Too much christian symbolism? - Writers Forum

Sparx · 08-03-2006, 04:23 AM

I've been writing my fantasy novel for some time now and its going extremely smoothly. The characters i love, the setting is pretty original and the plot is fast paced. I'm enjoying writing this story but i have a problem that doesn't want to leave my mind. I fear my book has many references to christianity and contains symbols from the bible, mainly genesis. Will my novel risk a lower chance of not being published if i add to much christian sybmolism even if i use it to explain the way my magic works. His dark materials(by the brilliant Phillip Pullman) got a lot of back lash because of the christian symbolism and i don't want my book to be hindered because of that. I'm not sure if i should decrease the amount of symbolism in fear of dubbing down the depth of the novel.

Ben · 08-03-2006, 04:32 AM

If you want the symbolism there, keep it. Write the story the way you want to write it, the way it should be written, and not the way you think publishers want it.

Mike C · 08-03-2006, 05:35 AM

Christian fiction is a big market currently (I think I read last year it's worth about $6bn in sales worldwide annually) and there are many agents and publishers dealing specifically with work with a strong christian theme.

When your novel is finished, just be sure to research your market and target the right agents.

Mike C · 08-03-2006, 05:38 AM

This is the article - I was slightly out - the market in 2004 was $2bn, but it's growing.

http://books.guardian.co.uk/review/s...524121,00.html

aspiring · 08-03-2006, 10:55 AM

The backlash against Pullmnan wasn't because he used Christian symbolism, it was because he attacked organised religion and basically 'killed' God in the third book in order that humankind could move forward in taking responsibility for its own actions.

The backlash was mostly from Christians because they objected to his views.

Sparx · 08-03-2006, 05:58 PM

Thanks for the replies. Ive decided to keep all the symbolism within the novel and worry about actually finishing the novel. Mike C my novel isn't nesscarily a christian novel although it deals with christian mythology it does not preach the words of god. Thanks for the link anyway.

Mike C · 08-04-2006, 01:54 AM

Sparx, good luck with it. Whether your novel is christian (or inspirational, as they're calling the genre now) or not, it's as well to be aware of a potentially large market.

Lorlie · 08-04-2006, 04:41 AM

Best of luck getting it done Sparx.

Christian Symbolism is rarely the catapult that will make someone put down or pick up a book, the majority will read it based on the hook, if they find the symbolism too much, it is generally through reading it, however if the story carries them I don't think it will hurt your work.

It is unlikely that Fanatics (I mean that only in the sense of those who bash everyone else's beliefs) would look to read your book, it will more likely appeal to the fantasy market which is how it sounds to me you are targeting it.

Lorlie.

Sparx · 08-05-2006, 04:56 AM

Yeah i'm definently targeting it towards fantasy. Its a young adult's fantasy book. Now that i know how big this inspirational genre is i can write a least knowing that their is a market out there for my book.

SeattleGhostWriter · 08-05-2006, 06:33 AM

Sparx, how far are you into the book? How much of it you have written? What types of Christian Symbolism is contained in there? And what of the research you have done?

I have studied the history and development of Religious thought (doctrinally, and communally) on my own. I consider myself an amature apologist and scholar (never any formal education here on that, but the study was very deep and included the Ancient Near Eastern Religions centered around the biblical Text - from both the Judeo-Christian perspective, and from the Classic Paganistic perspective). I have delved into reading some of the more obscure readings of Religious thoughts of religious history centering around the holy writ.

If you have any questions, or need some advice, I could be of assistance. Let me know via pm.

Timothy

Sparx · 08-05-2006, 06:53 AM

SeattleGhostWriter, Really I’ve only done extensive planning on my novel and I’ve written the first 2 chapters which I’ve been fine-tuning and plan on posting on these forums later in the future.

But trust me, I have been researching deep into Christian mythology and being a Christian myself; it makes it or the more interesting. I have included the fall of man(original sin), the banishment of Lucifer and the 7 deadly sins as symbolic motifs in my book. In addition to that, I have an idea to use the death of Christ for not only saving us from eternal damnation but also the reason for magic in my fantasy epic.

If you must know, the fantasy book im writing is part of a 4 part series of books I’ve been planning for about 6 months. It don't really want to reveal the story but I will say that it is a coming-of-age tale that deals with the idea of souls, the idea of Death(being an angel's daughter with human feelings) but also deals with war and politics in the later books. It’s very ambitious I know and it will probably take years to complete the series but im so into this story that I want to write it. I have a feeling that has all the right elements to be great and original fantasy.

I will definitely PM you if I need help on anything. Thanks for your help in advance.

WeAreWriters · 08-05-2006, 08:46 AM

I kind of had the same problem: I mention the 'gods' quite a bit in my fantasy novel as in the tribal, maybe greek gods; but I read back over it, and as a aetheist, is seems a bit overboard to me

imrhati · 08-05-2006, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aspiring

The backlash against Pullmnan wasn't because he used Christian symbolism, it was because he attacked organised religion and basically 'killed' God in the third book in order that humankind could move forward in taking responsibility for its own actions.

The backlash was mostly from Christians because they objected to his views.

people take offence to the death of god... uh oh

i wouldn't worry about too much of it. think of what your characters would think, are they deeply religious, are they atheist? as long as it fits with the charcaters and setting you will be fine.