What did the Inklings make of life on earth?

I've again looked up and read Richard Sturch's article, 'Common Themes
Among
Inklings', Charles Williams: A celebrations, ed. Brian Horne, 1995.
Thanks,
Richard!! (Get this book, all!)
My question in light of our sehnsucht discussion is, What did the Inklings
think of life, and life's aesthetic? You must know that for centuries the
church has been and still is struggling with this now- considering 'veil of
tears' teaching about this life, and preaching longing for death and
eternity in God's presence vs. the affirmation of the great aesthetic of
life. Noted, at least in my church experience, that we're hearing more and
more "For the beauty of this earth" praise and celebration.
Certainly Williams spoke of the salutary beauty of love on this earth.
Lewis loved his nature walks, his libations, his books and his friends.
Tolkien? Their characters learn about cosmic things through life
experience, no? But for them, is beauty on earth something cherished or
fraught with the oppression of evil?
So which way does the balance swing with these Inklings? Life? Death and
Paradise?
Or both in some way? How? And is what they wrote and thought still
relevant (I'd say yes, of course). More to the question, is what they
wrote
life affirming?

AJA

PS: I hope this group isn't defunct. I'm doing my best to keep it alive!
XO Ann

On Sat, 9 Aug 2008 20:04:07 UTC, "AJA" <ahnemann.RemoveThis@optonline.net> wrote:

> Lewis loved his nature walks, his libations, his books and his friends.
> Tolkien? Their characters learn about cosmic things through life
> experience, no? But for them, is beauty on earth something cherished or
> fraught with the oppression of evil?
>

One thinks of Lothlorien, the most beautiful place that can be -- and
everyone knows it's doomed. But I think that conjures up not so much
Sehnsucht or Yugen (or, perhaps, evil) as gloom. Which I suppose is part
of your point.



--
Dan Drake
dd.RemoveThis@dandrake.com
http://www.dandrake.com/
porlockjr.blogspot.com