Can Christians Write Fantasy Stories

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
M

MatthiasProctor

Banned
#1
Feb 5, 2015
65
1
0
#1
Can Christians write fantasy stories that are set in magical lands that involve mythical creatures (like fairies, dragons, aliens, etc), and referencing Greek, Norse, or Egyptian mythology? This includes writing science fiction stories.

Some would say that it is okay to write fantasy stories, so long as the stories do not glorify sex, excessive violence, and characters aren't swearing every other sentence. Some would say that writing fantasy stories are okay if there is a Christian message. Some would also say that we must distinguish between fantasy and reality.

Some would say that it is not okay to write such stories. The bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:22 to abstain from all appearances of evil. So, for example, if a person were to write a story that had a character use magic, the author may be in danger of hell fire for promoting such evil, for sorcerers will have their part in the lake of fire that will burn day and night.

So what are your thoughts?
 
tourist

tourist

Senior Member
#2
Mar 13, 2014
41,304
16,297
113
69
Tennessee
#2
Using the right approach such stories could be useful in promoting spiritual values. Reading fantasy & science fiction is a relaxing recreational outlet allowing one to escape for a moment from the hectic world in which we live. To have such reading material requires those talented and inclined to write such stories. I see nothing evil about the writing profession.
 
resurrection33

resurrection33

Banned
#3
Dec 19, 2009
27,513
128
0
71
#3
MatthiasProctor said:
Can Christians write fantasy stories that are set in magical lands that involve mythical creatures (like fairies, dragons, aliens, etc), and referencing Greek, Norse, or Egyptian mythology? This includes writing science fiction stories.

Some would say that it is okay to write fantasy stories, so long as the stories do not glorify sex, excessive violence, and characters aren't swearing every other sentence. Some would say that writing fantasy stories are okay if there is a Christian message. Some would also say that we must distinguish between fantasy and reality.

Some would say that it is not okay to write such stories. The bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:22 to abstain from all appearances of evil. So, for example, if a person were to write a story that had a character use magic, the author may be in danger of hell fire for promoting such evil, for sorcerers will have their part in the lake of fire that will burn day and night.

So what are your thoughts?
Click to expand...
I don't mind fantasy stories if sin isn't glorified in them.
 
A

atwhatcost

Guest
#4
#4
I am. My characters live in this world, but they're stuffed animals. You can call their powers magical, if you want, I just think of them as abilities somewhat better than humans. Then again, I've known humans to have both "powers":
The power to put someone to sleep. (Most professors have that one, right?)
The power to know what loved ones are feeling. (That's a skill developed through years of marriage or parenting.)

Christianity isn't legalism nor anarchy. It's moving in God's will and using the skills he equips us with. One of the skills he's gifted me with is writing. Finally, after so many years of writing nonfiction for business, I'm free to have fun with it.

My tale is one to get kids to think past the legalism and anarchy. To understand they are no less equipped than adults, but they have limits.

Is it a Christian tale? Not really, but it's written by a Christian, so my beliefs are aimed toward God.

I really don't care what legalists and anarchists think of what I'm doing. I just hope kids enjoy it.
 
Angela53510

Angela53510

Senior Member
#5
Jan 24, 2011
11,780
2,943
113
#5
Have you ever read CS Lewis' The Narnia Stories? How about Lord of the Ringsby Tolkien? They were both Christians, and it shows in their books.

I've been reading Sci Fi since I was 12. I stopped for about 20 years, because my husband said it was ungodly and immoral. Which basically meant, I found out, that he didn't like it!

While I don't like most fantasy because it has no resemblance to reality, and usually isn't well written, I have found that most Science Fiction is cleaner and less gory than any mainstream fiction. I don't remember the last time I even saw a swear word in Sci Fi.

I think the idea, is to make it Christian Science Fiction or Fantasy if you are writing. So, you would do like CS Lewis did, and put the Word of God into the pages, where it won't return void. You don't even have to cite the book, chapter and verse, although a cross reference in an appendix at the back of the book, might be a very interesting idea for the reader to see what he is reading.

Everyone who writes a book has a world view. Arthur C Clarke was a Buddhist, and it really came through in his later books. I once read a four book series, where they talked about God and his will all the time. Plus about a Saviour. It wasn't until the last page of the four books they quoted, "I am the Alpha and the Omega" that I realized the writer was Christian. On a re-read, it became much clearer to me that the author was a Christian. I just wasn't expecting it in the 1990's!

I think writing Christian fantasy or Science Fiction would be a real ministry, to reach people who have never really heard the gospel. The writing would have to be very clever, like CS Lewis, in embedding the gospel message in the books, along with Bible verses.

And yes, no swearing, gory stuff or sexual stuff. I'm reading a 3 books series from the 1960's. There are lots of anachronism, but since I grew up then, I know what they mean. It is written by a secular author, but there is literally not a swear word, nor sexual overture in the books. Because it wasn't acceptable in the 1960's.

