XPost: alt.books.cs-lewis, rec.arts.books.tolkien   
   From: mattheww@chiark.greenend.org.uk   
      
   Derek Broughton   wrote:   
   >Steve Hayes wrote:   
      
   >> I have heard people say that the Calormenes in the Narnia books represent   
   >> Muslims, and some have even indignantly claimed that they are a deliberate   
   >> attempt to denigrate Muslims -- except that the Calormenes' religion in no   
   >> way resembles Islam, though it might bear some resemblance to pre-Islamic   
   >> religions of the Middle East.   
      
   > I've always felt it bears a resemblance to a pseudo-Christian bigot's idea   
   > of Islam.  I _hope_ Lewis didn't intend that, but I'm afraid he might have.   
      
   I think it's an echo of the view of 'Saracens' found in medieval   
   romance, worshipping a demonic trinity of Termagant, Apollyon, and   
   Mahound.   
      
   -M-   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)