/ SpecFaith

A Grown-Up’s Guide To Delighting In Fairy Tales Like ‘Cinderella’: Excerpt

Christians do not believe in eternal servitude for important social causes, but an eternal royal ball with pageantry, beauty, honor, and adventure.
on Feb 18, 2016 · No comments

I never thought my first e-book participation would be about a princess story.

And yet I enjoyed the live-action fairy tale Cinderella (2015). I wrote a review for Christ and Pop Culture and additional thoughts here at SpecFaith.1 That’s how I was asked to expand on my thoughts for a new article in a new Christ and Pop Culture ebook that releases today: Christ and Pop Culture Goes to the Movies: 2015.

Editors Wade Bearden and Kevin McLenithan say:

The purpose of this book is to extend the moviegoing experience across various media platforms and physical spaces. Our goal is not to prolong the film themselves but rather the conversations that follow these films. Think of this book as the ride home after a thrilling blockbuster, an engrossing character study, or an idiosyncratic drama. This is a continuation of our ever-evolving banter about the expanding influence of cinema.2

poster_cinderella2015_thewickedstepmotherReaders will find 15 articles by 15 different writers about 15 films from 2015, including Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Mad Max: Fury Road, and It Follows.

Here’s a clip from my article, “A Grown-Up’s Guide to Delighting in Fairy Tales Like ‘Cinderella'”:

… In some circles today, there is a religious belief that contemporary social battles, stratagems, and trends are what matter most. If that were true, then Cinderella and other fairy tales are at best harmless and at worst impractical, escapist nonsense. Why dance when there is serious work to be done?

But the Christian sees the world differently. Yes, one must train and practice for serious kingdom responsibilities, but for what eternal purpose? Christians do not believe that the future of the universe is about unending servitude for important social or political causes. We believe in a future royal ball filled with pageantry, beauty, honor, and adventure. …3

You can purchase the ebook here for Kindle ($4.99). Proceeds support the ministry of Christ and Pop Culture.4

  1. See also Shannon McDermott’s review Cinderella: Something Old, Something New. ↩
  2. From the book’s description at Amazon. ↩
  3. Wade Bearden; Kevin McLenithan. Christ and Pop Culture Goes to the Movies: 2015 (Kindle Locations 1442-1447). Kindle Edition. ↩
  4. From Christ and Pop Culture’s Mission and History page: Christ and Pop Culture exists to acknowledge, appreciate, and think rightly about the common knowledge of our age. Our mission is to edify the Church, glorify God, and witness to the world by encouraging and modeling a biblical presence within culture that is characterized by nuance and appreciation while resisting the extremes of thoughtless condemnation and uncritical embrace. We stand on the Gospel and exist for the church. ↩
E. Stephen Burnett explores fantastical stories for God’s glory as publisher of Lorehaven.com and its weekly Fantastical Truth podcast. He coauthored The Pop Culture Parent and creates other resources for fans and families, serving with his wife, Lacy, in their central Texas church. Stephen's first novel, the sci-fi adventure Above the Circle of Earth, launches in March 2025 from Enclave Publishing.

What do you think?