I am a Christian who has always been into writing fantasy and science fiction, especially of the darker variety. I lean more toward sci-fi now, which really allows me to get dark and grungy with my work. Any time I bring this up to my family or some of my friends, they always want to know why I like working with darker themes and characters who are not morally pure, and they usually ask it in a sort of way that seems to condemn me, and why I don't explicitly label my stories as "Christian" or "written by a Christian". I want to be a light in the dark, not a light in the light. My stories are dark but I like to bring an edge of real hope to them. It is not realistic, nor does it resonate with a dark and lost world, to write the same light stories over and over again. After all, a light is brighter when it's shone into the dark. I'm not marketing my stories to a world of light, I'm sending my stories to a world of darkness that needs that sort of light. Usually the Christian element that is there is symbolic (and often unintentional on my part--- sometimes I think God puts a notion in my head and lets me write it in), but there are other stories of mine that are dark but feature an explicitly Christian character that really causes the protagonist to think everything through. Protagonist's struggles are an effective way to make readers think as well. They may not fall down and get saved right there, but my job is not to convict: My job is to plant a seed and pray the rest will follow.
YES!! I think your stories would be emotionally realistic (as well as entertaining)! I would love to publish novels in the Christian genre one day for the Christians who do love fantasy and scifi, but I feel like it's going to be banned by those who don't like a challenge before it even reaches its target audience.
That's right and awesome! I also am planning to write Chrisstian stuff in genres like fantasy, psychological horror of science fiction. And I was searching for such stuff among Google, but couldn't find anything. Where can I find the stuff made by you?
I am the same way. However instead of writing stories I play games such as Dungeons and Dragons. My group is currently running through the story of Ravenloft or as 5e calls it Curse of Strahd. Ravenloft is a setting built around the gothic horror genre with an emphasis on Bram Stokers Dracula aka Count Strahd Von Zarovich in D&D. In the story I play a half elf Christian cleric and noblewoman who was trapped in Barovia after she was arranged to marry someone and establish a political alliance. Her goal is to save her people and prove herself as a worthy leader. The character concepts I see in her have to do with things like the Royal Priesthood and Bride of Christ spoken of in the Bible. My character is also kindhearted, beautiful, intelligent but naive. She is the embodiment of phrases like “be as wise as serpents but as gentle as doves” or “as a sheep among wolves”. She is smart enough to know not to travel through the Domains of Dread alone and not everyone she meets or works with has good intention. The best thing she can do is be a light in a domain of dread.
I am a big sci-fi and fantasy fan and once wrote fiction in both genres. I never wrote ‘Christian’ fiction but tried to create a protagonist who displayed heroic, lawful qualities and who was driven by a moral compass that didn’t shift according to circumstance. For some believers that was never ‘Christian’ enough, and yet I was encouraged by others who found a non-biblical setting refreshing. It makes me wonder if it is the marketing that is at fault, not the consumer. I know of many believers who share similar reading tastes, but the literature just doesn’t seem available.
I think you have some very good points there. My guess is it's a combination of what readers want and what Christian publishers approve of in pursuit of what readers want (which can sometimes be misguided). Realm Makers, a conference for Christian geek fiction writers, has recently expanded its mission to include being a conference for non-Christian authors as well, though still being operated and motivated by Christians. Brent Weeks will be their keynote speaker next, and he serves as a great example of a Christian bringing their worldview into decidedly mainstream fiction writing. Overlapping Christian and mainstream writing/publishing and blurring those lines could be a very good thing. I think this issue can absolutely resolve itself, but it will likely require small/indie/self-publishing to play a big role, as well as require readers to more intentionally seek out what they want rather than wait for the main Christian publishers to carry it. Thanks for your thoughts! You brought some good points to mind! -Paeter
Much of this I was delighted to hear. It is precisely my opinion about Christian Fantasy/SciFi. I write Fantasy because not writing doesn't work. ;) I am also a Christian because non-Christianing doesn't work either. For many, many years I have known, more than felt, that God wants Christians to redeem/infiltrate the Fantasy genre. After all God made us imaginative so we could understand the intangible, so we could relate with Him. Fantasy should expound on God's truths, exercise our abilities to understand intangible things and enable healing. Therefore! It is my task/quest to infiltrate the Fantasy Genre. I beg any other Christian to join the fight. We must reclaim people's imaginations, because that is where humans are the most unguarded. If it is said loudly and entertainingly, we have seen people believe anything! I write Fantasy without.... Well. Without a lot of things but this is my favourite topic and I could write forever about it. Christian Writers should be good enough to be hired by secular publishers. Christian Writers should not be lazy. Christian Fantasy should not be the Shrug Off many think it is. Go! Write! Redeem the entire genre!
Thank you so much for making this video! As a Christian filmmaker, I've been torturing myself lately over this very subject. I allowed a warped viewpoint into my head and that is my fault. It's extremely encouraging to hear others discussing this as well! Placing subtle, faith based themes into our stories is our greatest tool this day in age. I know many atheists with their noses in fantasy and sci-fi. We need to understand that only the Holy Spirit can change people, just focus on good stories with solid themes, be they gentle or direct, and let God use them to reach people in his time, not ours. Keep up the great work! 😎🎥
I have to agree with the points being made in the article. Going into Christian Bookstores, the only time I have seen books that would fit the fantasy fiction or science-fiction mould are end times thrillers, Ted Dekker thrillers or Frank Peretti thrillers (notice a pattern here?). Otherwise, most (if not all of) adult fiction being sold in Christian bookstores are historical fiction or slice of life drama, often times with a romantic angle, and while there's nothing wrong with those kind of stories being on the market, there is a problem when they're only ones. Weirdly enough, the only time I've seen adult Christian fantasy novels being prominently displayed was when I had the opportunity to visit a Mormon bookstore and saw all kind of obscure craziness begging to be bought (the business would later be shut down due to lack of interest). Now can I do anything to solve the problem by financially supporting these authors and getting my congregation to be aware of the stories? Not when I'm currently broke and lack the confidence to speak to most members of my church. But I do sense a revival in the near future, especially when Christian fantasy fiction is being more prominently presented to children and teenagers, so hopefully when they grow up and continue to hold on to their love of imagination, they will pursue more of those stories and help reshape the market into something that's more diverse.
I think you've isolated a key skill we can all be praying God will grant us growth in: talking to people. Such a hard thing to do, but I think us stumbling through growth in that area will likely be key to seeing change in our local churches. Thanks for your thoughts on this, Nathan! -Paeter
I am really glad I found this channel. I'm a writer, a fantasy writer, hoping to use that gift for God. This community (within the Christian community) is very much needed today, especially considering the impact that fantasy, and scifi, and video games, and cartoons have on our youth and young adults. Considering the impact it has on me. There is certainly a powerful ministry to be formulated in the realm of fantasy writing. I'm certain that God recognizes it. So, it's good to find others in that sphere. God bless.
