The Labyrinth of the World and the Paradise of the Heart

By: J.A Comenius (Komensky), 1592-1670

This book is an allegory much like Pilgrim’s Progress. It preceded John Bunyan’s famous book by some 20 years. I feel it is better than Pilgrim’s Progress in that it depicts the Christian in a much different light. This is not to downplay Bunyan’s work at all. Comenius’ work is to Czechoslovakia what Bunyan’s work has been to the English-speaking world: a classic.

Each character is steeped in meaning complete with a name that divulges the value and belonging within the story. Comenius’ story is much deeper in allegory and story development in allegoric form than Pilgrim’s Progress is.

Christian is the main character, but in this story he is wise and circumspect. He is good hearted and seems to want the best, for the most admirable reasons. He is the quintessential man, but with a terrible problem. He comes to see the world as a maze (hence the title of Labyrinth) and how should one go about living rightly and making the most of ones life.

The story is an odyssey of how Christian goes about making the decisions of life, yet finding that the world is confusing and in most ways futile and evil. He is accompanied by various characters that try to “guide” him, which turns out to be more of a process of deceit than anything.

Ultimately, Christian finds out that there is no happiness in the world or greater purpose other than what can be found in the heart, concerning God. He continues to investigate discerning truth from those who parade under all the while being false and untransformed. Christian sees the false and truth in organized Christianity and is able to avoid the traps of pretenders and quarreling sects.

The book is excellent in every respect. Comenius exposes error, which is plain to everybody accept the religious purveyors that makes up so much of organized church. He boils faith and relationship with God, which is so many times enveloped in many confusing presentations, into the most basic and beautiful presentation in modern times. It is so easy to see the traps and futility of life, even religious life, in a story that is not personally about us. The story depicts realities in a way we can understand but not get upset with.