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My friend Amy is the host for Faith 'n Fiction Saturday. She poses the questions and we try to answer them. If you're interested, check it out here.Today's topic is: Christian fiction is generally known for being clean and non-offensive, but lately there's been a lot of chatter about edgy Christian fiction and the need for Christian fiction to be more realistic. Christian fiction has certainly changed and contains a lot more edge than it used to. This makes some readers uncomfortable, and I was wondering what your line is? What would push the envelope too far for a Christian fiction novel for you? Language? Sex? Violence? Main characters who never believe in Jesus?
If you came across something that offended you in a Christian fiction book, how would you handle it?
My Response:
Of all of the categories that would make me uncomfortable, only two go over the line. Profanity has no place in Christian fiction. When I read Stephen Baldwin's The Death and Life of Gabriel Phillips, I was negatively surprised at the profanity. Even the Lord's name is taken in vain. I don't understand how that book can be defined as Christian fiction.
Adult themes can be a bit hairy in a Christian fiction work, but good taste can reign supreme. Sex can be written into a novel without a play-by-play account.
If any character--even the protagonist-- refuses Christ, that does not bother me; in fact, it is quite realistic.
I happen to like edgy Christian fiction; I like that realistic topics are found in good plots. I feel that a good writer ought to be able to handle it and write to honor Christ.
6 comments:
I'm about 2/3 on the same page. :) Really appreciated your answer - great topic today isn't it? I think more dialog on this is healthy. My answer is up at Free Spirit-
http://tinyurl.com/czljhx
yeah, I hope everyone understood I didn't mean you can't have sex as part of the story..just not explicit sex!
Well said. I am a fan of edgy CF and prefer stories about people dealing with real life as they walk through their journeys. I have not read that book and would have been surprised by that type of profanity too.
Amen, well said.
Now, this is actually one book that I might have read because of the positive reviews I'd read...all of which explained that there was a lot of swearing. Don't know why, but something about the story pulled at me. Haven't read it though.
I do enjoy romance. Hello Song of Solomon. :) I agree with many people about shutting the bedroom door. We know it's gonna happen, don't need or want details.
We all know that for a couple to get together there has to be chemistry. Let the tension flow...it's always fun for the reader. :)
Swearing...no thanks. And yes, I've been known to say expletives, unfortunately.
Violence, it just depends. Not my kind of genre so I don't read it anyhow.
As for the people becoming Christians, it's not always necessary for me either.
~Mimi
Sally - I don't generally do the Faith 'n Fiction meme (and I don't read a lot of CF), but I was interested in the various answers to this one.
I agree with you that 'edgy' themes mimic reality. Maybe a book with these edgy/realistic ideas will have more of a crossover appeal for mainstream readers who will then dig deeper into the questions it raises (about faith)
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