I know that I have always been discouraged to like sci fi fantasy growing up in christian schools and churches but I know for myself I consider it my ministry now. I see my writing as an outreach tool to bring people to Christ and the truth telling church. I see the novel ive been working on for being something that has never been or ever will be. Its something really special and cant wait to release it to the public. It can go one of two ways either become a huge dumpster fire or take on a life of its own. God wants us to reach the sci fi geek because they are being overlooked by Christian sector of our society. Where you have someone who will watch the latest star wars or star trek movie or tv show but never pick up a bible. If we offer this in a real way where its not preachy or talking down to people it could get the sci fi fantasy community excited to know more about God and Jesus which to be as a Pentacostal means the same thing. Just my thought and during my sermon I heard recently Remember the dream dont let it die.
I grew up in an evangelical charismatic household, but one which has always embraced fiction. My dad and I are massive LOTR fans, and I also love stories like Narnia or Ted Dekker’s Circle Series.
Writing under a Christian label may be much harder than writing for the general audience because of this--there is limited readership in general, and then there is the limited amount of Christians who enjoy reading Christian fantasy. I feel as though people who read fantasy are those who are most likely to become writers or creative people of some kind, and that makes it tricky too for marketing fantasy to people who don't appreciate the genre itself, let alone Christian fantasy. A lot of people in older generations only read Christian romance, Christian mysteries, and Christian nonfiction self-help.
Very true! There can be a stigma about fantasy among Christians, and many Christians (myself included, honestly) are more interested in reading an author whose style they enjoy than they are interested in reading one who is a Christian. Thanks for your thoughts! -Paeter
Really loving seeing how many people struggle with the same issues I’m struggling with. I’m a horror writer, and love reading that kind of thing, too. I love the creativity behind it all, even if it’s wrong. I’ve tried writing other genres, but I’m just not good at them. Can’t create decent stories or characters in them. But, with horror, I can hit the marks perfectly. Still feel like I’m in the wrong, though.
I can relate to having feelings like that. Those are the times when its been most valuable for me to let my feelings be guided by what I believe to be true, rather than the other way around. If you can identify and put into words a reason or argument for why you think you are wrong, that's a great starting point, because then you can test that reasoning and see if it holds up under scrutiny. -Paeter
@Michael Kikle You might want to check out "Christian Horror" by Mike Duran. It examines the compatibility of Christian faith with the horror genre. I haven't actually read it yet, but I feel comfortable recommending it because Mike Duran is a respected Christian author and part of the Realm Makers community. You might find it interesting. www.goodreads.com/book/show/26119762-christian-horror
A very wise person once told me that fiction/entertainment is an excellent Trojan horse for the gospel. I write in many genres, but I'm especially passionate about science fiction and fantasy. A lot of my inspiration for storytelling comes from CS Lewis, who also heavily influenced my walk with Christ. It is a ministry of sorts to me, and there is SO MUCH that can be taught to readers through that vein. We can learn so much about real life, the world, and God from such stories. We can get a very moving picture of this world through the lens of another. Also, I'm just a plain nerd for these genres, so...that boosts my passion more as well. In addition, I believe we can possibly reach folks that might not otherwise welcome the Bible with open arms at first. For example, you can have something in your story that causes a person to ask themselves, "Hey, how is this significant? What does this mean to me?" It can really convict a person and lead them to Jesus. Recently, I watched one of Gene Roddenberry's series, called Earth: Final Conflict--and let me just say that there were SO many biblical values in it even though it was secular. I took a lot away from it and it really moved me. How much more can a Christian sci-fi or fantasy impact somebody for Christ? Even more! I like to tackle the hard and relevant questions that people, including me, face and dish it out in a new way. Even in one of my upcoming projects, the main villain of the story has so much to offer to the reader, as his part of the story is largely a warning for people to not remain or end up like him. Then again, the protagonist, who is a lot like the villain in many ways, ends up someplace completely different because he surrendered his all to God. I pray that the Lord somehow uses these stories to further His kingdom and bring more sheep into the Good Shepherd's fold.
I was thinking of writing ( have already done a lot of work on) a Fantasy Novel with Christian undertones, but I don't know if God wants me to do it =/
I know this is an old comment but wanted to chime in too--I've struggled with the question of whether or not God wanted me to write a fantasy novel with Christian elements. My biggest fears were that there would be "incorrect theology" in the storyworld or that readers would be led astray by things I didn't intend to lead them astray. Well, it's a different world, so it might have different rules than Christian theology. The other thing is that readers will see what they want to see and I can't do anything about that as a writer doing my best. The most important thing is revealing the truth within the threads of beauty and adventure. A writing mentor who is a Christian told me that sometimes God gives us the choice to write or not to write. Like, He leaves it up to us. Sometimes He gives us creative ideas to work with. Hope that encourages you!
@SG 100 I think the very fact that we're concerned about pleasing the Lord pleases Him. Another thing I just thought of: Just like how we tell ourselves it's okay to write a bad first draft, we have to let ourselves write a draft even if it's not pleasing to God completely so that He can correct us where it isn't good, and then we can fix the story so it does please Him. A blank draft can't be fixed, but a finished draft can be.
@SG 100 And of course we can also listen to discernment if we have a clear feeling it's either not time to write a certain story yet and we know that's not just our subconscious wanting to procrastinate but the Holy Spirit's leading, or if we get a sense that that is not the kind of story God wants us to write period.
I kinda think that the sci fi fantasy genre tends to be more grungy is because basically the key factor is the reality of what tolkein said about fairy stories in his essay on fairy stories is that it's based on the idea of the great escape from small tight spaces to the wide spaces and to open our eyes to the reality of the fantastical supernatural world of God's creation and in where we are the hero making the choices and save that world from evil and to experience the creator's power and to enjoy him forever
I think there might be more to it, we are not supposed to be of this world, we are not just supposed to sit here entertained all the time, we are on a mission, and are supposed to be preparing for this mission ( not saying we shouldn't have SOME entertainment, or MAKE some entertainment). Another factor to throw in is, where do we draw the line? Lets say you have a story about a young man who defeats the "Great Serpent", he (prays, he has faith, he sacrifices himself, he loves and forgives his enemy). Great Christian Fantasy novel right? Now lets say someone takes it one step farther, and writes another novel. In this novel this young warrior does all of that good Christian stuff in the brackets above, and more, but the whole novel is just him slaughtering wolf people, and snake people. Would that be a good Christian novel? Would it make most Christians freak out, and take away their kids books, and judge young adults who read these books? Probably. The book would be promoting violence way more than it would be promoting any Christian ideals. Throw in a risqué love scene, and you are really going to get Christians riled up. And THEN we have to ask ourselves, is this glorifying God? Is this planting any seeds? Is it simply entertainment that Christians can accept since they are not allowed to read/watch certain things? What is it accomplishing? Is it showing the world that you can have entertaining fantasy without being vulgar? Perhaps being an example, or light to others, raising the bar if you will.
