Hi. I'm a sci-fi author trying to create a fictional, ideal future world for conservative Christians, including Baptists. I checked out the sci-fi forum and it receives virtually no traffic, so I thought I would post here. Depending on how the story unfolds, I may expand the inhabitants to include other Christians as well, since that will create more religious diversity, which should help propel the story.
The world in question is a planet called New Bethlehem, which was settled by conservative Christians so they could practice their deep faith in peace among like-minded individuals. For the purposes of the story, there is a democratic senate and a hereditary monarchy that traces its origins all the back to King David.
One of the lead characters in the story is Joseph, the crown prince of New Bethlehem. He began hearing the voice of God in his head at age 4. At the time, his mother told him it was just dreams or an imaginary friend. Eventually, Joseph learned to stop talking about it. Joseph learns of mental illness while growing up, but dismisses it as a possibility. He is convinced that the God he talks to is the same one who spoke to Moses and Noah.
So, he spends 12 years talking to God every day. Then, at age 16, his life begins to unravel. God asks him to give up his intended destiny (the throne of New Bethlehem) and do something unthinkable - create a new religion to save an increasingly violent galaxy from the Apocalypse. This new religion is intended to sweep the galaxy like a tidal wave, toppling kings, queens, and emperors, and lead all mankind back to paradise. The bad news is, this new religion upends many of Joseph's deeply held Christian beliefs.
Joseph is now in a virtually impossible position. He can reject the voice in his head as never having been real, ascend to the throne, and live out a life in relative peace, trusting that the real God will take care of the galaxy. Or, he can give up the throne and follow this voice on a quest that eventually leads him into slavery, prison and unimaginable personal loss. He's a future version of Job.
In the first two drafts of my book, Joseph is religious, able to quote chapter and verse as well as anyone, but I don't think he represents conservative Christianity properly. Next draft, I want convservative values to seep deep into his bones. I also plan to make him a deeply closeted, self-loathing homosexual. It's just one more burden for him to carry and overcome.
New Bethlehem will have a Christian government (i.e., no separation of church and state). And although the planet is intended to reflect ideal conservative values, it will not be an entirely perfect world, since humans are not perfect beings.
I have a number of questions about what such a society would look like. If anyone is willing to help me, please respond to this thread, and I'll begin posting questions.
Your help would be much appreciated.
Thanks.
Norm
The world in question is a planet called New Bethlehem, which was settled by conservative Christians so they could practice their deep faith in peace among like-minded individuals. For the purposes of the story, there is a democratic senate and a hereditary monarchy that traces its origins all the back to King David.
One of the lead characters in the story is Joseph, the crown prince of New Bethlehem. He began hearing the voice of God in his head at age 4. At the time, his mother told him it was just dreams or an imaginary friend. Eventually, Joseph learned to stop talking about it. Joseph learns of mental illness while growing up, but dismisses it as a possibility. He is convinced that the God he talks to is the same one who spoke to Moses and Noah.
So, he spends 12 years talking to God every day. Then, at age 16, his life begins to unravel. God asks him to give up his intended destiny (the throne of New Bethlehem) and do something unthinkable - create a new religion to save an increasingly violent galaxy from the Apocalypse. This new religion is intended to sweep the galaxy like a tidal wave, toppling kings, queens, and emperors, and lead all mankind back to paradise. The bad news is, this new religion upends many of Joseph's deeply held Christian beliefs.
Joseph is now in a virtually impossible position. He can reject the voice in his head as never having been real, ascend to the throne, and live out a life in relative peace, trusting that the real God will take care of the galaxy. Or, he can give up the throne and follow this voice on a quest that eventually leads him into slavery, prison and unimaginable personal loss. He's a future version of Job.
In the first two drafts of my book, Joseph is religious, able to quote chapter and verse as well as anyone, but I don't think he represents conservative Christianity properly. Next draft, I want convservative values to seep deep into his bones. I also plan to make him a deeply closeted, self-loathing homosexual. It's just one more burden for him to carry and overcome.
New Bethlehem will have a Christian government (i.e., no separation of church and state). And although the planet is intended to reflect ideal conservative values, it will not be an entirely perfect world, since humans are not perfect beings.
I have a number of questions about what such a society would look like. If anyone is willing to help me, please respond to this thread, and I'll begin posting questions.
Your help would be much appreciated.
Thanks.
Norm
