• Starting today August 7th, 2024, in order to post in the Married Couples, Courting Couples, or Singles forums, you will not be allowed to post if you have your Marital status designated as private. Announcements will be made in the respective forums as well but please note that if yours is currently listed as Private, you will need to submit a ticket in the Support Area to have yours changed.

  • CF has always been a site that welcomes people from different backgrounds and beliefs to participate in discussion and even debate. That is the nature of its ministry. In view of recent events emotions are running very high. We need to remind people of some basic principles in debating on this site. We need to be civil when we express differences in opinion. No personal attacks. Avoid you, your statements. Don't characterize an entire political party with comparisons to Fascism or Communism or other extreme movements that committed atrocities. CF is not the place for broad brush or blanket statements about groups and political parties. Put the broad brushes and blankets away when you come to CF, better yet, put them in the incinerator. Debate had no place for them. We need to remember that people that commit acts of violence represent themselves or a small extreme faction.

Christian Horror?

MrBF1V3

Regular Member
Oct 25, 2006
149
7
63
The Okay Southwest
✟22,814.00
Faith
Baptist
Marital Status
Married
Good question, hard to answer.

Can someone write horror and still be Christian? Yeah.

Can a horror story be in itself somehow Christian? Well...
--IMHO--
Horror tends to embody our fears, to put them within some kind of "symbol" which may or may not be defeatable. As a mirror, however fanciful, of real life, there is a lot of material to work with. There are real horrors out there, some worse than any Jason or Hannibal. And there is a lot to be afraid of.

I doubt it's a good idea to ignore fears, and I think worse to empower them. You are walking a thin rope, and some care might be in order. To feed a consumer's blood lust would not be a good thing. To use a literary device to deal with a fear, might be a good thing. Walk carefully.

B5
 
Upvote 0

Spiderlashes

Regular Member
Feb 2, 2005
198
14
52
Ohio
✟22,888.00
Faith
Catholic
Marital Status
In Relationship
I agree with the above.
Also, be sure to ask yourself if what you're writing is glorifying God. What is the literary "question" to be answered in your story? At its essence, what does it say about life, the nature of human beings, about God? How, if in any way, does God factor into your plot or theme?
 
  • Like
Reactions: MrBF1V3
Upvote 0

avatarblade2000

Flayer of Falacies
Aug 24, 2005
218
8
Somewhere between Bliss and Misery...
✟383.00
Faith
Baptist
Marital Status
Single
Granted, making a horror story with a Christian core to it is difficult, but it's in no way impossible. I cite Frank Peretti's THE OATH, probably the scariest book I've ever read outside of Stephen King novels, and just about anything from Ted Dekker (they're more thrillers with horror elements, but they're scary, all the same).

I try my hand at writing such stories, but as to whether or not I'm any good...well, we'll see.

And by the way, Spiderlashes and MrBF1V3 are spot on.
 
Upvote 0
Jul 10, 2007
615
29
The United States
✟23,395.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
In Relationship
I tend to write dark or scary stories. I usually use subtle things. For example, one of my vampire novels has a priest in it who talks with the characters involved and gives them biblical advice. It's not impossible to bring God into a horror story. There are plenty of ways to slip Christian views in. Be creative and don't be afraid to experiment. You can always rewrite a part you dont like, afterall.
 
Upvote 0
Feb 17, 2007
186
7
Southeast US
✟22,871.00
Faith
Lutheran
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Others
Hi again, Avatar. I honestly wondered how long it would be before you found this thread. I know that horror, along with symbolism, are interests of yours. I probably don't have anything to contribute to the subject, other than that I did write an occult horror once. I thought it had Christian value because I used it to try to depict the dark side of the occult. I haven't touched it in literally years, though, and I never tried to get it published.

Anyway, I do miss the contributions of MrBF1V3; I haven't noticed him posting lately, but it seemed like he always had some really excellent things to say. If by chance he reads this, I hope he will consider weighing in again, at least from time to time.
 
Upvote 0

teen4jesus92

Waiting is the hardest part
Jan 8, 2005
804
33
33
USA
Visit site
✟23,657.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Republican
...
Also, be sure to ask yourself if what you're writing is glorifying God. What is the literary "question" to be answered in your story? At its essence, what does it say about life, the nature of human beings, about God? How, if in any way, does God factor into your plot or theme?

:) Good thoughts, Spiderlashes!

I agree with avatarblade2000 about Christian author Frank Peretti. I'm not sure if his novels are catagorized as "horror", per say, or if they're just "suspense".
He writes a lot about demons and angels in This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness. The occult is interlaced in the plot of his Hangman's Curse. I haven't read House or The Visitation, but I've heard they are both thrillers with supernatural happenings.

You ask,
...I mean, i know it's possible, but is it 'unChristian' to do so?