With it being 2020,are Christian fantasy and sci-fi books still a dead genre? I'm currently editing a middle grade fantasy christian book, some elements like Bridge to Teribithia are in it. It would be a shame to go through all that and no one wants it. 🤣🙁😢
Good question! There are new Christian fantasy books being published every month! But I would recommend reaching out to the folks behind lorehaven.com and speculativefaith.com, as they can give you a better reader of the market. -Paeter
I have been doing a lot of thinking about A.I., the human soul, etc. lately. I love writing and have a serial set of cyberpunk stories with a Christian Protagonist (although, i am not sure how evident it is within the writing). I've also been thinking... and i might actually be wrong about this... but... it seems, at least from my experiences, is that... authors, etc. try and overlay our faith on top of troupes... instead of infusing what a Christian response would be within the settings. Again, i might be wrong, and of not enough exposure within our faith in these genres. God bless brother, and to all of my brothers and sisters that also watch these videos. :) ~ 7ohn
There may be some truth to that. Honestly, despite promoting Christian Geek fiction, I don't read much of it myself. So I don't have a good awareness of trends. But I would hope that Christian writers would increasingly do what you've described as "infusing what a Christian response would be within the settings". It seems to me that would result in much more interesting and creative stories! And BTW, if you'd like to connect with some other writers in the CGC community(of which there are a significant number!), there is a section of our forums dedicated to brainstorming about creative endeavors! You can find it here: spiritblade.forum-motion.com/f3-brain-storm-shelter Thanks for sharing your thoughts! -Paeter
There are some Christians who just don't need speculative fiction. They are happy with reality. But there are many, many non-believers who might need good quality fantasy and sf with hidden Christian themes (or open ones, so long as there is enough of a solid story not to scare them off.)
I think most people (including myself I think) would prefer to see some Christian tie in to other fictional works. Examples include Lord of the Rings, Narnia, even Harry Potter etc. That's also good because it allows non Christian viewers to learn Christian values. That's just me though
+christiangeekcentral I mean like if there are heavy Christian themes and values that are tied into the plot of a movie that isn't labeled as a Christian movie. I think it's a good way to reach a lot of people.
That's true! I think I've featured him on a Christian Geek Radar video before. His books are more aimed at kids than most fantasy, but my wife enjoyed them enough to read through his series. Thanks! -Paeter
Thank you for this! Helpful and interesting. Also, a little bit sad! The points raised, I mean, not your delivery, which is excellent. I am really trying to devote more time to my writing. Years ago I got underway with a novel centered on Elijah. I took the Biblical accounts as a starting point for a fictional work. My novel has morphed into a fantasy setting, rather than being based around Elijah, but my goal is the same. To write a good story that has genuinely biblical themes and perspectives, without getting preachy. I get frustrated at the way otherwise terrific novels fall short of truth, in respect of things like God's nature, righteousness, grace, evil, sin, heaven and hell, judgement etc etc. They so often elevate distorted views on these important themes, because the author has no biblical foundations. I have Christian friends that are fans of Sf or fantasy fiction, but it sounds like they are a minority! That is a problem. I don't want to spend countless hours creating books for a tiny niche genre, with little prospect of my novels finding an audience. Yet I feel driven to write that which I myself want to read; fantasy with a biblical underpinning. Perhaps the only realistic way forward is to write stories that have enough general appeal to fantasy fans, whilst keeping the Christian themes only subtlety inferred?
I think it may come down to what your goal is for the finished product. Do you want to make a living from writing? Do you want to reach a specific group of people with a specific truth? Do you want to connect with the largest number of readers possible? I'm not sure we're in a time where the themes you mention can be explored beyond a surface or implied/symbolic level while still connecting to an audience large enough to support an author financially. But that's only an impression I have, not based on any data. Personally, I strive for imaginative storytelling that directly explores major questions of biblical faith, knowing that I'm shrinking my Christian audience by going to some wild and/or dark places of the imagination and shrinking my non-Christian audience by being so obviously Christian in my content. (And on top of that its audio drama, which shrinks the audience even more.) But I continue down that path because I believe those elements play to my strengths and passions and I'm currently in the rare position of not having to be financially successful in order to continue my work. I also have a heart for a specific group of people, not simply the largest audience possible. So maybe some time spent probing your intent and purpose will help clarify what kind of content you create? All God's best as you sort through how to serve him! -Paeter
why do Christian publishers call it speculative fiction. I mean if I am look for fantasy I look in the fantasy section so in effect they are making it hard for people to find it. Having worked in a bookstore I am don't find the Narnia series or LOTR in the Christian section but in young adult and fantasy section.
Also, si fi and fantasy can bring up subjects that get people to thinking openly about a problem but if you made a real book about it people would be closed to the ideas people are bringing up ie look at the subjects Star Trek brought up.
I’m trying to write something. It’s hard to conceptualize - know what is safe and biblically acceptable. Furthermore I haven’t seen it enough to see mistakes and right ways. Except for biblical retelling of the Bible with bits here and there added based on assumptions.
There are definitely real challenges to writing quality geek-genre fiction from a Christian perspective! I'd highly recommend connecting with other Christian writers to compare thoughts and learn from each other. A good starting point is the community around speculativefaith.com ! -Paeter
christiangeekcentral christiangeekcentral I think I’m going to rely on the retelling method. If you think about real life preaches constantly quote scriptures and yet their lives (the preachers ) are a narrative. And The Bible movies can be viewed like this a preacher quoting and describing events of the Bible. Interesting site. I’ll have to check it out more.
Wow… as an aspiring Fantasy/Speculative fiction writer this was enlightening. But I now understand why I’m a circle trying to fit the square hole… Last I saw, it seemed Christian publishing was dying. Am I wrong? … I think there’s a double standard here because I know plenty of Christians who enjoy fantasy type movies…so what’s the deal with books? 🤔. I draw the line at horror - but that’s in any medium. Interesting video. Thx.
I couldn't say whether its dying or not compared to mainstream publishing. (Both may be equally flourishing or struggling for all I know.) But I do think that Christian fantasy is finding its audience among small publishers like Enclave, or in the self-publishing realm. A good resource would be lorehaven.com. -Paeter
I tried hunting (yes, hunting) for some quality Christian fantasy novels at Books a Million a few weeks back. I saw rows and rows of Christian Romance, with only a FEW of Ted Dekker's books in paperback. I know he has way more books than that, yet it was the romance authors that claimed the most shelf space. And this was not the first time this has happened. Seems like the Christian genre targets only one audience with a particular taste and leaves scraps for the rest of us. Whether it's the publishers' fault for not marketing quality Christian fantasy or the result of certain Christian readers driving them away from catering to other audiences of diverse tastes, I don't know. Either way, it's frustrating, and it turns me off as a Christian. I don't like or care for novels that focus on romance as the main plot of the story. Never have. Rather than discouraging other personalities from reading Christian fiction or expecting us to modify what we naturally enjoy or don't enjoy as readers, I think it should be remembered that there's a sub-genre for everyone (or almost everyone), and that should be made available to Christians, just as it is for non-Christians. P.S. Thank you for making this video! I really appreciate it! :)
I can appreciate your frustration! I'm wondering if we'll ultimately have to go the route that those with "indie" tastes have to go: online. The digital age has been increasingly tough on physical media stores in general, and so they tend to survive by focusing on the most popular items. Meanwhile, those interested in indie music, movies and video games can find them more easily than ever before by taking their search online. My guess is the physical retail situation will not improve and sites like speculativefaith.com and niche Christian Publishers like Enclave and The Crossover Alliance will become increasingly important. We'll see! Thanks for watching and for sharing your thoughts! -Paeter
I did not know that there was such a thing as Christian fantasy till 2023. Were these Christian books marketed and advertised? I also believe a religious spirit - like the Pharisees and Sadducees- causes Christians to think that fantasy is wrong. But in the Bible there are epic battles, giants, and other supernatural beings. Plus Samson had great strength, Elijah prayed and God let fire fall, Elisha out-ran a chariot, Moses parted the red sea and brought water out of a rock. There were many other true events, all of these were by the power of God. I also believe the fantasy, sci-fi, mystery, western, and thriller books written by Christians must be excellently written so that they become bestselling books not only on Christian bestseller lists but all bestselling lists.
