I think the apologetic value of myth is tremendous as per CS Lewis, taking the point in particular the old myth of the dying God, without ceasing to be myth, comes down from the heaven of legend and imagination to the earth of history and happened on a particular date, particular place, and definable historical consequence. We passed from history to a historical person crucified by Pontius Pilot, so that myth became fact.[1] All that like the transcendent God coming down to earth, is just to too good to be true, and yet it is really myth became fact. And if that happened, that will energize the whole base of humanity to move closer to knowing and experiencing transcendent God. Its also part of the curiosity and inquisitiveness of human nature to be drawn with something fascinating, something beyond us.

I think the beauty and power of mythical thinking in apologetics is to open and provide a way for us to connect to the mysterious and mythical element of the transcendent God. Too often, case in point, Easter just becomes a commercial social celebration gathering with Easter bunnies etcetera because people lost touch with the mythical and the mysterious aspect of the dying God on the cross. We must communicate that to the unbelievers in the world so that they can appreciate Good Friday and Easter that it is not just a ceremonial process in the good old Christian customs but rather it is part of the greatest mystery and myth of Christianity that a God man was crucified in time and space. This is not only good for apologetics for non-believers but this is hugely beneficial and essential for Christian flourishing too.

We are also telling unbelievers and the Christians that if and when they choose to believe in Christ, they need to understand that it is not a mere assent to the intellectual story of Christ death on the cross, but it is essential to embrace the mythical and mysterious aspect of such crucifixion of a God man. To be convinced the supernatural that is that even possible naturally.

The mythical aspect of the gospel as Lewis puts it, claims not only our love and our obedience but also our wonder and delight because of the mythical radiance resting on theology as God chooses to be mythopoeic and myth pathetic, therefore we want to respond in light manner. And that is to respond not only with obedience and with love but also with the wonder and delight. So the apologetics to the non-believers and even believers is the aspect of wonder and delight in the God who speaks to us in such intensity and passion.

---

[1] CS Lewis, God in the Dock