November 19, 2008
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Twilight
I don’t normally tend to talk about Books and Movies on my blog, but I find it funny. I know Twilight is very popular. I have read all 4 of the books of the Twilight series (so has my husband). What I find interesting is that in the past few days I have read a few blog posts talking about how evil Twilight is. It really makes me laugh.
It reminds me of one person who doesn’t allow fiction books inside their home. They believe their children should not be allowed to read fiction because that stuff didn’t really happen so the author is lying.
Now I am seeing these posts about how a Christian shouldn’t read Twilight or watch the movie. It seems to be the next thing for Christians to go after like Harry Potter was before.
What are your thoughts? Have you read Twilight? Do plan to watch the movie? Tell me your thoughts on the whole issue.
(I myself plan to see the movie when it comes out on DVD. I liked reading the whole series)
Comments (23)
I may read the books, because I want to see what the fuss is all about. Though the reviews I read were less than positive: from what I hear Bella is rather one-dimensional, defined almost solely by her crush on Mssr. Cullen. I probably won’t see the movie, even though I love vampire movies, because the whole thing just seems too… Harlequin Romance?
I sincerely doubt that there’s anything particularly “evil” about the series, any more than there was about Harry Potter. (I found a few troubling moral choices in Harry Potter, mostly in Book 7 when the good guys start using Unforgivable Curses, but the magic element was so fantastical that it bore almost no resemblance to the sort of stuff forbidden in the Bible.) You could make a case for vampires being evil, or at least having a tendency towards evil (not unlike humanity’s fallen nature?), but so what?
As for the Christians who don’t allow fiction in their home… I certainly hope they tore the Gospel of Luke out of their Bible, too. Jesus was an avid storyteller, and I doubt that the parables he told were factually true (though they were thematically and moralistically true).
Christians get worked up over the darnedst things.
As a fan of vampires, I loved the books. I couldn’t put them down. There’s really nothing evil about the books; I’ve definitely read fiction that was a lot worse. I don’t plan on seeing the movie opening night because I’ve got to work and it will most definitely be way too crowded. I’d rather wait until the teeny-bopper pack dies down and then see it. My boyfriend’s already laid down the law that I can’t take his sisters(because he’s not a fan of vampires), so we’ll probably just wait until we can get it on Netflix. Books are usually better than the movies anyway.
No fiction in the home…do they watch television?
@LouisaMac - nope, The people I am talking about don’t have tv and don’t even allow Radio
Check out Booksforme’s post. I agree with her 100%. I won’t allow Harry Potter in my house either. Personally, I have to completely disagree with you on this one. Those books are SO influencial, especially to children, and the Bible tells us flat out not to set anything wicked before our eyes.
Psalm 101:3 – I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.
@Papillon_Mom - I haven’t read Harry Potter. I don’t consider Twilight wicked
@Kristenmomof3 - I’m not trying to be argumentative. But why not? It’s entire premise is that the “darkness is good” and that vampires and other occult teachings are not evil.
@Papillon_Mom - well
1. there are no such things as vampires.
So vampires cant not be evil…they dont exist.
So what is wrong with a good “vegetarian” vampire
2. there is no occult teaching in the book…none
@Kristenmomof3 - LOL!!!! Well, actually, they did once. There were people who would kill people and drink their blood for sacrifices. That’s where the legend of the vampire began. And from the reviews I’ve seen there is a ton of occult influence in the book.
Again, I’m not trying to be argumentative. I’m pretty light hearted about a lot of stuff. Shoot, I play Zelda for crying out loud!! Haha!! I love fantasies and fairies and stuff, as long as no witchcraft is involved (my issue with Harry Potter – making witchcraft out to be “good”) and there isn’t a premise of darkness over light. But I can’t in good conscience NOT speak out against books like this. Especially if they are influencing our children.
JMHO. We may end up having to disagree on this.
@Papillon_Mom - yeah, we may have found the first place we have to disagree.
I understand where people are coming from that have problems with Harry Potter (Never read it)
As for Vampires not existing, technically they haven’t….There was bloody Marry and Vlad the impaler but still they were twisted..not technically Vampires.
I myself haven’t seen any occult influence in the books…I must have missed it…if it is there.
I wouldn’t force anyone to read the books or watch the movie that felt it was wrong or anything like that.
I LOVE TO READ.
I will admit I have at times read some books that I would suggest don’t read.
Like I am still not sure what I think about the book House by Frank Paretti which is also a movie that is coming out or just came out.
The book kinda creaped me out. I wont be seeing that movie.
I saw you mention the book the shack. Havent read it. Picked it up once or twice and read the book but just never felt the desire to read it.
@Kristenmomof3 - I’m like you, I LOVE TO READ!! I haven’t read The House, but I’ve read a lot of books by Peretti and Dekker as they are my favorite authors. The House is on my list.