To answer your question, Christian Fantasy books are often marketed by specializing publishers, but we are unlikely to hear about them in mainstream press and media. But lorehaven.com is a good resource and I also highlight new and upcoming releases each week on the Christian Geek Central Podcast. I hope that helps! -Paeter
Yes indeed, Taylor. I find the "chief end" question very clarifying, both for "the chief end of man" and for other things humans use in their pursuit of glorifying God and enjoying him forever. For example, "What is the chief end of fantastical stories?" Or, "What is the chief end of popular culture?" You can find the full article on Speculative Faith here: www.speculativefaith.com/why-isnt-there-more-christian-fantasy/
See I'm struggling with my husband believes certain games, tv shows and movies and or books allow evil spirits in and I just dont believe that. Like I enjoy harry potter and lotrs and such but I know its fictional and dont believe in it...i dont god will send me to hell for it. So please someone shed some light
That sounds like a really challenging situation, Amanda. I'd be curious to learn what scripture your husband may be basing his thoughts on. For me, scripture is the starting point and common ground for any point of disagreement between believers. For more related to this topic, however, you might find this video I made helpful. Despite the game-focused titled, it has scripture and application relevant to all kinds of geek entertainment. th-cam.com/video/xhHIZ1ukACc/w-d-xo.html -Paeter
@@christiangeekcentral I watched some of that just now and I agree...its not like I take what I enjoy to heart as far as books and stuff go I don't believe the stuff in harry potter is real or anything like that
Well I guess you would have to ask yourself why the ideas in Harry Potter are entertaining to you. For instance, throughout the series Harry speaks to dead relatives and has tea leaves read to him and crystal balls (at least in the movies. However, the Bible clearly condemns necromancy and any other form of divination. Is it acceptable then for the “good” characters to be employing such arts? If so, how much more different are they truly from their enemies?
I have read a few Christian fantasy stories in the last few weeks. The stories are interesting but a bit too allegorical. I just want clean fantasy with a great story. I really don’t need every element of the fantasy world to have a Christian meaning. In addition, the books follow a magical system with characters who have some magical power. Not all fantasy needs to have super heroes.
Stay tuned! In a few months I will have an announcement about a new podcast you might like that is designed to help readers find clean fantasy novels that don't necessarily have overt Christian themes. -Paeter
A complete lack of Christian Fantasy fiction that emphasises Biblical truth and values has had Christians like myself do the unthinkable and read Harry Potter back and forth and try and justify it by saying it has good lessons. In Harry Potter 15% of "good"is just mixed with plain evil and witchcraft. As Christians we are so blinded because our theology is messy and way off point. There is no good and bad side with something that the bible clearly says is evil. Its NOT about good vs bad it is, if you read your bible, God vs evil. Something can look good from what our idea of good is but when you hold it up to scripture find it totally lacking, immoral, crooked and evil. Get rid of all the unwanted fictional entertainment in books, tv and cinnema like Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts 100%. Stop justifying it because there is nothing to read or watch and read your bible dear Christian. Sometimes the only events that start shaking you bringing you back to your senses is the systematic or even sudden occurence of things such as bad dreams and nightmares, feelings of unease and fear or feelings of feeling suddenly 'dirty' or scared. If you experience any of these feelings RUN, fall on your knees and ask the dear Lord Jesus' forgiveness. Repent and trust in Jesus 100% to give you a new heart with new thoughts and desires and never look back.
So, in other words...most Christians are boring. (Sorry) I have always found that the most supernatural book is the bible. There is so much supernatural material in it. We are supernatural beings...and if I should tell an non-Christian about God, to them it sounds like sci-fi and fantasy. Yet many Christians don't like sci-fi. I don't understand it. I liked sci-fi and fantasy before I was a Christian, and I Iike it now. But not the dark ones. (I have the trilogy Firebird) Last night Holy Spirit told me that I cannot hate darkness and be attracted to it at the same time...as in searching for demonic type movies on TH-cam. He is right. Forget Game of Thrones. So, I write short stories and books just for myself. The industry is gruelling. How should I ever break into it anyway? Full time writer ... Living in a car perhaps....hahahaha. Thank you for the book tips here...i'll check them out.
In recent years there's been a lot of breakthroughs with self-publishing as well as the availability of traditional. It may take some time to build a platform but if God and your own heart is telling you to write and share your stories, certainly there are ways. You can submit to magazines, post on sites like wattpad, use Kindle Direct Publishing, etc. "Nothing worth having comes easy" yet if you really desire, like they said in Field of Dreams "If you build it... He will come." Your audience is out there :)
We christians freak out at almost anything. When really if we want to relfect God in our lives we should be the most unique and the top of tops in every field. And how the hell do you justify Christianity in a world that is 7000K years in the past or future????? As far as I am concern I can use roman chapter 1 for this problem. And I dont want a bunch of old church hags and ogers.
Yeah, I haven't read any of their books myself, but they certainly seem to be among the small crowd fighting the good fight for Christian geek fiction! -Paeter
I am a Christian who has always been into writing fantasy and science fiction, especially of the darker variety. I lean more toward sci-fi now, which really allows me to get dark and grungy with my work. Any time I bring this up to my family or some of my friends, they always want to know why I like working with darker themes and characters who are not morally pure, and they usually ask it in a sort of way that seems to condemn me, and why I don't explicitly label my stories as "Christian" or "written by a Christian".
I want to be a light in the dark, not a light in the light. My stories are dark but I like to bring an edge of real hope to them. It is not realistic, nor does it resonate with a dark and lost world, to write the same light stories over and over again. After all, a light is brighter when it's shone into the dark. I'm not marketing my stories to a world of light, I'm sending my stories to a world of darkness that needs that sort of light.
Usually the Christian element that is there is symbolic (and often unintentional on my part--- sometimes I think God puts a notion in my head and lets me write it in), but there are other stories of mine that are dark but feature an explicitly Christian character that really causes the protagonist to think everything through. Protagonist's struggles are an effective way to make readers think as well. They may not fall down and get saved right there, but my job is not to convict: My job is to plant a seed and pray the rest will follow.
Your stuff sounds interesting! Is there any way I can read your books?
