Jurgen and Cabell

From January:History of the World in a Year by the Conservative Voice
I love the book “Jurgen: A comedy of justice” it is deep and funny and wise. I don’t subscribe to the protagonists beliefs, Jurgen goes on a journey to do the ‘manly thing’ and win back his wife whom he accidentally wished away. On his journey he seduces Satan’s wife, Guinevere, Helen of Troy, a goddess, a Hamadryad, A Vampiress, and numerous others. All lovingly described .. in the dark .. before making the ultimate discovery. He also meets the God of his grandmother .. and here the writing shows its superiority .. because it describes God’s nature from an antagonists viewpoint .. “And how should I know whether or not I speak the truth?” the God asked of him, “since I am but the illusion of an old woman, as you have so frequently proved by logic.”

“Well, well!” said Jurgen, “You may be right in all matters, and certainly I cannot presume to say You are wrong: but still, at the same time--! No, even now I do not quite believe in You.”

“Who could expect it of a clever fellow, who sees so clearly through the illusions of old women?” the God asked, a little wearily.

And Jurgen answered: “God of my grandmother, I cannot quite believe in You, and Your doings as they are recorded I find incoherent and a little droll. But I am glad the affair has been so arranged that You may always now be real to brave and gentle persons who have believed in and have worshipped and have loved You. To have disappointed them would have been unfair: and it is right that before the faith they had in You not even Koshchei who made things as they are was able to be reasonable.

“God of my grandmother, I cannot quite believe in You; but remem- bering the sum of love and faith that has been given You, I tremble. I think of the dear people whose living was confident and glad because of their faith in You: I think of them, and in my heart contends a blind contrition, and a yearning, and an enviousness, and yet a tender sort of amusement colours all. Oh, God, there was never any other deity who had such dear worshippers as You have had, and You should be very proud of them.

“God of my grandmother, I cannot quite believe in You, yet I am not as those who would come peering at You reasonably. I, Jurgen, see You only through a mist of tears. For You were loved by those whom I loved greatly very long ago: and when I look at You it is Your worshippers and the dear believers of old that I remember. And it seems to me that dates and manuscripts and the opinions of learned persons are very trifling things beside what I remember, and what I envy!” “Who could have expected such a monstrous clever fellow ever to envy the illusions of old women?” the God of Jurgen’s grandmother asked again: and yet His countenance was not unfriendly.

“Why, but,” said Jurgen, on a sudden, “why, but my grandmother--in a way--was right about Heaven and about You also. For certainly You seem to exist, and to reign in just such estate as she described. And yet, according to Your latest revelation, I too was right--in a way--about these things being an old woman’s delusions. I wonder now--?”

“Yes, Jurgen?”

“Why, I wonder if everything is right, in a way? I wonder if that is the large secret of everything? It would not be a bad solution, sir,” said Jurgen, meditatively.

The God smiled. Then suddenly that part of Heaven was vacant, except for Jurgen, who stood there quite alone. And before him was the throne of the vanished God and the sceptre of the God, and Jurgen saw that the seven spots upon the great book were of red sealing-wax.
Jurgen was afraid: but he was particularly appalled by his conscious- ness that he was not going to falter. “What, you who have been duke and prince and king and emperor and pope! and do such dignities content a Jurgen? Why, not at all,” says Jurgen.

So Jurgen ascended the throne of Heaven, and sat beneath that wondrous rainbow: and in his lap now was the book, and in his hand was the sceptre, of the God of Jurgen’s grandmother. Jurgen sat thus, for a long while regarding the bright vacant courts of Heaven. “And what will you do now?” says Jurgen, aloud. “Oh, fretful little Jurgen, you that have complained because you had not your desire, you are omnipotent over Earth and all the affairs of men. What now is your desire?” And sitting thus terribly enthroned, the heart of Jurgen was as lead within him, and he felt old and very tired. “For I do not know. Oh, nothing can help me, for I do not know what thing it is that I desire! And this book and this sceptre and this throne avail me nothing at all, and nothing can ever avail me: for I am Jurgen who seeks he knows not what.”