Un-Christian?
Some Christians feel called to a higher level of purity in their thoughts and media choices and won't come near "horror"-themed stuff. But others of us like to read (and write!) heart-pounding fiction. I guess all I can say is to examine it, like SpiderLashes said.

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." ~ 1 Corinthians 10:31
 
Upvote 0

jennidawn

Active Member
Jul 13, 2007
59
5
✟22,704.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Democrat
I agree with most of what has been written here. One thing you might consider is whether or not what your writing is a stumbling block for other Christians. At least that's what my mama always said. She made me right Romans 9:13. "Therefore let us stop passing judgement on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way." several times over trangressions that I defended as okay, but not necessarily good. aka If I'm a Christian and Mary Jo knows that I am a Christian and Mary Jo hears me talking ugly about Corey then Mary Jo will think that Christians talk ugly about people and my witness opportunity is lost cause Mary Jo doesn't want to be with people who talk ugly about people. ( I know simple example...but do you get what I mean)

Thank you for posing this question...It's really got me thinking about my own situation as well.
 
Upvote 0
N

NavyGuy7

Guest
There is an author who writes creepy books like this. I forget his name, but some titles include House and Thr3e. They made a movie of Thr3e and I think were in the process of making House into a movie too. House is about a demon-possessed house, and the only way out is to find Christ. Thr3e is about some serial killer type who is after this one guy...but you discover the true identity later in the book. I'm not going to spoil it, from what i saw of the movie, anyway. it was kinda creepy.
 
Upvote 0

hisbloodformysins

He's my best friend
Nov 3, 2003
4,279
217
46
✟5,464.00
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
In Relationship
Politics
US-Republican
That's what Frank Perreti does and I love his books. Yep, I think you could....

God can't be put in a box of traditions and legalistics. I think that if you feel good about it, even if there is a question (if it's of God your confidence will grow in it over time) and you have a desire or talent for it, go for it!

HB
 
Upvote 0
N

NavyGuy7

Guest
That author was Ted Dekker...he also has a book called Blink that my sister is reading, and that's how I figured out he wrote those other books. Read those books and you should get a good idea...methinks...
If Thr3e the movie was anything like the book, I'd say it is a must read. I expected one of the twists, but not the other one! Totally blew me away!
 
Upvote 0
Aug 7, 2007
20
0
✟22,630.00
Faith
Atheist
Marital Status
Single
I love horror movies, mainly slasher flicks or movies like Hannibal Lecter. Is it possible 4 me to write stories like that but with Christian themes? I mean, i know it's possible, but is it 'unChristian' to do so?
Really all horror novels and movies that have to do with demonic possessions are either Christian or Islam because as far as I know those are the only two religions (monotheistic ones anyway) that believe in that sort of thing. But if you want Christian themes, have something relating to the Jesus story, have a man be put to death and burned and whatnot than have him come back to life and make him the antagonist (then again that might be making Jesus the antagonist so I don't know if you want that...).

Hopefully helping,
Ryan
 
Upvote 0

Doubtless

my life is entr'acte...
Feb 21, 2007
391
9
34
Ask me again in twenty minutes.
✟23,066.00
Faith
Baptist
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Republican
You don't mean "Black" do you, Navy? Ted Dekker wrote Black. But you might be talking about another book.

As far as Christian horror novels go, I'm not sure, because I've never read one, but as for horror films, I don't see how any film can be Christian and include such satanic things like are included in movies like Freddie VS. Jason, SAW, Hostel, and other movies which I refuse to watch due to their satanic images, mostly. If you have to include such graphic images as a person whose face is decaying and bleeding, constant disembowelment, blood, and gore, and scenes of half-naked zombie women then you odn't have a very good horror movie. Take a look a Stephen King's films. Some have a lot of adult content in them which totally ruins it, but the plots and entities are always such that no monster needs to be constantly having his flesh split open and blood seeping out. That's just sick!

~Doubtless
 
Upvote 0
Aug 7, 2007
20
0
✟22,630.00
Faith
Atheist
Marital Status
Single
You don't mean "Black" do you, Navy? Ted Dekker wrote Black. But you might be talking about another book.

As far as Christian horror novels go, I'm not sure, because I've never read one, but as for horror films, I don't see how any film can be Christian and include such satanic things like are included in movies like Freddie VS. Jason, SAW, Hostel, and other movies which I refuse to watch due to their satanic images, mostly. If you have to include such graphic images as a person whose face is decaying and bleeding, constant disembowelment, blood, and gore, and scenes of half-naked zombie women then you odn't have a very good horror movie. Take a look a Stephen King's films. Some have a lot of adult content in them which totally ruins it, but the plots and entities are always such that no monster needs to be constantly having his flesh split open and blood seeping out. That's just sick!

~Doubtless
I don't know what you're talking about... FvsJ, SAW, or Hostel don't have ANY satanic images in them, maybe some sex (not Saw only FvsJ and Hostel) but nothing satanic.....
 
Upvote 0