YES!! I think your stories would be emotionally realistic (as well as entertaining)! I would love to publish novels in the Christian genre one day for the Christians who do love fantasy and scifi, but I feel like it's going to be banned by those who don't like a challenge before it even reaches its target audience.
sounds cool to be a light.
Just a light
That's right and awesome! I also am planning to write Chrisstian stuff in genres like fantasy, psychological horror of science fiction. And I was searching for such stuff among Google, but couldn't find anything. Where can I find the stuff made by you?
I am the same way. However instead of writing stories I play games such as Dungeons and Dragons. My group is currently running through the story of Ravenloft or as 5e calls it Curse of Strahd. Ravenloft is a setting built around the gothic horror genre with an emphasis on Bram Stokers Dracula aka Count Strahd Von Zarovich in D&D.
In the story I play a half elf Christian cleric and noblewoman who was trapped in Barovia after she was arranged to marry someone and establish a political alliance. Her goal is to save her people and prove herself as a worthy leader. The character concepts I see in her have to do with things like the Royal Priesthood and Bride of Christ spoken of in the Bible. My character is also kindhearted, beautiful, intelligent but naive. She is the embodiment of phrases like “be as wise as serpents but as gentle as doves” or “as a sheep among wolves”. She is smart enough to know not to travel through the Domains of Dread alone and not everyone she meets or works with has good intention. The best thing she can do is be a light in a domain of dread.
I am a big sci-fi and fantasy fan and once wrote fiction in both genres. I never wrote ‘Christian’ fiction but tried to create a protagonist who displayed heroic, lawful qualities and who was driven by a moral compass that didn’t shift according to circumstance. For some believers that was never ‘Christian’ enough, and yet I was encouraged by others who found a non-biblical setting refreshing. It makes me wonder if it is the marketing that is at fault, not the consumer. I know of many believers who share similar reading tastes, but the literature just doesn’t seem available.
I think you have some very good points there. My guess is it's a combination of what readers want and what Christian publishers approve of in pursuit of what readers want (which can sometimes be misguided). Realm Makers, a conference for Christian geek fiction writers, has recently expanded its mission to include being a conference for non-Christian authors as well, though still being operated and motivated by Christians. Brent Weeks will be their keynote speaker next, and he serves as a great example of a Christian bringing their worldview into decidedly mainstream fiction writing. Overlapping Christian and mainstream writing/publishing and blurring those lines could be a very good thing. I think this issue can absolutely resolve itself, but it will likely require small/indie/self-publishing to play a big role, as well as require readers to more intentionally seek out what they want rather than wait for the main Christian publishers to carry it. Thanks for your thoughts! You brought some good points to mind! -Paeter
Much of this I was delighted to hear. It is precisely my opinion about Christian Fantasy/SciFi. I write Fantasy because not writing doesn't work. ;) I am also a Christian because non-Christianing doesn't work either. For many, many years I have known, more than felt, that God wants Christians to redeem/infiltrate the Fantasy genre. After all God made us imaginative so we could understand the intangible, so we could relate with Him. Fantasy should expound on God's truths, exercise our abilities to understand intangible things and enable healing. Therefore! It is my task/quest to infiltrate the Fantasy Genre. I beg any other Christian to join the fight. We must reclaim people's imaginations, because that is where humans are the most unguarded. If it is said loudly and entertainingly, we have seen people believe anything! I write Fantasy without.... Well. Without a lot of things but this is my favourite topic and I could write forever about it. Christian Writers should be good enough to be hired by secular publishers. Christian Writers should not be lazy. Christian Fantasy should not be the Shrug Off many think it is. Go! Write! Redeem the entire genre!
Thanks for your thoughts on this! -Paeter
Thank you so much for making this video! As a Christian filmmaker, I've been torturing myself lately over this very subject. I allowed a warped viewpoint into my head and that is my fault. It's extremely encouraging to hear others discussing this as well!
Placing subtle, faith based themes into our stories is our greatest tool this day in age. I know many atheists with their noses in fantasy and sci-fi. We need to understand that only the Holy Spirit can change people, just focus on good stories with solid themes, be they gentle or direct, and let God use them to reach people in his time, not ours.
Keep up the great work! 😎🎥
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts! -Paeter
You are not alone I write fiction and I keep torturing myself whether I should write fiction with contemporary Christian lessons in it.
I have to agree with the points being made in the article. Going into Christian Bookstores, the only time I have seen books that would fit the fantasy fiction or science-fiction mould are end times thrillers, Ted Dekker thrillers or Frank Peretti thrillers (notice a pattern here?). Otherwise, most (if not all of) adult fiction being sold in Christian bookstores are historical fiction or slice of life drama, often times with a romantic angle, and while there's nothing wrong with those kind of stories being on the market, there is a problem when they're only ones. Weirdly enough, the only time I've seen adult Christian fantasy novels being prominently displayed was when I had the opportunity to visit a Mormon bookstore and saw all kind of obscure craziness begging to be bought (the business would later be shut down due to lack of interest).
Now can I do anything to solve the problem by financially supporting these authors and getting my congregation to be aware of the stories? Not when I'm currently broke and lack the confidence to speak to most members of my church. But I do sense a revival in the near future, especially when Christian fantasy fiction is being more prominently presented to children and teenagers, so hopefully when they grow up and continue to hold on to their love of imagination, they will pursue more of those stories and help reshape the market into something that's more diverse.
I think you've isolated a key skill we can all be praying God will grant us growth in: talking to people. Such a hard thing to do, but I think us stumbling through growth in that area will likely be key to seeing change in our local churches. Thanks for your thoughts on this, Nathan! -Paeter
I am really glad I found this channel. I'm a writer, a fantasy writer, hoping to use that gift for God. This community (within the Christian community) is very much needed today, especially considering the impact that fantasy, and scifi, and video games, and cartoons have on our youth and young adults. Considering the impact it has on me. There is certainly a powerful ministry to be formulated in the realm of fantasy writing. I'm certain that God recognizes it. So, it's good to find others in that sphere. God bless.
Thanks so much for the encouragement! Glad to be useful! -Paeter
I know that I have always been discouraged to like sci fi fantasy growing up in christian schools and churches but I know for myself I consider it my ministry now. I see my writing as an outreach tool to bring people to Christ and the truth telling church. I see the novel ive been working on for being something that has never been or ever will be. Its something really special and cant wait to release it to the public. It can go one of two ways either become a huge dumpster fire or take on a life of its own. God wants us to reach the sci fi geek because they are being overlooked by Christian sector of our society. Where you have someone who will watch the latest star wars or star trek movie or tv show but never pick up a bible. If we offer this in a real way where its not preachy or talking down to people it could get the sci fi fantasy community excited to know more about God and Jesus which to be as a Pentacostal means the same thing. Just my thought and during my sermon I heard recently
Remember the dream dont let it die.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this, Jamie! -Paeter
I grew up in an evangelical charismatic household, but one which has always embraced fiction. My dad and I are massive LOTR fans, and I also love stories like Narnia or Ted Dekker’s Circle Series.
Cool! That's great to hear! -Paeter
Writing under a Christian label may be much harder than writing for the general audience because of this--there is limited readership in general, and then there is the limited amount of Christians who enjoy reading Christian fantasy.
