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‘The Hobbit’ Story Group 6: Out Of The Frying-Pan Into The Fire

(How) do you plan to see “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey”? Be prepared for the film to climax with an expanded version of the book’s chapter 6, “Out of the Frying Pan Into the Fire.” · E. Stephen Burnett

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

Shallow Reasons To Support ‘Narnia’ 2

Why do some force shallow, over-“spiritual” allegories on the “Narnia” stories — to the extent of claiming Aslan’s tent equals the Tabernacle, the Professor’s house equals the church, or the wardrobe equals the Bible? · E. Stephen Burnett

Shallow Reasons To Support ‘Narnia’ 1

Flawed, over-“spiritual” defenses of the “Narnia” series are not only annoying, but ignore the stories’s central beauties and childlike wonder. Even worse, such approaches ultimately make readers worship God less. · E. Stephen Burnett

Speculative Faith Reading Group 5: Enter The Lion

Who is Aslan? Is he the same as Jesus Christ? An “allegory” for Him? Or something else entirely? Who would we ask? Also, what about that strange “Lilith” explanation for the White Witch, from “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”? · E. Stephen Burnett

Rearranging Icons 7: Coming Full-Circle

The harder we try to make this icon metaphor fit into the practical business of writing and understanding literature, the squishier and messier it becomes. · Fred Warren

Speculating About The Known

Last Friday, on my own blog I discussed truth in fiction. In part I looked at an article by Travis Prinzi at the Rabbit Room (where Andrew Peterson, Pete Peterson, Jonathan Rogers, and others interested in speculative fiction also hang […] · Rebecca LuElla Miller

Imagination: For God’s Glory and Others’ Good, Part 5

More than any Biblical teaching or example, Jesus’ parables prove that imagination can glorify God and bless others. But were they only historical, or allegorical, or to teach moral Values? What may His stories show us about fiction today? · E. Stephen Burnett

When Speculation Is … Confusing

Let me preface this by saying that I don’t like telling writers what they “can” or “can’t” do. But I’d be interested in your opinions about what they DO do. This week I’ve had the pleasure of reading two recent […] · Rachel Starr Thomson

Dead Man Walking

What is it with Christians and zombies? · Fred Warren

What’s Wrong With Allegory?

Why does allegory seem to get a lot of negative press? Last week the Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy (CSFF) Blog Tour featured The God Hater by Bill Myers. Some reviewers indicated that the allegorical aspects of the story lowered […] · Rebecca LuElla Miller

Refuting Universalism Slanders Of C.S. Lewis, Part 2

In C.S. Lewis’s “The Last Battle,” the character Emeth did not at first believe in Aslan, yet still somehow crossed over into paradise. Christians get confused about this. Some use it to reject Lewis as a universalist. Is that a right reading? · E. Stephen Burnett

Fear, Festering and Faith: The Artist’s Contract With Honesty

Apologies for tardiness. I confess to being deathly ill, but that doesn’t usually stop me. This week, I was trying to find something honest to say, and nothing wanted to come out. The notion of faith and fictional speculation didn’t […] · C.L. Dyck

Observations: Speculating Faith

In the interest of a prelude, before Christmas I wrote a piece called Inherently Religious, in which I argued that some events and symbolism are by nature religious, and, therefore, they cannot properly be used in any other way – […] · Kaci Hill

How Do We Love A Fiction Legalist? Part 3

Three ways to love a fiction “legalist” — that is, a Christian who opposes fantasy or fiction, or more often simply considers them pointless, useless and unnecessary to Godward growth. · E. Stephen Burnett

Observations: Inherently Religious

The Season of Perpetual Hope Tis  the season: Christmas specials, movies, performances, novels, homework assignments (nothing is sacred), debates on the use of holiday (re: holy day) v. the use of Christmas, Salvation Army employees outside stores, and open season […] · Kaci Hill
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