Someday, when I am rich and famous
Or when my children are grown
Or when I plain old have the time, I’m going to write a great thesis about the evolution of Fantasy from mythology to Fairy Tale to Fantasy to Modern Day. (for a little on this read my post about Beauty and the Beast)
And when I do I will write many many important and amazing things about life.
But if you love fantasy, and are curious about Church, can I just say that nothing corresponds in describing the human condition (in my opinion) and the importance and significance of hope in the Bible …nothing except the fantasy
Nowhere else does good battle evil, amazing things happen, people live in completely different conditions with different abilities, and yet they still are stuck with struggling with the human condition. Those things that make life essential!
My professor Kenda Dean says that being a teenager is the human condition (the highs, the lose, the hopes, the inherent brokenness of it all) on crack; and that’s why she likes it.
Maybe that’s why most teens read fantasy, and many adults “outgrow” it.
While I have your attention two brief points about Fantasy that I hope to explore via ministry (with all ages, not just children or teens) at some point.
1. What is with Vampires today?
There seems to be a fascination with
a. Everlasting Love
b. Living Forever
c. Drinking the Essence of a Living being to do so….
Any thoughts about Religion and this fascination??
2. Harry Potter: Because it is awesome
At one point Harry Potter discusses that the right way to pursue eternal life is through Hallows, Not Horcruxes….
Ponder that
What are the Hallowed things (Hallow means Holy by-the-bye)
What are the Crutches, the Horrible Crucibles in your life. How do they seem like they provide eternal life, but they are not….
Ponder these, get back to me, and then tell me that this generation of Fantasy readers isn’t ripe for the Gospel!!!
PS recently there was a great post about telling the Gospel in 7 words or less in Christian Century
www.christiancentury.org/search/apachesolr_search/seven%20words and for a good blog read http://theblueroomblog.org/2012/08/30/the-gospel-in-seven-words/I
I’ve decided mine would be
Trying to be as gracious as God
or Hallows, not Horcruxes….Just saying 😉
Peace All!
katyandtheword 
Ultimately, most fantasy and sci-fi can be broken down into parables. Difference from the Bible – Jesus is not the one doing the teaching. Our teachers are the Doctor, Dumbledore, Picard, Kirk, Skywalker, etc. They are parables to guide us through the difficulties (evil) and towards good (God). The stories brings the characters out of darkness (salvation) of their actions (sins).
Yes, fantasy and sci-fi definitely have a faith-based pulse.
that is true, but what is interesting to me (which I hope to do Phd work on someday) is pre-Christian mentality Fairy Tales (the precursor to fantasy) didn’t exist, only mythology. Myths have a different life perspective than fairy tales–the first fairy tale, also the last myth was Cupid and Psyche and it was written after Christianity made “happily ever after” possible
Reblogged this on katyandtheword and commented:
Vampires on my mind so….