McAnally's (The Community Pub) > Author Craft

Christian influences in Fantasy writing

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synthesis:
Ultimately, I think it's what you, personally want to convey--the things that are in your heart.  The only serious contemplation you need to do is a) how do you want to portray Christianity and b) how might it impact audience perceptions.  If you don't care at all about b, then you can include as much about Christianity as you want.  If you do care more about b, then you might want to go more along a moralistic/values line in order to retain a wider audience.  There is a lot of fiction that explores religion (I'm thinking now of like Philip Roth, Gabriel García Márquez, Salman Rushdie) but how heavy/how critical/how analytical, etc. always depends on the author.

One big thing to think about, alongside religious issues, is the fact that many political & social issues go hand in hand, which can further gain and/or alienate different audiences. 

And then there's the whole spirituality vs. religion, which for me, personally, are two separate things, yet often quite intertwined.  However, focusing more on a spiritual level might also broaden the audience.

Nickeris86:
I like the feed back that you have all given me thanks. It has confirmed what i was thinking of doing in the first place.

Since this story takes place in a world of my own creation Christianity itself will not make an appearance however I do plan on using a lot of Christian symbolism, such as the Holy Trinity and the idea of know the father through the son, except in my world its Daughters not Son.

I hadn't intended on being heavy handed with it but i love symbolism and how complex and deep it can be while at the same time looking like your saying something else.

I am also going into the contrast between spirituality vs religion but it will more focus on how people can easily twist something into a horrid nightmare of hate and intolerance very easily.

The Deposed King:
Sounds like a winner.  Its all in the execution now!!!


go get'em tiger.

The Deposed king

meg_evonne:
Apparently there are several scientific studies that indicate, like universal facial recognition of emotions in comic books is cross-cultural and genetically wired, a universal genetic need seems to exist for certain story lines. We simply crave these stories told over and over again in countless re-envisioning. There is a reason that the bible, Gilgamesh,and  Baelwolf, Homer story lines continue to be re-invented.

I would suggest that there isn't a published book that doesn't have jewish or christian roots that one could trace back to those works and some of those stolen from earlier myths (flood and creation stories). Star Wars, Star Trek, Heinlein, Gone with the Wind, Harry Potter, Dresden books, etc. all uphold biblical storyline concepts such as good over evil, David vs Goliath, David and Bathseba's adultery, even the sensual x-rated sex poetry in the Book called Songs of Soloman. (And how many of your reached for a bible to check out Soloman?) Let's face it--those ancient stories survived as long as they did, because they speak to us deep inside--are even genetically wired to do so.

That being said, the fact that you defined your work as 'christian' might be troubling. Reuse of biblical story lines is par for the course, but your acknowledgment of your faith rewakening might indicate an unconscious leaning that is on the 'heavy' side. Still, this is your work! The Muse of Faith can be a wonderful guide and ignoring her could block a faith journey that you need to take for yourself. Writing for publication is highly unlikely anyway. Have the courage to write where you are led. If a higher power is working through your fingertips, s/he is also working through your mind and perhaps healing or opening new doors to your faith journey. Also, it never hurts to think a divine hand is guiding your hand--cause you might complete the work! "God" can be a powerful reason to not procrastinate getting those words on a page! *cue lightning*  *smiling*

Happy travels as you explore with your Muse of Faith.

Edited because I never answered your question...  I never enjoyed the Narnia series, but I loved and adored his adult space trilogy of Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength. I haven't revisited them in years, but you might find them helpful. I read them as a teenager and the symbolism went right over the top of my head--which is where a 'christian' philosophy works best in my humble opinion.

Figging Mint:

--- Quote from: Nickeris86 on April 18, 2012, 05:58:56 AM ---Since this story takes place in a world of my own creation Christianity itself will not make an appearance

--- End quote ---

Current Western-accessible culture is so permeated with themes and morals that also run through Christianity that a story sharing those themes and morals without implicit Christianity would be a difficult thing indeed to write.

This is why it is easy to be heavy-handed in the other direction.

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