Would it bother you if I did a post about my own personal testimony with these kinds of books?? It might clarify my position a little more, for a lot of people who disagree with me on this.
@Papillon_Mom - nope, wouldn’t bother me at all
I would love to read it.
If you do end up reading House….let me know what you think. TO me it was really really creepy. I know I think Chris (MightymenofValor) might be going to see the movie. (I prefer reading to movies lol….I don’t watch that many movies)
This is something I have been contemplating for a while too…thanks for bringing up the subject
@Kristenmomof3 - I no virtually nothing about the books so I can not give an opinion. Looks like it stirred some juices though! @Papillon_Mom - I agree with that verse! SO many people let it fall by the wayside to fulfill their own lusts. @LouisaMac - We do not have television, basically because we have no time for it, but there is a whole lot of trash on it that we’d filter out anyway. We have A TV, but we get zero channels, we watch mostly peraching/documentaries (and Veggietales) I’ve got nothing against fiction, as long as it’s clean.
@Kristenmomof3 - I’ll be skipping “House” myself. I did not like that book.
I later found out that Peretti wrote only the first three chapters (up until the point when the message drops down the chimney) and the rest was all Dekker. Coincidentally that was the point when things got weird and surreal and… off. I guess this means I don’t like Ted Dekker’s work. (Sorry, PapillionMom… though this is my only experience with Dekker–is there a work of his you’d recommend?)
I’ll also be skipping the movie because I didn’t like what they did when they made a movie of “The Visitation” (my second-favorite Peretti book). All the parts of the book that I loved were missing, and it kinda turned into a giant episode of the X-files.
I hear may Christian bloggers say that reading fiction and watching TV are evil. I just can’t agree with it completely. Frankly I like the fact that I can see the news and watch certain entertainment shows/movies that just make me happy. Sometimes I need that change. I am an avid reader of true life murder stories and watch way to many documentary type programs. Really that could be seen as watching evil things. I have always had a sick and twisted obsession with the dark side of other people. It’s complete curiousity to be honest.
For my kids I would want to read the book first and base my judgement on whether they should read it based on that I felt it was clean. I wouldn’t just encourage them to pick whatever and read it.
I don’t think that fiction itself is all bad. Some people just tend to be over the top with it all.
Of course it it evil. A Mormon wrote it, doncha know.
OK, just kidding. About the evil part. Not the Mormon part.
Change your mind about it now?
@yorel - lol yorel….I knew she was something like that…..couldn’t remember anymore if it was Presbyterian, Methodist or Mormon…thanks for telling which
I’ve never heard of twilight before but I gather it’s about vampires based on the comments here. No I do not think things like that have any business in a christian home. That is my opinion and frankly I don’t care what anyone else thinks about that, that is how I feel about that subject and the rules we set for our home are not based on anyone elses opinions on the matter. That being said there are things that we allow that other Christians I know wouldn’t. Do I think it’s acceptable, no, not in my opinion. I used be HUGE into vampire stuff and I’m sorry but that and Christ are oil and water in my opinion. That being said, I am not the Holy Spirit, it is not job to convict anyone else nor is anyone else accountable to me. I think whether it’s allowed in the home is between mom, dad and God.
And no, I don’t think fiction is evil by default btw.
@mandamom2many - I know you don’t. You also though have probably run into some of the people who do
i think it is wrong to read these books as well/ scripture tells us not to delve into the occult realm etc and this is exactly that, just as the harry potter seies is but with a different theme http://www.xanga.com/BooksForMe says it best!
Personally, I try to base my media choices (radio, tv, books, internet etc.) on Philippians 4:8, Finally, brethren whatsoever things are
1. True
2. Honest
3. Just
4. Pure
5. Lovely
6. Good Report
7. If there is any virtue
8. If there be any praise
Think on these things.
I am not saying that all things that are fiction are wrong. I believe it depends on the content and motive. Just as not all true things are right. There is not much on tv that displays godly values anymore. Many times when you can find ok tv program then the advertising reflects ungodly values.
I will not be reading Twilight or the Harry Potter series.
I too love to read. I wish I had more time. I choose to spend the time I have to read reading the Bible and other uplifting edifying books. Time is too short.
I have been thinking about the different activities we will be doing in Heaven/God’s Kingdom. I cannot imagine watching tv there.
These are my guidelines for what I will set before my eyes and ears.
They had all night showings out here because of the huge per-sale of tickets. One place even opened the evening with the Red Cross. They allowed people to donate blood in the name of Edward or Bella. Afterwards, they took in the movie. I’ve already run into people who have seen it already. I guess I am a little out of the loop, but from all I hear, this is nearly a big as the Harry Potter thing. I saw a Twilight tee shirt that said “If you could live forever, what would you live for?” A good, thought provoking question.