So Jurgen shrugged, and climbed down from the throne of the God, and wandering at adventure, came presently to four archangels.

They were seated upon a fleecy cloud, and they were eating milk and honey from gold porringers: and of these radiant beings Jurgen inquired the quickest way out of Heaven. “For hereabouts are none of my illusions,” said Jurgen, “and I must now return to such illusions as are congenial. One must believe in something. And all that I have seen in Heaven I have admired and envied, but in none of these things could I believe, and with none of these things could I be satisfied. And while I think of it, I wonder now if any of you gentlemen can give me news of that Lisa who used to be my wife?”
He described her; and they regarded him with compassion.

But these archangels, he found, had never heard of Lisa, and they assured him there was no such person in Heaven. For Steinvor had died when Jurgen was a boy, and so she had never seen Lisa; and in consequence, had not thought about Lisa one way or the other, when Steinvor outlined her notions to Koshchei who made things as they are.

Now Jurgen discovered, too, that, when his eyes first met the eyes of the God of Jurgen’s grandmother, Jurgen had stayed motionless for thirty-seven days, forgetful of everything save that the God of his grandmother was love.

“Nobody else has willingly turned away so soon,” Zachariel told him: “and we think that your insensibility is due to some evil virtue in the glittering garment which you are wearing, and of which the like was never seen in Heaven.”

“I did but search for justice,” Jurgen said: “and I could not find it in the eyes of your God, but only love and such forgiveness as troubled me.”

“Because of that should you rejoice,” the four archangels said; “and so should all that lives rejoice: and more particularly should we rejoice that dwell in Heaven, and hourly praise our Lord God’s negligence of justice, whereby we are permitted to enter into this place.”
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I keep coming back to this writing. When I first read it, 1992, I was a young Christian and had been handed it by a committed atheist. I was impressed with the art, but not the theology. It puzzled me why I had ever been an atheist and had fallen for the arguments like what Cabell seems to have stumbled on.

Years later, I tried to show the book to my dad, whom I’d always known to be an atheist. He told me his father had tried to share it with him too. He didn’t read it, but returned the copy I had given him. A decade later, he died. I was estranged from him most of my life, and at the time of his death. Recently, I reread this book. And still this passage stands out for me. And thanks to the internet I can post it here. But thanks to God, I can prayerfully read this work, and it enriches my life. I am not turning away from my God, as when I weaken, he holds me tighter, with love.

About James Branch Cabell
From February:History of the World in a Year by the Conservative Voice
Cabell has drawn on many myths and legends for his fantasy. Putting aside his magic coat and Kochei the creator, issues, it is worth looking at his Christian theology implicit to the excerpt. It is worth noting that sincere, faithful Christians have some strange ideas about God which aren't part of the bible. But it is worth noting that Christians don't have to be right or smart to be saved. It may not seem just, but God has forgiven all, and all who know him and hold to him will be saved.
Christians want to know God and they study his word so that they can know him better. But sometimes we don't actually learn, but navel gaze, and forget the purpose of our study. Sometimes knowing God seems like unwanted effort and a back door to heaven is desired. A structure is created which explains heaven and so rules are inferred which mean God would have to let people in for following those rules. But that is fallacious. The only way to heaven is to know God. And yet people can foolishly embrace falsehoods and yet be saved. One reason as to why the only way to heaven is through Christ is that heaven is close to God and if you want to be close, you have to be .. close. And those that are close to God are humble. Because God is very big. and those who are aware of Him know the disparity of size.

Cabell writes about a throne and sceptre, objects of power. All Jurgen need do is wield these items to be like God, and have powers. But that is not the relationship God has with creation. There is no such chair or sceptre. And our relationship with God is different. He loves each of us and wants us, desires us, to know him. He wants us to thank him and worship him. He wants us to call to him in times of need. Not because he tortures us, but because it brings us closer. The good father loves their child and dotes on them, holding them and lovingly calling their name to him. And so the ties of father and child is close and become closer. Just as God wants.