If a book preaches at me, overtly or convertly, I'm gone. I don't much care what's being preached, either. It's a bit different if a character is being preachy because it's part of his/her psychological make up.
You're reading a book when, suddenly, the author throws something in there you don't like. What do you do?
I ask this question because I wonder often if mainstream Sci-Fi and Fantasy readers will find the Christian element in my stories so objectionable they will stop reading. Some of the authors I have read in the past mention God in their tales, and have characters who believe in God, and it doesn't detract from their popularity. But when it comes to "Christian Fiction," is a stronger Christian theme something that would close the book, so to speak, even if the story is engaging?
It's an instant DNF for me. I do not find the simplistic, binary nature of christian mythology and theology interesting nor their values very palatable. I actively avoid anything that portrays christianity as anything more valid than 'some stuff that some people, somewhere, believe'. I'm too well acquainted with christianity to wish to interact with it again.
It's an instant DNF for me. I do not find the simplistic, binary nature of christian mythology and theology interesting nor their values very palatable. I actively avoid anything that portrays christianity as anything more valid than 'some stuff that some people, somewhere, believe'. I'm too well acquainted with christianity to wish to interact with it again.
If you feel someone has violated the rules of the forum, report the post. Beyond that - ignore lists exist for a reason, and it would help all of us to remember we do not need to reply to everything.
If you feel someone has violated the rules of the forum, report the post. Beyond that - ignore lists exist for a reason, and it would help all of us to remember we do not need to reply to everything.
I am not a person of faith, but The Sparrow, a science fiction book in which the element of faith was as important as any character, was excellent. When
a character who deeply believed questions, then loses, his faith,
it's heartbreaking.
What would stop me from continuing to read is the authorial voice, either in exposition or filtered through a character, attempting to convince me of the validity of a particular belief system. I'm fine with characters whose Christianity is an essential part of who they are--I have one in a series and I love the guy--but I won't be preached at on the page. That I find fully off-putting.
The Sparrow & Children of God are excellent books. I place them beside Lord of Flies and Siddhartha on my list of important but not necessarily fun novels (ie Dragon Riders of Pern being more in the category of fun). I think as much as anything, disclosure is the issue. The Sparrow makes obvious its bias on the book jacket and its sequel Children of God makes its bias obvious in the title. Of course, anyone who reads the Sparrow novels will quickly realize they aren’t the typical affirmations of faith desired by many Christian readers.
You're reading a book when, suddenly, the author throws something in there you don't like. What do you do?
I ask this question because I wonder often if mainstream Sci-Fi and Fantasy readers will find the Christian element in my stories so objectionable they will stop reading. Some of the authors I have read in the past mention God in their tales, and have characters who believe in God, and it doesn't detract from their popularity. But when it comes to "Christian Fiction," is a stronger Christian theme something that would close the book, so to speak, even if the story is engaging?
Disclosure is a simple remedy. In the disclosure you can note if Christianity is incidental to the story or an essential element of the story. The reader can then make their own choice.
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