ruin it for her.
I grew up in a non-religious household. I loved the Narnia books as a fantasy, and completely missed the religious subtext. I think it shows the strength of the books ... they are more than just a simplistic allegory. (Except for the last book, as you say.)
When I was 16, I stayed with friends of my parents while traveling. I saw a book analyzing Narnia, and it talked about CS Lewis as a Christian theologian. My response was: Wow, that's fascinating; I guess he managed to keep that out of the Narnia books, right?
But then I kept reading that book about CS Lewis, and it described how Narnia was all Christian, and how its symbolism, and characters, and language, were all about Christianity. I was absolutely shocked. How could I have missed it?
But I missed it because I was the wrong audience. The "dog whistles," as they're known in the political realm nowadays, failed to work for me, because I hadn't been raised to think in those terms.
By the way, I encouraged my kids to read Narnia I even read many of the books to them when they were younger. But I told them that the last book would be really weird, and that it reflects the author's Christian perspective. None of them got into the series as much as I did, so much less explaining had to happen -- but I did talk about it with them, and I think that they were almost as surprised as I was.