Should one read Fantasy Book's?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Matteo Masiello on February 28, 2012 at 4:57am

Jessie

I think you should read what you want to read and not worry about stories that have witchcraft and magic in it. They are stories. They are not real and the devil isn't going to get you through them.  That is just my opinion.  I say this only because if you trust in Christ, he would not let any harm come to you.  The stories themselves are the products of the imagination and not real. If it bothers you so much, then there Christian themed fantasies, too. Also, I would suggest you stick to the classics, if you  are so inclined.  There are numerous fantasy awards, particularly the British Fantasy Awards, which include lists galore of the best authors in the field and do not limit their writing to themes which involve magic. There are also the Hugo Awards, the Nebula Awards, if you like science fiction, too. Today's top writers raise the genre to serious literature.  Good luck.

Permalink Reply by Amber on August 30, 2012 at 2:57am

I have felt the same way the past year. I have a love for strong female fantasy stories, where the woman is in a magical world. But have you noticed it is usually symbollically good against evil in these books? I think it is ok to read these books.

Also, I have decided yes, I am going to keep reading them. But I will also make it a point to read the bible just as often, if not more.

hope this helps,

Permalink Reply by BLIND no MORE on December 2, 2012 at 3:27pm

I wouldn't advise it. However, it's your choice.

Permalink Reply by Charles Burwell on January 26, 2013 at 2:16pm

Char

 

  "My advice is, if we ever want to siop fighting so hard in our minds, we need to get in and stay in the Word and HELPFUL materials, not in worldly materials".

 

Excellent advice!!  I  have , and have always had, an incredibly active imagination. Sometimes it is a real curse to me.  I can , if I am not extremely careful, I can be lead down 'rabbit trails' at the drop of a hat. In light of this I know that I must focus on the 'HELPFUL materials" you speak of .

 

Fantasy materials tend to lead us into a false hope and distorted perspective of reality.  For instance , on tv and in movies the people who are killed or brutalized get up and share some friendly banter after the scene is over. In reality a person who is killed will not show up in another movie or episode of television.

Their fate ( heaven or hell) has been sealed. In reality the 'good guys' don't always win. 'Good people ' suffer evil and death is sometimes their only deliverance.

 

The point I'm trying to make is we need to stay concerned with what is 'real'(no matter how disturbing it may be) because this leads us to turn to and depend a lot more on the Lord. It also makes the Lord become more of 'reality' ( for lack of a better word) to us.

 

Besides , God's 'reality' is sometimes much more facinating and uplifting than the mind of man could ever imagine in order to put in a book. In my simple opinion their were no greater teachers of the gospel and scriptural truths among men , since the apostles than A.W.Tozer and C.S.Lewis. I realize that C.S.L.ewis wrote "the chronicles of narnia" but he also wrote "Mere Christianity". A must read for christians , in my opinion only.

 

Anyhow, that my take on it . God bless you all and simply allow the Spirit of God to lead you in all that you think , do and read.

 

 

Permalink Reply by samantha on April 17, 2013 at 9:50am

I think it is always OK to read what ever you want to. But I think it depends on where you are in life and if you are easily influenced,  it also depends on what misconceptions you may have about things that could be encouraged by reading certain books.  I have always been a lover of books, but one thing I have noticed since I have become saved is I am not interested in the books I used to be. I have no desire to read any books that have un Christian content. It all just seems empty and unfulfilling  now. I just don't enjoy those books anymore. I am not saying that people who enjoy reading fantasy books are not saved at all. Just that is my experience of it. I used to read far too many of those types of books and I think I needed to make that change and God has helped me with that.  I needed to make that change so I could read The Bible and other Christian themed books to be fullfilled by that instead. 

Also  here is something interesting I have been thinking about a lot,  I read recently an article from a pastor writing about what people worry about doing as Christians, If you have to ask, is it wrong to do something, there is obviously something pricking your conscious about it. If it were totally OK then you would not even have to ask, is this right or wrong to do, you would know it is right. It is an interesting thought isn't it? It makes me think more carefully about what I do now. 

Permalink Reply by Michael Kinch on June 9, 2013 at 5:33am

I would caution you about what you read.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.  Phil. 4:8

In all that we should do, reading, watching, etc.  Ask if it passes the test of Phil. 4:8.