/ New resources
/ SpecFaith / Topics: Redemption

How Horror Films Subvert the Fatalistic Tragedy of Alzheimer’s and Dementia

Some horror films fall into a subgenre that explores mental illness such as dementia and Alzheimer’s in a unique fashion. · Parker J. Cole

I Respect C. S. Lewis, But Disagree with Parts of The Last Battle

C. S. Lewis was wrong to insinuate in this story that a man who worshiped a false god could somehow also be serving the true God. · Audie Thacker

Past the High Point

Why can’t a villain finish his redemption arc without finishing himself? · Shannon McDermott

Love Transforms the Beloved in ‘Beauty and the Beast’ Stories

This fairy tale famously shows true beauty conquering a beastly form, but the original story worked a little differently. · Elijah David

Hard Time

As with any real life/entertainment contrast, the real world of incarceration doesn’t quite match up with what we see on screen when it comes to prisons and jails. · Mark Carver

Born-Again Kanye: Yea or Nay?

The hip-hop star is suddenly singing of Christ, and Christians have both good and unhealthy responses. · E. Stephen Burnett

Twelve Responses to Abuse Accusations in Christian Conferences, Part 2

Don’t treat a conference or Christian group like a church. Encourage all Christian leaders to act “above reproach.” Don’t reject all the accused person’s creative work. Don’t totally “shun” the person accused of abuse. · E. Stephen Burnett

Why Does ‘I Can Only Imagine’ Back Away from Redemption?

Does the movie I Can Only Imagine cut redemption short by not fully portraying evil? Do other Christian stories also cheat redemption in the same way? · Travis Perry

Fantasy is the Most Eternally Realistic Kind of Story

When we read fantasy, our journey mirrors our own struggles to live a faithful life. · Raquel Byrnes

Do We Need Another Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Story?

James L. Rubart shares how he created his latest novel, “The Man He Never Was.” · James L. Rubart

Sonrise

Numerous movies and TV shows have a “savior” character who clearly parallels Jesus Christ, but perhaps none more so than Neo from The Matrix Trilogy. · Mark Carver

Billy Graham is Home, but Not Home Yet

Billy Graham wasn’t just passing through this world. He will return to stay, just like Jesus will. · E. Stephen Burnett

Are We Actually More Like the Villain Than the Hero?

Do we overlook something when thinking about stories? Namely, which archetype falls closer to us, the readers, on the heroic-to-villainous spectrum? · Zac Totah

Easter and God’s Earth-Shattering New Covenant

For Easter, novelist Brian Godawa explores the Bible’s earth-shattering symbolism. · Brian Godawa

Professing To Be Wise, They Became LeFous

“Beauty and the Beast” turns a character “gay.” How do Christians respond? · E. Stephen Burnett

Finding Truth In Fantasy

Often, the dark trials are what strengthen us, not the ease-filled traipses through flower-strewn meadows. This is a recurring theme in fiction, nowhere more apparent than fantasy. · Zac Totah

Star Trek On TV

Now, the Star Trek legends are together for the first time on free TV with All Star Trek on H&I. · Rebecca LuElla Miller

Frodo’s Failure—When Doing Your Best Isn’t Enough

This image—Frodo’s failing despite his best effort—gets at the heart of the Gospel and the fact that left to ourselves, we can try-try-try all the livelong day and never measure up to what God requires. Never hope to come close. · Zac Totah

The Christian Part Of Christian Speculative Fiction

The key to good fiction has always been to show, not to tell. And stories are about characters, so they are the ones readers want to hear from. They don’t want authors to interrupt the story for an explanation moment, no matter what the topic. · Rebecca LuElla Miller

Should Villains Be Redeemed?

O villains, villains, what are we to do with you? Villains play a key role in most stories. Unless the force opposing the hero is something from nature—such as a storm or terror-inducing dinosaur—you can bet your hobbit pipe that […] · Zac Totah