McAnally's (The Community Pub) > Author Craft

Christian influences in Fantasy writing

(1/8) > >>

Nickeris86:
So I am a Christian and have resiliently gone through a spiritual reawakening which has done wonders for me personal level. I have been trying to figure out where God wants me and what he wants me to do with my life rather than what I want to do. I believe that God me my gift for writing and creating a story but I am not sure if what I have been writing is working towards Gods goals for me.

What I am trying to ask is does anyone know a good way to incorporate Christian themes and morals into a dark fantasy novel. The only example I have of a fantasy novel with strong Christian influences and messages is The Chronicles of Narnia. Are there others out their and I just don't know about them?

Your help is much appreciated.

LizW65:
Supposedly, The Lord of the Rings has strong Christian overtones, but I don't see it, myself (I didn't even get the Narnia connection until someone pointed it out to me, but in all fairness I was about seven at the time.)  Also, The Golden Compass was apparently written as a deliberate anti-Narnia, but as I haven't read it, I can't comment.
Basically, any protagonist who is sacrificed for the greater good (they may or may not be brought back to life through magic) can be percieved as a Christ figure, or at least a Dying God archetype.  If you want to incorporate a Christian theme into your writing, I would suggest picking a New Testament story that has particular resonance for you, and creating a Dark Fantasy metaphor around it.  Finding the proper balance will be the real trick--too overt and it will turn off less religious readers, and too vague and no-one will get it.

hank the ancient:
I have to second the cautionary advice above with a very simple sentiment. Focus on the values you want to shine through rather than drawing parallels between your writing and the bible stories. Most of the time a writer tries to get allegorical with scripture they end up beating the audience over the head with it. This is why I like Jim's portrayal of Michael so much. He is a paladin played straight, but he doesn't become a figure preaching from a pulpit. Instead Michael is christian by example, one which has more to do with what he stands for than what church he goes to every Sunday. If you want to portray christian idealogies positively, please don't make it thinly veiled evangelism or a grown-up version of veggie tales.

OZ:
   Let me echo the others in saying whatever you do, don't get too heavy handed. I hate that in a story even when I agree with the sentiments being displayed. Since I am human it bothers me even worse if I disagree. It has become popular in much urban fantasy for the characters to rant against Christianity. Even if I was not Christian (which I am) I would find it tiresome and heavy handed. By the same token stories where the main characters go on long lectures about their Christian values and about what is wrong with the values of non-Christians quickly become tiresome.
   I agree with what Hank said. If you want to portray Christian values then have your characters live them rather than having them laboriously talk about them. An example is far more valuable than a lecture.

Some of my friends like the author Ted Dekker who supposedly incorporates Christian themes into his stories some of which have fantasy elements as well. I personally was never able to get into his stuff but he is quite popular in some circles and may be an example of what you are looking for.

areid2:
Yeah I am a strong atheist but I have always totally hated it when books start to sermonize on the values and wisdom of atheism. Characters can have the values. The story is there to entertain not convert.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page