I did an evangelistic talk a couple of weeks ago with an illustration in it from Twilight. One Catholic woman who came along was so shocked that a christian had seen such a movie and would admit it and talk about it that she didn't hear much of my talk apart from that.
We have come across some people in our church who believe that CS Lewis and the Narnia books are related to witchcraft. Chris got into a bit of trouble at Bible study one night after he mentioned Narnia in a discussion and we were then given an envelope of articles about all the Satanic references in the Narnia books and movies...
I'm not a fan of the supernatural myself (don't watch The West Wing, Simone, there's no supernatural themes in that!) but I did enjoy reading the chronicles of Narnia as a child. I don't think that reading this kind of book or watching this kind of movie/TV is the work of Satan, but it's interesting to hear other people's take on it. And to discover who to be careful to talk about it in front of...
I wonder if that warning comes out on the DVD's of the Supernatural TV series. I was brought up to believe the Narnia books were "occult" but love them as an adult. And the nineties without X-files hardly seems imaginable.... though I'm ashamed to say I never got into Buffy...
I overdosed on fantasy in my youth and now have a very low tolerance level for it. Simone, I finally watched Twilight the other day and had to force myself to watch it to the end. Soooooo boring!!! Nothing happens except spooky music and lingering gazes for most of the movie.
I think you might enjoy Robin Hobb in fantasy (start with the Farseer trilogy), and Connie Willis in s.f. (timetravelling based in a slightly future Oxford but basically set in one location in the past) - her And Also the Dog is in the style of Three Men in a Boat and had Jennie and I in stitches at times, and her Blackout and All Clear are excellent "ordinary English people endure WWII" stories even apart from the sci fi element. Both authors' books are well written with a focus on characters over epic plots - which might be the missing ingredient in that fantasy you overdosed on in your (ahem) somewhat distant youth. :D
I love what you wrote in your post, Simone. A hearty hear hear from me.
I think Christians get hung up on what can be some pretty small beans, and yet ignore some pretty huge things. Write off a whole set of harmless kids book because there's mention of a witch, yet be more than happy to read some totally gruesome crime novel with murder and rape. But at least no witches.
I love stuff about wizards and witches, vampires and all that stuff. It's partly why I love heavy metal also. It doesn't prick my conscience the way other stuff does.
Christians need to stop writing off entire genres. It's not a good look.
Lol. Unfortunate term.
ReplyDeleteBut it's ghosts and witchcraft and stuff, right? It's our fellow Christians, probably, who have prompted this warning...
Yep.
ReplyDeleteI did an evangelistic talk a couple of weeks ago with an illustration in it from Twilight. One Catholic woman who came along was so shocked that a christian had seen such a movie and would admit it and talk about it that she didn't hear much of my talk apart from that.
We have come across some people in our church who believe that CS Lewis and the Narnia books are related to witchcraft. Chris got into a bit of trouble at Bible study one night after he mentioned Narnia in a discussion and we were then given an envelope of articles about all the Satanic references in the Narnia books and movies...
ReplyDeleteI'm not a fan of the supernatural myself (don't watch The West Wing, Simone, there's no supernatural themes in that!) but I did enjoy reading the chronicles of Narnia as a child. I don't think that reading this kind of book or watching this kind of movie/TV is the work of Satan, but it's interesting to hear other people's take on it. And to discover who to be careful to talk about it in front of...
I wonder if that warning comes out on the DVD's of the Supernatural TV series. I was brought up to believe the Narnia books were "occult" but love them as an adult. And the nineties without X-files hardly seems imaginable.... though I'm ashamed to say I never got into Buffy...
ReplyDeletehang your head in shame ChristianMarxistFortean! In shame!!
ReplyDeleteI LOVED X-Files. Can't do vampires of any description though.
ReplyDeleteDon't think Doc Martin has supernatural themes, S ;).
No supernatural themes in Bones either, although it is rather magical how they solve all those murders with such minimal evidence.
ReplyDeleteI overdosed on fantasy in my youth and now have a very low tolerance level for it. Simone, I finally watched Twilight the other day and had to force myself to watch it to the end. Soooooo boring!!! Nothing happens except spooky music and lingering gazes for most of the movie.
ReplyDeleteHarsh Jo!
ReplyDeleteI think you might enjoy Robin Hobb in fantasy (start with the Farseer trilogy), and Connie Willis in s.f. (timetravelling based in a slightly future Oxford but basically set in one location in the past) - her And Also the Dog is in the style of Three Men in a Boat and had Jennie and I in stitches at times, and her Blackout and All Clear are excellent "ordinary English people endure WWII" stories even apart from the sci fi element. Both authors' books are well written with a focus on characters over epic plots - which might be the missing ingredient in that fantasy you overdosed on in your (ahem) somewhat distant youth. :D
ReplyDeleteI'll echo the plug for Robin Hobb (even if it seems slightly OT...love Mark's ability at lateral thinking ;-)
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure that Robin Hobb is really all that Old Testament. I mean, maybe, if you screw your eyes up funny and squint.
ReplyDeleteAnd lateral thinking? Moi? That ain't one of ma foibles! Heh.
I love what you wrote in your post, Simone. A hearty hear hear from me.
ReplyDeleteI think Christians get hung up on what can be some pretty small beans, and yet ignore some pretty huge things. Write off a whole set of harmless kids book because there's mention of a witch, yet be more than happy to read some totally gruesome crime novel with murder and rape. But at least no witches.
I love stuff about wizards and witches, vampires and all that stuff. It's partly why I love heavy metal also. It doesn't prick my conscience the way other stuff does.
Christians need to stop writing off entire genres. It's not a good look.