/ New resources
/ SpecFaith / Topics: Controversies

What Constitutes “Derivative”?

Some scholars claim J. R. R. Tolkien owed a debt of influence where he claimed none. I find this criticism to be thoroughly ironic because the great accusation against writers of high fantasy today is that their work is derivative, a mere shadow of, you guessed it, J.R.R. Tolkien. · Rebecca LuElla Miller

Why Fiction Is The Wrong Vehicle For Theology—A Rebuttal

Rather than shying away from the depiction of “theology”–by which I mean knowledge about God–in speculative fiction, I think Christian writers should embrace the challenge. In saying this, however, I do not believe all stories must show all the truth contained in the Bible, nor do I believe that our stories must affirm all Biblical moral values (as if Christians even agree on what those are). · Rebecca LuElla Miller

Welcome: You Have Now Entered The Holiday Season

Experience tells us a holiday is frequently accompanied by social panic, financial insolvency, gastric disturbances, and familial discord. Good times! · Yvonne Anderson

Holidays And Celebrations

J. K. Rowling was not alone in making use of this-world holidays. C. S. Lewis created a powerful, and Christian, message in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by referencing the fact that Narnia suffered under a never-ending winter–always winter and never Christmas. · Rebecca LuElla Miller

The Power Of Christian Fiction

Kingdom Series and The Knights of Arrethtrae series author Chuck Black: The spectrum of Christian fiction literature is broad. Does it have the power to change lives? How responsible is the author for his work’s influence? How far is too far? · Chuck Black

‘A Willingness To Be Enchanted’

More people are saying self-distraction and materialism don’t bring real happiness. That’s true, but moralistic rules cannot fix this idolatry; only a willingness to submit to Christ, and submit to Godly enchantment. · E. Stephen Burnett

Reading Is Worship 11: Glory Spectrum Of Stories

If God’s multihued glories shine in all of reality, how do we find such glories in stories and be moved to worship Him? · E. Stephen Burnett

Redeeming Culture In Stories and Politics

The Church is not anti-culture or pro-culture, but a gracious proclaimer of the Biblical Story, and what in culture reflects God’s truth or does not. This applies to stories, speculative and otherwise. And this applies to politics, the governance of culture. · E. Stephen Burnett

Halloween, Horrors, and ‘Star Wars’

Do you “observe” or not observe Halloween? Have you changed from one view to another? Share your thoughts on that, or on the “Star Wars” empire assimilation, the horror genre, or that evidently heresy-flooded “Noah” movie. · E. Stephen Burnett

Speculative Politics 4: Rebuttal By Marc Schooley

In this series conclusion, Marc Schooley says Christians should be political “Hobbits,” and defends his views with Scripture and support from fiction. · Marc Schooley

Speculative Politics 3: Rebuttal By Kerry Nietz

Author Kerry Nietz agrees with fellow author Marc Schooley on politics in fiction. But he opposes some of Schooley’s views on politics in reality. · Kerry Nietz

Reading Is Worship 8: Source Of All Stories

Scripture is the source of all stories — the story of reality, the smaller “stories” of us as real people, and the stories we subcreate. We must recall that truth when we’re discussing how our stories glorify God. · E. Stephen Burnett

Speculative Politics 2: Perspectives From Marc Schooley

Author Marc Schooley explains why he believes the Church has over-entangled itself in politics. Yet he agrees much with his fellow Marcher Lord Press author Kerry Nietz’s perspective about how stories and authors touch on politics. · Marc Schooley

Ministered To By The Secular Market

Novelist Alton Gansky: When I rattled off my favorite novelists during an interview, I wondered: why didn’t I have a longer list of Christian authors? This demanded some inner noodling. So noodle I did. · Alton Gansky

Reading Is Worship 7: More Than A Story

Do you suspect that claiming a story must have higher “purpose” somehow cheapens its quality? Or do you agree this actually makes stories more truthful and beautiful? · E. Stephen Burnett

So You Say You Want A Revolution?

We’re about a month into the new fall schedule on TV. My socks have not been blown off by “Revolution.” Then the characters meet Hollywood Christian Cliche #126, the fire-and-brimstone street preacher. · John Otte

Speculative Politics 1: Perspectives From Kerry Nietz

Politics are necessary in life and fiction, yet how should they inform stories and authors’ profiles? DarkTrench Saga author Kerry Nietz begins our new Speculative Politics series. · Kerry Nietz

Christian Versus Secular Novels

Never Ceese author Sue Dent: When I started out in publishing I’d never once heard the market divided up into the two very specific categories of Christian and Secular. Genres, yes, but not Christian or Secular. · Sue Dent

Reading Is Worship 6: Curing Weirdness-Idolatry

How can we fight inclinations to idolize “being weird” for its own sake? We must see fantasy “weirdness” as normal in the Bible (and even in our culture), ask God to help us reach out to critics, and remember why we love fantastic stories. · E. Stephen Burnett

‘Changing The Future; It’s Called Marriage,’ Part 2

In Doctor Who, some people hated Rory’s and Amy’s relationship. Maybe people dislike seeing a stable relationship. Maybe, similar to the Doctor himself, they can’t stand committed, heroic, happy endings to a love story. · E. Stephen Burnett
  1. Pages:
  3. 1
  4. ...
  5. 29
  6. 30
  7. 31
  8. 32
  9. 33
  10. 34
  11. 35
  12. ...
  13. 44