Seven Final Challenges For Christian Movie Critics and Fans
E. Stephen Burnett, Sep 17, 2015
Christian movies—are we sensitive to their fans and critics’ views? Suggest silly fixes? Assume “salvation or rededication” are our best themes?
Unrealism In Art
Shannon McDermott, Sep 16, 2015
Today I am going to share a list of unrealistic things in fiction. And by unrealistic, I mean in the absolute sense of “not like reality”.
Fantasy And Children’s Books
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Sep 14, 2015
Children’s books were good for teaching colors and numbers and identifying animals, but after The Cat in the Hat, where was the fantasy? And where was the goal to provide a moral compass for little minds and hearts?
Seven More Challenges For Christian Movie Critics and Fans
E. Stephen Burnett, Sep 10, 2015
Christian movies—should we criticize them? If so, how? What are they for? Is a “subculture” bad?
Here There Be Monsters…
Mark Carver, Sep 9, 2015
Human nature wants to worship something big. King Kong was worshiped by the island natives, volcanoes and mountains have become gods, and dragons rule the realms of fantasy. The gods that are worshiped by the various religions of the world are massive and powerful.
Does Anybody Work In Speculative Fiction?
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Sep 7, 2015
Maybe “ordinary” doesn’t make for a good story. Still, I’d think within stories about the exciting and the exceptional, there need to be those who hold down the fort, who keep the supply lines coming through, who make sure the soldiers have shoes.
The Horrifying ‘Day Of The Lord’ In H.P. Lovecraft
Nathan James Norman, Sep 4, 2015
Nathan James Norman shares why H.P. Lovecraft’s “Cthulhu Mythos” depicts the Day of the Lord.
Seven Challenges For Christian Movie Critics and Fans
E. Stephen Burnett, Sep 3, 2015
Christian movies—love them, hate them, ignore them? Here are seven challenges about them.
The Biases Of Art
Shannon McDermott, Sep 2, 2015
Art has one very clear bias, and that is a bias against untheatrical things.
Christian Movies Can Show Better Sermons
E. Stephen Burnett, Sep 1, 2015
Christian movies can exalt Jesus, not just morality, by exposing lies and showing worship through pain.
Are Heroes Passé?
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Aug 31, 2015
Have our tastes in fiction moved past the good guy? Is there no interest in a character who wants to be heroic and works to be heroic and succeeds at being heroic? Must all our heroes be reluctant or all our protagonists be “bad guys”? Have we come to an end of good guy heroes?
Puppies V. Trufans: Civil War
Steve Rzasa, Aug 28, 2015
“Turncoat” writer Steve Rzasa: In the Hugo Award fracas, neither “puppies” faction had a very Christian view of conflict.
Evangelical Vs. Progressivist Content Warnings 103
E. Stephen Burnett, Aug 27, 2015
Content warnings can temporarily keep us from temptations to sin or traumatic flashbacks, but they cannot help us find final healing.
Throwing In The Towel
Mark Carver, Aug 26, 2015
Despite what we see and read, a zombie apocalypse would not be fun. At all.
Realm Makers 2015: Response Roundup
E. Stephen Burnett, Aug 25, 2015
Here’s a roundup of 12 reactions from guests of the 2015 Realm Makers conference.
Beauty And Function
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Aug 24, 2015
So does beauty exist for beauty’s sake? Are evangelical Christians wrong to think art can and should do more than just be beautiful?
The Faces Of Evil
E. Stephen Burnett, Aug 21, 2015
If we know depraved humans hide or destroy faces in fiction, why do we not face this truth in reality?
The True Form Of Fairy-Tale
Shannon McDermott, Aug 19, 2015
J. R. R. Tolkien appealed to reality in justifying joy in fairy stories. It’s revealing as to what he thought of fairy tales – and of reality.
The Future Of Christian Speculative Fiction
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Aug 17, 2015
We’re at a crossroads, I believe. Are Christian speculative stories going to speak to our culture, or not?
It’s Alive!
Mark Carver, Aug 12, 2015
Why do our creations always seem to turn on us? Don’t they know we just want to love them and make them do our chores?
Realm Makers 2015, Part 1
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Aug 10, 2015
The full conference opened Friday with Robert Liparulo’s keynote address, an editor and agent panel, intensive workshops, and single session workshops.
‘I Heard Her Screaming’: Excerpt From Frank Peretti’s ‘Prophet’
E. Stephen Burnett, Aug 7, 2015
“It’s not you or me she hates. She’s not fighting against us. It’s the Truth she hates. The Truth won’t let her alone, and she hates it.”
Top Five Topics I Would Have Sneaked Into Conversations At Realm Makers
E. Stephen Burnett, Aug 6, 2015
I can’t always attend Realm Makers, but when I do, I might sneakily bring up ideas like these.
Angels Of The Bible and Other Books
Shannon McDermott, Aug 5, 2015
Given the immovable place of angels in speculative fiction, I thought it would be interesting to examine what the Bible says concerning them.
Animals And Christian Speculative Fiction
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Aug 3, 2015
In short, the Bible is “animal friendly” in that humankind, as rulers, are to be benevolent in the exercise of our authority. But clearly, humans and animals are not equal.
Fiction Friday – Draven’s Light By Anne Elisabeth Stengl
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Jul 31, 2015
Drums summon the chieftain’s powerful son to slay a man in cold blood and thereby earn his place among the warriors. But instead of glory, he earns the name Draven, “Coward.”
Badfan v Superman 8: A Moral Cinematic Universe
Austin Gunderson, Jul 30, 2015
Austin Gunderson ends our Badfan v Superman series with expectation for “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.”
The Crossover Alliance Is Open For Business
Mark Carver, Jul 29, 2015
The Crossover Alliance debuts as the world’s first publisher dedicated to edgy Christian speculative fiction.
Badfan v Superman 7: A Hero’s Consequences
E. Stephen Burnett, Jul 28, 2015
“Man of Steel” and “Batman v Superman” may explore and re-sensitize fans to the seriousness of death and war.
Realm Makers – 2015
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Jul 27, 2015
Realm Makers, a conference for speculative writers with a Christian worldview, is still in its infancy. This year marks only the third annual event. But clearly, word is out. Enrollment in 2015 has doubled.
