MATHETΩN

Metaphor or misogyny? Misogyny or metaphor? Such are the dilemmae for a producer of a Focus on the Family radio episode.

In one my siblings listened to on cassette, the famous allegory of Pilgrim’s Progress is retold―now with hip new characters such as Atheist, who speaks a humorous string of non sequitur in a Mandark accent.

In this retelling, Christian’s traveling companion in the original allegory, a young man named Faithful, is turned into a girl named Hope. This is curious, but well enough―surely a lonely metaphysical traveler sometimes needs hope to save him.

But as the pair crosses the Slough of Despond, Hope begs for help and Christian extends a manly arm.