I feel as though people who read fantasy are those who are most likely to become writers or creative people of some kind, and that makes it tricky too for marketing fantasy to people who don't appreciate the genre itself, let alone Christian fantasy.
A lot of people in older generations only read Christian romance, Christian mysteries, and Christian nonfiction self-help.
Very true! There can be a stigma about fantasy among Christians, and many Christians (myself included, honestly) are more interested in reading an author whose style they enjoy than they are interested in reading one who is a Christian. Thanks for your thoughts! -Paeter
Really loving seeing how many people struggle with the same issues I’m struggling with. I’m a horror writer, and love reading that kind of thing, too. I love the creativity behind it all, even if it’s wrong. I’ve tried writing other genres, but I’m just not good at them. Can’t create decent stories or characters in them. But, with horror, I can hit the marks perfectly. Still feel like I’m in the wrong, though.
I can relate to having feelings like that. Those are the times when its been most valuable for me to let my feelings be guided by what I believe to be true, rather than the other way around. If you can identify and put into words a reason or argument for why you think you are wrong, that's a great starting point, because then you can test that reasoning and see if it holds up under scrutiny. -Paeter
@@christiangeekcentral Thanks, Paeter. Love your content, man. Needed to hear that.
@Michael Kikle You might want to check out "Christian Horror" by Mike Duran. It examines the compatibility of Christian faith with the horror genre. I haven't actually read it yet, but I feel comfortable recommending it because Mike Duran is a respected Christian author and part of the Realm Makers community. You might find it interesting. www.goodreads.com/book/show/26119762-christian-horror
A very wise person once told me that fiction/entertainment is an excellent Trojan horse for the gospel. I write in many genres, but I'm especially passionate about science fiction and fantasy. A lot of my inspiration for storytelling comes from CS Lewis, who also heavily influenced my walk with Christ. It is a ministry of sorts to me, and there is SO MUCH that can be taught to readers through that vein. We can learn so much about real life, the world, and God from such stories. We can get a very moving picture of this world through the lens of another. Also, I'm just a plain nerd for these genres, so...that boosts my passion more as well. In addition, I believe we can possibly reach folks that might not otherwise welcome the Bible with open arms at first. For example, you can have something in your story that causes a person to ask themselves, "Hey, how is this significant? What does this mean to me?" It can really convict a person and lead them to Jesus.
Recently, I watched one of Gene Roddenberry's series, called Earth: Final Conflict--and let me just say that there were SO many biblical values in it even though it was secular. I took a lot away from it and it really moved me. How much more can a Christian sci-fi or fantasy impact somebody for Christ? Even more! I like to tackle the hard and relevant questions that people, including me, face and dish it out in a new way. Even in one of my upcoming projects, the main villain of the story has so much to offer to the reader, as his part of the story is largely a warning for people to not remain or end up like him. Then again, the protagonist, who is a lot like the villain in many ways, ends up someplace completely different because he surrendered his all to God.
I pray that the Lord somehow uses these stories to further His kingdom and bring more sheep into the Good Shepherd's fold.
Thanks for this, Bro.
My pleasure! Thanks for watching! -Paeter
I was thinking of writing ( have already done a lot of work on) a Fantasy Novel with Christian undertones, but I don't know if God wants me to do it =/
Why do you think he might not want you to? -Paeter
I know this is an old comment but wanted to chime in too--I've struggled with the question of whether or not God wanted me to write a fantasy novel with Christian elements. My biggest fears were that there would be "incorrect theology" in the storyworld or that readers would be led astray by things I didn't intend to lead them astray. Well, it's a different world, so it might have different rules than Christian theology. The other thing is that readers will see what they want to see and I can't do anything about that as a writer doing my best. The most important thing is revealing the truth within the threads of beauty and adventure.
A writing mentor who is a Christian told me that sometimes God gives us the choice to write or not to write. Like, He leaves it up to us. Sometimes He gives us creative ideas to work with.
Hope that encourages you!
@SG 100 I think the very fact that we're concerned about pleasing the Lord pleases Him.
Another thing I just thought of: Just like how we tell ourselves it's okay to write a bad first draft, we have to let ourselves write a draft even if it's not pleasing to God completely so that He can correct us where it isn't good, and then we can fix the story so it does please Him.
A blank draft can't be fixed, but a finished draft can be.
@SG 100 And of course we can also listen to discernment if we have a clear feeling it's either not time to write a certain story yet and we know that's not just our subconscious wanting to procrastinate but the Holy Spirit's leading, or if we get a sense that that is not the kind of story God wants us to write period.
I kinda think that the sci fi fantasy genre tends to be more grungy is because basically the key factor is the reality of what tolkein said about fairy stories in his essay on fairy stories is that it's based on the idea of the great escape from small tight spaces to the wide spaces and to open our eyes to the reality of the fantastical supernatural world of God's creation and in where we are the hero making the choices and save that world from evil and to experience the creator's power and to enjoy him forever
That sounds like a cool perspective! I may have to track down that essay sometime! -Paeter
I think there might be more to it, we are not supposed to be of this world, we are not just supposed to sit here entertained all the time, we are on a mission, and are supposed to be preparing for this mission ( not saying we shouldn't have SOME entertainment, or MAKE some entertainment). Another factor to throw in is, where do we draw the line?
Lets say you have a story about a young man who defeats the "Great Serpent", he (prays, he has faith, he sacrifices himself, he loves and forgives his enemy).
Great Christian Fantasy novel right? Now lets say someone takes it one step farther, and writes another novel. In this novel this young warrior does all of that good Christian stuff in the brackets above, and more, but the whole novel is just him slaughtering wolf people, and snake people. Would that be a good Christian novel? Would it make most Christians freak out, and take away their kids books, and judge young adults who read these books? Probably.
The book would be promoting violence way more than it would be promoting any Christian ideals. Throw in a risqué love scene, and you are really going to get Christians riled up.
And THEN we have to ask ourselves, is this glorifying God? Is this planting any seeds? Is it simply entertainment that Christians can accept since they are not allowed to read/watch certain things? What is it accomplishing? Is it showing the world that you can have entertaining fantasy without being vulgar? Perhaps being an example, or light to others, raising the bar if you will.
Thanks for your thoughts! I think the questions in your last paragraph are important ones to ask! -Paeter
With it being 2020,are Christian fantasy and sci-fi books still a dead genre? I'm currently editing a middle grade fantasy christian book, some elements like Bridge to Teribithia are in it. It would be a shame to go through all that and no one wants it. 🤣🙁😢
Good question! There are new Christian fantasy books being published every month! But I would recommend reaching out to the folks behind lorehaven.com and speculativefaith.com, as they can give you a better reader of the market. -Paeter
@@christiangeekcentral thanks! I will check them out.
I have been doing a lot of thinking about A.I., the human soul, etc. lately. I love writing and have a serial set of cyberpunk stories with a Christian Protagonist (although, i am not sure how evident it is within the writing). I've also been thinking... and i might actually be wrong about this... but... it seems, at least from my experiences, is that... authors, etc. try and overlay our faith on top of troupes... instead of infusing what a Christian response would be within the settings. Again, i might be wrong, and of not enough exposure within our faith in these genres.
