1. Stephen Smith says:

    Yes! This is all a way of “sneaking past watchful dragons,” as Lewis put it. Thanks.

  2. Jim says:

    What are some good examples of apologetics fiction that I can use with my students?

    • notleia says:

      That’s the question, I guess. ARE there any good examples of apologetics fiction that don’t feel like the author is turning to the camera and going CHECKMATE ATHEISTS

      • Depends on the definition of “apologetics fiction.” I think it’s a mistake to write a story based on an idea you’re trying to convince people of. But if a story is written, and an idea erupts naturally from the story, that can be powerful, persuasive, even “apologetic”-like.

        Good stories represent truth.

        The definition given in this article strikes me as unclear and possibly bordering propaganda fiction (maybe the author can give a bit more clarity or insight to what he meant here?–maybe I’m misconstruing). I hate propaganda fiction. It makes my gag-reflex kick in. It’s also extremely unhelpful because the few people it does “help” are the people who already agree, and it only really “helps” them feel more dogmatic about their shared belief. The general result of that is that they push other people away, though there are instances when standing firm in what you think can actually draw people to you, and I’m not denying that the Gospel lived out in a real life draws people to the truth of God. Only that propaganda doesn’t result in Gospel lived out.

      • Travis Perry says:

        Notleia, you make me laugh sometimes–and I do agree that apologetics sometimes wanders into Alice-in-Strawmanland…

  3. One problem with the cruddier apologetics fiction is that it often doesn’t give enough room to significantly challenge the views of the author. Or, even if it does, mostly everyone is brought around to the ‘right’ side at the end, and those that don’t are represented in some sort of bad light. And it does so in a way that doesn’t feel as real and authentic as it should.

    Show don’t tell is very important. Putting the characters in an interesting situation and truly exploring what would realistically happen can go a lot way toward making the story better. Yes, authors can guide the characters’ paths in a way that helps prove a point, but if it doesn’t feel like it’s the honest thoughts, feelings, and growth of the character, the book’s point is going to be a lot harder to get behind.

    That said, this isn’t just a Christian problem, though. Like, often enough, secular books will do similar things, just with a different belief system. Often enough, what people consider too preachy depends on how much they agree with the author.

  4. […] write in a genre I call apologetics fiction. It is fiction that weaves apologetics (answers to tough questions about God) into the plots in a […]

What do you think?