Make the genre your own. Make it Christian, and I will pray for you that many will hear the gospel in your writing!
 
S

StevieJ

Banned
#6
Jul 30, 2015
116
1
0
#6
The lion witch and the wordrobe
 
A

atwhatcost

Guest
#7
#7
resurrection33 said:
I don't mind fantasy stories if sin isn't glorified in them.
Click to expand...
Hard to have a story without a protagonist and antagonist. One of them is going to think wrong. lol

Romeo and Juliet promoted recklessness of youth. So did Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn.

The Cat in the Hat promoted selfishness.

Goldilocks and the Three Bears promoted gluttony.

What novel do you know about that doesn't promote man's will over God's will? lol
 
A

atwhatcost

Guest
#8
#8
How come Catholicism is heretical, but C.S. Lewis is the author to point to for all things Christian fiction?

I love his writing, but I'm not one to go about trusting because someone is religious he sets the bar. (I so hope no one ever points at my stories as an example of Christ. My characters aren't any better than Lewis's Edmond. lol)
 
dcontroversal

dcontroversal

Banned
#9
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
20,395
113
#9
Why not...........agree with post 2, 3 and 5!
 
posthuman

posthuman

Senior Member
#10
Jul 31, 2013
36,647
13,121
113
#10
well, i thought these were a blessing when i read them.

dekker-circle-series-boxed-set.jpg

(for example)

((an example other than C.S. Lewis, haha))
 
resurrection33

resurrection33

Banned
#11
Dec 19, 2009
27,513
128
0
71
#11
atwhatcost said:
Hard to have a story without a protagonist and antagonist. One of them is going to think wrong. lol

Romeo and Juliet promoted recklessness of youth. So did Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn.

The Cat in the Hat promoted selfishness.

Goldilocks and the Three Bears promoted gluttony.

What novel do you know about that doesn't promote man's will over God's will? lol
Click to expand...
You can have a bad guy. You don't want to glorify him, though.
 
Gozinia

Gozinia

Banned
#12
Feb 11, 2015
243
1
0
#12
Dang and I like Goldilocks and the three bears...that's what I read myself to sleep with still...hope I'm not a glutton for readin' it too much :(
 
kingerik

kingerik

Senior Member
#13
Sep 25, 2013
260
1
18
#13
MatthiasProctor said:
Can Christians write fantasy stories that are set in magical lands that involve mythical creatures (like fairies, dragons, aliens, etc), and referencing Greek, Norse, or Egyptian mythology? This includes writing science fiction stories.

Some would say that it is okay to write fantasy stories, so long as the stories do not glorify sex, excessive violence, and characters aren't swearing every other sentence. Some would say that writing fantasy stories are okay if there is a Christian message. Some would also say that we must distinguish between fantasy and reality.

Some would say that it is not okay to write such stories. The bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:22 to abstain from all appearances of evil. So, for example, if a person were to write a story that had a character use magic, the author may be in danger of hell fire for promoting such evil, for sorcerers will have their part in the lake of fire that will burn day and night.

So what are your thoughts?
Click to expand...

It doesn't have to be overtly "christian" at all. It could be just a fantasy book that portrays good morals against bad morals without mentioning God or anything of the sort but still have an element of your faith in them. I like the Harry Potter series, it doesn't mention God at all, but it does have very good morals in them and I love that series.

but if you're a christian than you probably wouldn't be writing about Egyptian and Norse Gods. Your faith and ideas speak in your writing without you even trying...and if you're writing and God gave you that gift then God will give you original ideas...you won't need to use others. God isn't a copycat.

I have three ideas...one of them is overtly religious mention God and my beliefs. Another doesn't have my beliefs put out on the table but you could definitely piece them out over time as it has a lot of Christianity overtones and allegories, and the third doesn't mention God at all or even references him but it's very symbolic and two people could read it coming away with two different things. They are all fantasy btw.

so Yes.
 
MarcR

MarcR

Senior Member
#14
Feb 12, 2015
5,486
183
63
#14
MatthiasProctor said:
Can Christians write fantasy stories that are set in magical lands that involve mythical creatures (like fairies, dragons, aliens, etc), and referencing Greek, Norse, or Egyptian mythology? This includes writing science fiction stories.

Some would say that it is okay to write fantasy stories, so long as the stories do not glorify sex, excessive violence, and characters aren't swearing every other sentence. Some would say that writing fantasy stories are okay if there is a Christian message. Some would also say that we must distinguish between fantasy and reality.

Some would say that it is not okay to write such stories. The bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:22 to abstain from all appearances of evil. So, for example, if a person were to write a story that had a character use magic, the author may be in danger of hell fire for promoting such evil, for sorcerers will have their part in the lake of fire that will burn day and night.

So what are your thoughts?
Click to expand...

C.S. Lewis certainly did in the Narnia Chronicles.

Johan Wyss did in Swiss Family Robinson
 
You must log in or register to reply here.