God bless brother, and to all of my brothers and sisters that also watch these videos. :)
~ 7ohn
There may be some truth to that. Honestly, despite promoting Christian Geek fiction, I don't read much of it myself. So I don't have a good awareness of trends. But I would hope that Christian writers would increasingly do what you've described as "infusing what a Christian response would be within the settings". It seems to me that would result in much more interesting and creative stories!
And BTW, if you'd like to connect with some other writers in the CGC community(of which there are a significant number!), there is a section of our forums dedicated to brainstorming about creative endeavors! You can find it here: spiritblade.forum-motion.com/f3-brain-storm-shelter
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
-Paeter
Research the relationship between Christians and Pegans...
There are some Christians who just don't need speculative fiction. They are happy with reality. But there are many, many non-believers who might need good quality fantasy and sf with hidden Christian themes (or open ones, so long as there is enough of a solid story not to scare them off.)
I think most people (including myself I think) would prefer to see some Christian tie in to other fictional works. Examples include Lord of the Rings, Narnia, even Harry Potter etc. That's also good because it allows non Christian viewers to learn Christian values. That's just me though
I'm interested in hearing more of your thoughts on this. What do you mean by "tie-in"? -Paeter
+christiangeekcentral I mean like if there are heavy Christian themes and values that are tied into the plot of a movie that isn't labeled as a Christian movie. I think it's a good way to reach a lot of people.
Gotcha. I'd love to see that, too! -Paeter
Andrew Peterson writes Fantasy
That's true! I think I've featured him on a Christian Geek Radar video before. His books are more aimed at kids than most fantasy, but my wife enjoyed them enough to read through his series. Thanks! -Paeter
I'm currently reading his Wingfeather Saga and almost halfway through book 3! It's my favorite in the quartet.
Thank you for this! Helpful and interesting. Also, a little bit sad! The points raised, I mean, not your delivery, which is excellent. I am really trying to devote more time to my writing. Years ago I got underway with a novel centered on Elijah. I took the Biblical accounts as a starting point for a fictional work. My novel has morphed into a fantasy setting, rather than being based around Elijah, but my goal is the same. To write a good story that has genuinely biblical themes and perspectives, without getting preachy.
I get frustrated at the way otherwise terrific novels fall short of truth, in respect of things like God's nature, righteousness, grace, evil, sin, heaven and hell, judgement etc etc. They so often elevate distorted views on these important themes, because the author has no biblical foundations.
I have Christian friends that are fans of Sf or fantasy fiction, but it sounds like they are a minority! That is a problem. I don't want to spend countless hours creating books for a tiny niche genre, with little prospect of my novels finding an audience. Yet I feel driven to write that which I myself want to read; fantasy with a biblical underpinning.
Perhaps the only realistic way forward is to write stories that have enough general appeal to fantasy fans, whilst keeping the Christian themes only subtlety inferred?
I think it may come down to what your goal is for the finished product. Do you want to make a living from writing? Do you want to reach a specific group of people with a specific truth? Do you want to connect with the largest number of readers possible? I'm not sure we're in a time where the themes you mention can be explored beyond a surface or implied/symbolic level while still connecting to an audience large enough to support an author financially. But that's only an impression I have, not based on any data.
Personally, I strive for imaginative storytelling that directly explores major questions of biblical faith, knowing that I'm shrinking my Christian audience by going to some wild and/or dark places of the imagination and shrinking my non-Christian audience by being so obviously Christian in my content. (And on top of that its audio drama, which shrinks the audience even more.) But I continue down that path because I believe those elements play to my strengths and passions and I'm currently in the rare position of not having to be financially successful in order to continue my work. I also have a heart for a specific group of people, not simply the largest audience possible.
So maybe some time spent probing your intent and purpose will help clarify what kind of content you create?
All God's best as you sort through how to serve him!
-Paeter
Hmmmm, I’m writing a Christian Sci-Fi… maybe I need to explore this as well!
Thanks for the great video. And check out R.A. Lafferty.
why do Christian publishers call it speculative fiction. I mean if I am look for fantasy I look in the fantasy section so in effect they are making it hard for people to find it. Having worked in a bookstore I am don't find the Narnia series or LOTR in the Christian section but in young adult and fantasy section.
Also, si fi and fantasy can bring up subjects that get people to thinking openly about a problem but if you made a real book about it people would be closed to the ideas people are bringing up ie look at the subjects Star Trek brought up.
Thank-you
My pleasure! Thanks for watching! -Paeter
The story I'm making is more a sci-fi fantasy(not medieval past, a near future) and later realized it's a Christian fiction
I’m trying to write something. It’s hard to conceptualize - know what is safe and biblically acceptable. Furthermore I haven’t seen it enough to see mistakes and right ways. Except for biblical retelling of the Bible with bits here and there added based on assumptions.
There are definitely real challenges to writing quality geek-genre fiction from a Christian perspective! I'd highly recommend connecting with other Christian writers to compare thoughts and learn from each other. A good starting point is the community around speculativefaith.com ! -Paeter
christiangeekcentral christiangeekcentral I think I’m going to rely on the retelling method. If you think about real life preaches constantly quote scriptures and yet their lives (the preachers ) are a narrative. And The Bible movies can be viewed like this a preacher quoting and describing events of the Bible.
Interesting site. I’ll have to check it out more.
Wow… as an aspiring Fantasy/Speculative fiction writer this was enlightening. But I now understand why I’m a circle trying to fit the square hole… Last I saw, it seemed Christian publishing was dying. Am I wrong? … I think there’s a double standard here because I know plenty of Christians who enjoy fantasy type movies…so what’s the deal with books? 🤔. I draw the line at horror - but that’s in any medium. Interesting video. Thx.
I couldn't say whether its dying or not compared to mainstream publishing. (Both may be equally flourishing or struggling for all I know.) But I do think that Christian fantasy is finding its audience among small publishers like Enclave, or in the self-publishing realm. A good resource would be lorehaven.com. -Paeter
I tried hunting (yes, hunting) for some quality Christian fantasy novels at Books a Million a few weeks back. I saw rows and rows of Christian Romance, with only a FEW of Ted Dekker's books in paperback. I know he has way more books than that, yet it was the romance authors that claimed the most shelf space. And this was not the first time this has happened.
Seems like the Christian genre targets only one audience with a particular taste and leaves scraps for the rest of us.
Whether it's the publishers' fault for not marketing quality Christian fantasy or the result of certain Christian readers driving them away from catering to other audiences of diverse tastes, I don't know. Either way, it's frustrating, and it turns me off as a Christian.
I don't like or care for novels that focus on romance as the main plot of the story. Never have.
Rather than discouraging other personalities from reading Christian fiction or expecting us to modify what we naturally enjoy or don't enjoy as readers, I think it should be remembered that there's a sub-genre for everyone (or almost everyone), and that should be made available to Christians, just as it is for non-Christians.
