When An Author Is A Christian Who Writes Books That Don’t Line Up With The Mainstream Christian Publishers

On By dotluvs2writeIn Fiction WritingLeave a comment

books

In my writing as an Orthodox Christian, I try to show the human condition or human struggle of my characters and in some circumstances, use mild profanity that fit the particular characters’ personalities, mild violence, and mild expositions of past erroneous sexual relationships.  These are included in some of my books to show the life of the main character at the beginning of her/his journey in the book, and then the transformation of the character at the end of the story.  Character growth and journey is a tenet of fiction writing.

It is my belief that adult Christian novels/short stories should not be completely sanitized as many Christian publishing companies expect.  There are examples of stories written by Christians that aren’t reduced to a simplistic, Pollyanna-ish storyline (which causes the reader to beg for something deeper and more substantial).  Having said that, I am not advocating for the other extreme–raunchy, gory, in-the-gutter writing in Christian fiction.

A couple of novels come to mind when thinking of stories of the human condition, struggles, and redemptive qualities.  One is Dostoevsky’s works, especially The Brothers Karamazov.  The two brothers that stood out were a Christ-like individual named Alyosha and an angry agnostic individual called Ivan (Christianity Today).  The author did not hide unpleasant circumstances in his characters’ lives, which is also apparent in his novel, Crime and Punishment, but there are Christian themes laced in the stories that are profound and have so much substance you could bite into them.

crime and punishment

The second example is not written by a Christian, but the author, Somerset Maugham, wrote stories of the human condition, struggle, and redemptive qualities in a few of his books, most notably, his best-known novel, Of Human Bondage.  A short, one-sentence synopsis of this story: Orphaned as a child and taken in by his uncle and aunt, Philip Carey journeys through life encountering a painful obsession with a troubled woman, hapless artistic endeavors, and poverty, to ultimately discover who he truly is.  The character experienced childhood affliction, pain, bondage, failure, and eventually hope in career and love.  This is my interpretation of the story.  Others may see it somewhat differently.

of human bondage

Thus, my examples show a Christian writer and a nonChristian writer, that both show the universal importance of the human condition, suffering, and transformation in some aspect of their characters’ lives.  There is violence in Crime and Punishment, and there are sexual situations in Of Human Bondage (but not explicit), and these books were considered and are still considered great works, especially Dostoevsky.

Pain, suffering, and passing through it is a part of human existence on this planet.  And if you’re a Christian and have taken up your cross to follow Christ, you know this.  We Christians have gone and will go through this because we have to pass through the Cross before we can get to our eventual resurrection, God willing.  Therefore, I believe it’s imperative to show these aspects of human life in Christian-themed novels and short stories, and should then be permitted to contain mild profanity, sexual circumstances, and violence as it pertains to the characters and the storyline respectively to show transformation, growth, and redemptive outcomes.  Creating stories with these components makes the characters and their experiences more authentic and realistic in fiction books.

My Christian readers of my blog, how do you see this issue?  Please share your thoughts below.

 

Works Cited

“Fyodor Dostoevsky:  Russian novelist of spiritual depth.”  Christianity Today.  http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/people/musiciansartistsandwriters/fyodor-dostoyevsky.html.  Accessed 27 November 2017.

 

 

The Holiest Woman in the World Came To Be With Us This Morning

On By dotluvs2writeIn Inspirational, ReligiousLeave a comment

holy Iveron icon

 

She came at the sound of the thundering bells, the melodic, harmonious hymns of the chanters, and the people awaiting her with feelings of respect, reverence, and love. The Mother of all poured out her nurturing stream of tears through the Holy Iveron Icon—one of God’s many holy paintings in His Church. The subdeacon, Nectarios, who travels with her, shared the miraculous healings and protection of The Theotokos’ maternal prayers and love. Each of God’s children received her sweet-smelling tears through anointment of our cheeks, chins, foreheads, and hands. Furthermore, we experienced her loving presence at the end of the service, kissing her and her Son and our Savior via this glorious icon. Glory to God!

 

 

 

An Encounter With St. Andrew

On By dotluvs2writeIn Religious, TravelLeave a comment

St. Andrew the first called

 

As my family and I stepped inside the Church of St. Andrew in the town of Patras, Greece, we immediately observed its huge interior with frescos and mosaics in brilliant colors encompassing the walls and ceiling. The large space was cool, and our feet shuffling on the marble floors echoed through it. Straight ahead was the narthex, or foyer of the church, and further in, the nave. There were chairs on either side of the aisle leading up to where the marble-laden icon screen stood, beautifully ornamented with the altar in the center.   Large crystal chandeliers hung down from the lofty ceiling, where in the center, the Pantocrator (Christ – ruler of all), painted in the dome, gazed down and blessed us.

Eventually, my sons and I, along with my mother, came to the white tomb where St. Andrew’s head lay under a silver and glass enclosure. Vases with beautiful flowers were on either side of it. I kneeled on the step before the tomb and bent my head, saying nothing at first. A glorious, mystical fragrance permeated the air around me. At first, I thought it was the flowers next to me on my left and right, but I leaned over and inhaled their scent, and none of them had this wondrous aroma. The smell closely resembled flowers. Gardenias, perhaps, but it wasn’t. It was emanating from the relic below the silver and glass box covering it. Moved to tears, I struggled to swallow the lump that had formed in my throat. Just then, St. Andrew’s life and ministry flashed through my mind like a motion picture.  His pain at his crucifixion swept through me, and I caught my breath. I asked St. Andrew to pray for us , kissed the glass dome, and crossed myself.

Housed in wood and glass next to the marble sarcophagus were the original pieces of the cross on which St. Andrew was martyred. As I had done a moment ago at St. Andrew’s tomb where his head lay, I kissed the glass encasing the remnants of the wooden cross. My faith was affirmed and strengthened that day.

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This is a piece written for my Introduction to Creative Writing Class back in early 2015.  This is a true encounter I had with St. Andrew at the Cathedral named after him in Patras, Greece.  Below is a picture of my husband, sons, and I in 2010 standing in front of St. Andrew’s Cathedral on our trip to Greece in May 2010.

family in Patras, Greece May 2010

(Inside the nave of St. Andrew’s Cathedral)

St. Andrew's Cathedral

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Have you ever had encounters with Saints or the heavenly hosts?