In Class Reading #5 (Space Trilogy)
One idea that's mentioned in Perelandra really caught my eye-- the idea that just as Maleldil was growing and teaching the Queen in wisdom and knowledge, she was supposed to grow and teach the animals of the planet. She always spoke to Ransom about the animals lovingly and tenderly, with a lot of concern for their happiness and well-being even though she didn't "own" them like we do with a lot of the animals on Earth. She cared for the little dragon-type creature that befriended Ransom, the various bird type creatures, and even the pod of fish that carried her on their backs.
This is a great image. It demonstrates how we as intelligent creatures reflect God in our actions and behaviors. Here, He is a caretaker and teacher for the Queen just as she should be for her animal subjects. The Biblical account of creation says that God "gave" all of the animals to Adam, but here in our fallen world they have been abused and our relationship with them is damaged beyond recognition, possibly beyond repair.
What would our world be like if we really treated animals as the Lord treats us-- as cherished creatures worthy of our protection and love? I've seen amazing things happen when a loving human has a loving dog-- there is a relationship there that seems much nearer to true friendship than an owner and his property. Would we find ourselves in a world like Perelandra, where the creatures around us had our true respect and wonder while we had theirs as well? Can we ever approach this world after the fall has happened, or will it forever be a missed possibility that can only be explored in books?
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