Christianity in Fiction

f a i t h * i n * f i c t i o n: 03/01/2005 - 03/31/2005


I wanted to add my two cents about the Faith in Fiction blog mentioned above. David Long asserts:
"One of the hallmarks of Christian fiction is that the protagonist invariably learns a life lesson of some sort."
Is it true that Christian fiction alone is out to teach life lessons? Don't all books teach lessons? In To Kill a Mockingbird didn't Scout learn about the ugliness of prejudice? In Leif Enger's Peace Like a River didn't the main character learn about the power of miracles especially in the laying down of his father's life for his? My assertion is that all books teach lessons; Christian books just tend to be heavy handed about it, not trusting the reader or their own writing to convey those lessons. In really good story telling, lessons come through on a subconscious level that even the author isn't aware of--because the elements of story and character are as strong as real life. There are lessons all around us. The goal of Christian fiction for me is not to have a conversion scene in every book but to mirror real life with the truth of faith as reflected in fallible characters. In life sometimes we learn lessons, but more often than not we struggle and old habits come back to haunt--this is real life, not Pollyanna. Christianity isn't about a progression toward perfection--that's works. Only one was perfect; the rest of us rely on his gift.

More tomorrow,
Traci