P.S. Thank you for making this video! I really appreciate it! :)
I can appreciate your frustration! I'm wondering if we'll ultimately have to go the route that those with "indie" tastes have to go: online. The digital age has been increasingly tough on physical media stores in general, and so they tend to survive by focusing on the most popular items. Meanwhile, those interested in indie music, movies and video games can find them more easily than ever before by taking their search online.
My guess is the physical retail situation will not improve and sites like speculativefaith.com and niche Christian Publishers like Enclave and The Crossover Alliance will become increasingly important. We'll see!
Thanks for watching and for sharing your thoughts!
-Paeter
I did not know that there was such a thing as Christian fantasy till 2023. Were these Christian books marketed and advertised?
I also believe a religious spirit - like the Pharisees and Sadducees- causes Christians to think that fantasy is wrong.
But in the Bible there are epic battles, giants, and other supernatural beings. Plus Samson had great strength, Elijah prayed and God let fire fall, Elisha out-ran a chariot, Moses parted the red sea and brought water out of a rock. There were many other true events, all of these were by the power of God.
I also believe the fantasy, sci-fi, mystery, western, and thriller books written by Christians must be excellently written so that they become bestselling books not only on Christian bestseller lists but all bestselling lists.
To answer your question, Christian Fantasy books are often marketed by specializing publishers, but we are unlikely to hear about them in mainstream press and media. But lorehaven.com is a good resource and I also highlight new and upcoming releases each week on the Christian Geek Central Podcast. I hope that helps! -Paeter
Did that article quote the answer to the WSC Q1? Win!
Sorry, I must be a little slow. What does "WSC Q1" stand for? -Paeter
+christiangeekcentral Sorry! ☺️. Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 1. Presbyterians can be geeks too!
Yes indeed, Taylor. I find the "chief end" question very clarifying, both for "the chief end of man" and for other things humans use in their pursuit of glorifying God and enjoying him forever. For example, "What is the chief end of fantastical stories?" Or, "What is the chief end of popular culture?"
You can find the full article on Speculative Faith here: www.speculativefaith.com/why-isnt-there-more-christian-fantasy/
Oh, gotcha. Should have had my wife around when I read that. She grew up Presbyterian. Thanks for clarifying! -Paeter
Right. What does the Holy Bible say? Also, I know the Holy Spirit convicts me when I do something that doesn't please God.
So magic in story isn't bad is just the way you put it?
Yeah, I would agree with that summary. -Paeter
I remember the Christian Crusader comics.
Good video
Thank you! -Paeter
You look like actor Paul Rudd
Wow, that's surprising! But I'll take it, thanks! -Paeter
First again. I will continue to post "first" until it is no longer needed. :p.
See I'm struggling with my husband believes certain games, tv shows and movies and or books allow evil spirits in and I just dont believe that. Like I enjoy harry potter and lotrs and such but I know its fictional and dont believe in it...i dont god will send me to hell for it. So please someone shed some light
That sounds like a really challenging situation, Amanda. I'd be curious to learn what scripture your husband may be basing his thoughts on. For me, scripture is the starting point and common ground for any point of disagreement between believers. For more related to this topic, however, you might find this video I made helpful. Despite the game-focused titled, it has scripture and application relevant to all kinds of geek entertainment. th-cam.com/video/xhHIZ1ukACc/w-d-xo.html -Paeter
@@christiangeekcentral I watched some of that just now and I agree...its not like I take what I enjoy to heart as far as books and stuff go I don't believe the stuff in harry potter is real or anything like that
Well I guess you would have to ask yourself why the ideas in Harry Potter are entertaining to you. For instance, throughout the series Harry speaks to dead relatives and has tea leaves read to him and crystal balls (at least in the movies. However, the Bible clearly condemns necromancy and any other form of divination. Is it acceptable then for the “good” characters to be employing such arts? If so, how much more different are they truly from their enemies?
I have read a few Christian fantasy stories in the last few weeks. The stories are interesting but a bit too allegorical. I just want clean fantasy with a great story. I really don’t need every element of the fantasy world to have a Christian meaning. In addition, the books follow a magical system with characters who have some magical power. Not all fantasy needs to have super heroes.
Stay tuned! In a few months I will have an announcement about a new podcast you might like that is designed to help readers find clean fantasy novels that don't necessarily have overt Christian themes. -Paeter
A complete lack of Christian Fantasy fiction that emphasises Biblical truth and values has had Christians like myself do the unthinkable and read Harry Potter back and forth and try and justify it by saying it has good lessons. In Harry Potter 15% of "good"is just mixed with plain evil and witchcraft. As Christians we are so blinded because our theology is messy and way off point. There is no good and bad side with something that the bible clearly says is evil. Its NOT about good vs bad it is, if you read your bible, God vs evil. Something can look good from what our idea of good is but when you hold it up to scripture find it totally lacking, immoral, crooked and evil. Get rid of all the unwanted fictional entertainment in books, tv and cinnema like Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts 100%. Stop justifying it because there is nothing to read or watch and read your bible dear Christian. Sometimes the only events that start shaking you bringing you back to your senses is the systematic or even sudden occurence of things such as bad dreams and nightmares, feelings of unease and fear or feelings of feeling suddenly 'dirty' or scared. If you experience any of these feelings RUN, fall on your knees and ask the dear Lord Jesus' forgiveness. Repent and trust in Jesus 100% to give you a new heart with new thoughts and desires and never look back.
Bible is not enough?
So, in other words...most Christians are boring. (Sorry)
I have always found that the most supernatural book is the bible. There is so much supernatural material in it. We are supernatural beings...and if I should tell an non-Christian about God, to them it sounds like sci-fi and fantasy. Yet many Christians don't like sci-fi. I don't understand it.
I liked sci-fi and fantasy before I was a Christian, and I Iike it now. But not the dark ones. (I have the trilogy Firebird)
Last night Holy Spirit told me that I cannot hate darkness and be attracted to it at the same time...as in searching for demonic type movies on TH-cam. He is right. Forget Game of Thrones.
So, I write short stories and books just for myself. The industry is gruelling. How should I ever break into it anyway? Full time writer ... Living in a car perhaps....hahahaha.
Thank you for the book tips here...i'll check them out.
Thanks for your thoughts, Andrea! -Paeter
In recent years there's been a lot of breakthroughs with self-publishing as well as the availability of traditional. It may take some time to build a platform but if God and your own heart is telling you to write and share your stories, certainly there are ways. You can submit to magazines, post on sites like wattpad, use Kindle Direct Publishing, etc. "Nothing worth having comes easy" yet if you really desire, like they said in Field of Dreams "If you build it... He will come." Your audience is out there :)
We christians freak out at almost anything. When really if we want to relfect God in our lives we should be the most unique and the top of tops in every field. And how the hell do you justify Christianity in a world that is 7000K years in the past or future????? As far as I am concern I can use roman chapter 1 for this problem. And I dont want a bunch of old church hags and ogers.
Apologeticsfiction? Look it up.
Yeah, I haven't read any of their books myself, but they certainly seem to be among the small crowd fighting the good fight for Christian geek fiction! -Paeter
Please consider doing an interview. Not officially part of them.