A non-religious approach to John Bunyan

This article suggests 6 reasons why the life and work of John Bunyan is of great relevance today, even for non-Christians. While Bunyan himself must be counted as one of the greatest Christian writers, his life and work touched upon universal themes that cannot be entirely contained within one system of beliefs. 

I write from the perspective of someone who does not subscribe to any particular faith, yet finds much that is inspiring in what Bunyan did and wrote. Here’s why:

1. Great storytelling. His most famous work The Pilgrim’s Progress has been read and enjoyed by millions, and not just for its religious message, though that of course is part of it. The reasons for its  popularity go far beyond that. Fantastic imagery and compelling storytelling are part of its appeal too. Bunyan's plain colloquial style made him an exceptionally good communicator, with a gift for dialogue that gives the narrative a dynamic quality. The book has an unpolished authenticity and originality to it that makes it a wonderful read today, even three and a half centuries after it was written. 


the front pages of a book showing, on the left, John Bunyan fast asleep and dreaming of Christian's journey. On the right are titles, along with author and publication info
Frontispiece for The Pilgrim's Progress, 1680


2. Universal appeal. The hero of the book, Christian, is a kind of ‘Everyman’ or ‘Everyperson’, who embarks upon a spiritual journey that resonates with archetypal mythic elements common in cultures throughout the world, as so brilliantly written about by Joseph Campbell in his book The Hero with a Thousand Faces. The practices of pilgrimage are central to many religions and other belief systems, as is the idea of the ‘path’ or ‘way’ as a metaphor for life and its struggles. The metaphor of the 'gate', too, as the place where the path can be found and embarked upon, fits in readily with Eastern philosophies such as Taoism. Perhaps that is why The Pilgrim's Progress translates so well into Chinese - not to mention over 200 other languages. One does not have to be a member of the Christian church in order to identify with the hero and his quest.

3. Influence. As widely recognized, the book had major impacts on the development of the novel and storytelling in general. It deeply influenced the work of later writers. Bunyan shaped the literary landscape we inhabit today. Alongside Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes (who like Bunyan wrote his masterpiece in prison), The Pilgrim’s Progress is foundational to modern literature.

That other great dissenting writer buried close to Bunyan in Bunhill Fields cemetery in London, William Blake, was familiar with Bunyan's work and drew inspiration from it in creating his own mythic and cosmological system. While scathing about the device of mere allegory, as opposed to visionary imagination, he nevertheless recognized that Bunyan's work was 'full of vision', and towards the end of his life produced some wonderful illustrations for the book, bringing out its visionary qualities.

4. Fighting for freedom. Then there is Bunyan as prisoner of conscience and freedom fighter. In that respect he might be compared to Nelson Mandela (see The connection between John Bunyan and Nelson Mandela). We tend to take for granted many of the freedoms we enjoy today. It is easy to forget the sacrifices made by those like Bunyan and Mandela who fought and suffered for these to come into being, and who were prepared to go to prison and even lose their life, if necessary, in defence of certain principles. Some of those hard-fought-for freedoms are now endangered. Bunyan’s example encourages us not to relinquish them too easily.

5. Principle. Being prepared to give up everything for what you believe  - your family, your house and property, your freedom, your very life - turns out to be a very powerful stance. There were multiple points in Bunyan's life when he could have compromised and taken the easy way out, retaining all the comforts, but his resolve to stick to principle and make a stand was absolute.

6. Transformation. Perhaps the most inspiring thing about Bunyan is how he transitioned from humble tinker or brazier to become one of the world’s greatest writers, as well as a much-respected pastor of a small religious community based in Bedford which continues to thrive today. His legacy is both global and local. He had no interest in earthly fame or fortune and kept his feet firmly on the ground. Yet the Bunyan who emerged from the chrysalis of his spiritual struggles and his 12-year stint in prison was very different from his younger and more zealous self.

As he grew in accomplishment, so his world expanded and his horizons widened accordingly. In much the same way as he mended pots and pans, he worked hard on his own flaws and transformed himself into something greater than he was before. As such he provides an example to us all – showing that through sheer dint of physical and mental effort we can change who we are. Through working to transform the world, we can potentially transform ourselves (see the poetry chapbook Embodied Things, which explores this theme further).

None of this takes away from the Christian content of Bunyan’s life and writing. Ultimately it would be impossible to separate Bunyan from the theological struggles and ecclesiastical concerns that occupied him for much of his life, and his deep engagement with the Bible. His stance as dissenter and nonconformist preacher was an essential part of who he was. But it would be a great pity if those who are not religious should miss out on the great riches to be found in his work.

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