How does the bible apply to fiction?

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Heart26

Guest
#1
#1
In the book of Matthew it states that committing adultery with your eyes and wishing someone dead are bad things.
Does this apply to fiction too?
I mean, as I peruse the internet, sometimes I stumble upon some disturbing things. Pictures of a someone getting raped or having horrific acts of violence done to drawn for other's enjoyment. My instincts are to turn away in disgust and appeal for their removal. But everyone seems to be under this consensus, "If it's fiction, it's OK". That doesn't feel right to me, and yet I don't know how to deal with it. Obviously a good step is to not seek them out, but what about when one comes across it as a twist of fate?
 
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NoNameMcgee

Guest
#2
#2
Heart26 said:
In the book of Matthew it states that committing adultery with your eyes and wishing someone dead are bad things.
Does this apply to fiction too?
I mean, as I peruse the internet, sometimes I stumble upon some disturbing things. Pictures of a someone getting raped or having horrific acts of violence done to drawn for other's enjoyment. My instincts are to turn away in disgust and appeal for their removal. But everyone seems to be under this consensus, "If it's fiction, it's OK". That doesn't feel right to me, and yet I don't know how to deal with it. Obviously a good step is to not seek them out, but what about when one comes across it as a twist of fate?
Click to expand...
ill give my take on this....

Psalms 101:3

“I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.”


i suggest if you can help it

dont watch things that are messed up


fiction or not
 
Seekingfamily

Seekingfamily

Senior Member
#3
Jun 20, 2017
395
13
0
#3
It will be one's opinion...I see dangers in it, look at the Slender man attempted murder. I knew quite a bit of people, who are influenced, even by cartoons. When I spent time in jail, I read a romance novel for the first time, and had a sinful response to it. Never will read one again.
 
posthuman

posthuman

Senior Member
#4
Jul 31, 2013
36,681
13,132
113
#4
if you are asking, because i read a book in which someone is murdered, or i see a movie in which someone steals, am i in my heart guilty of committing murder and theft?

that depends on whether when i read or watched those things happen, i desired to do all of them longingly, or i was repulsed by them, wouldn't it? and if you're an author using a narrative or you're a journalist reporting on the facts of history, wouldn't it depend on your intent? that is, documenting sin, whether in fiction in order to communicate a story, or to give an accurate history, isn't the same as committing it in your heart.

you can find rape and murder and theft and lust and greed and liars and the godless in the Bible, too, by the way. not everyone in it is Jesus lol -- so i reckon if merely reading about such things makes you a sinner, well, who can be saved??
 
Denadii

Denadii

Banned
#5
May 13, 2017
2,359
27
0
#5
Heart26 said:
In the book of Matthew it states that committing adultery with your eyes and wishing someone dead are bad things.
Does this apply to fiction too?
I mean, as I peruse the internet, sometimes I stumble upon some disturbing things. Pictures of a someone getting raped or having horrific acts of violence done to drawn for other's enjoyment. My instincts are to turn away in disgust and appeal for their removal. But everyone seems to be under this consensus, "If it's fiction, it's OK". That doesn't feel right to me, and yet I don't know how to deal with it. Obviously a good step is to not seek them out, but what about when one comes across it as a twist of fate?
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That all depends on what you call fiction. What you describe above is not fiction its porn. Fiction as a writing style is for entertainment and generally speaking most good fiction writers like to edify the reader as well. Movies, in my estimation do not fit the criteria as fiction. Why not? Movies put too much emphasis on spectacular effects and little else. They leave no room for the imagination to fill in the scenery or situation. I think its a good question though, since I am a writer of fiction. What guidelines should I use for good fiction. If I cannot write a good action story by this criteria I have no business writing at all.
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
This is the criteria for good fiction. And there is a lot of good fiction out there.
 
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