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Twilight - 10/27/2009 5:37:15 PM
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pink_becca3
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Taking a close look at the popular ‘Twilight’ fiction series
In the dappled sunlight in the clearing of a meadow on the edge of a forest, 16-year-old Bella Swan’s heart races as GQ-model-handsome Edward Cullen draws near to her. Edward, in love with Bella, musters every ounce of self-control not to kill her. Killing’s his first instinct because he’s a vampire. This scene, a vivid dream of author Stephenie Meyer, sparked her imagination to write Twilight, the first book of a bestselling young-adult series.
The Phenomenon
From that original dream, Stephenie, a 30-something housewife and mom of three young boys, has birthed a four-novel series that has sent teen girls and women of every age swooning over the star-crossed love story of Bella and Edward.
The series has certainly appealed to a wide audience, but just because everyone’s reading it should you? Despite the series’ surface appeal as a romance, it communicates many messages that are contrary to the Christian faith, and that’s something you should not be filling you mind with.
Truth and Relationships
God created us as relational beings, and girls in particular are to be relational (Genesis 2-3). We tend to focus on relationships, but sometimes we make and idol out of them or fantasize over our desire for a relationship with that “perfect” guy. No guy can ever live up to the way Stephenie portrays Edward. He’s the fantasy creation of a women writer.
Bella’s obsession with Edward is wrong. She’s even willing to become a vampire herself so that she can “live” forever with Edward. But how can a human ever be yoke to or be in a serious relationship with a vampire? And what’s dangerous about Stephenie’s series is that the reader, too, enters into Bella’s obsession with Edward.
If we believe in God and believe the Bible guides how we live our lives, then we know our highest priority is our love for God and out relationship with Him. God should be the driving force of our lives and not a guy, no matter how attentive, respectful, cool, and loving he appears to be. The “Twilight” books don’t communicate God’s truth about relationships.
The “Twilight” series also teaches unbiblical attitudes toward authority. Bella doesn’t respect her parents. She loves them but they come across as clueless and out of touch with what’s going on in her life. Edward sneaks into Bella’s room every night to sleep next to her and Bella lies to her dad about it.
Talking About God
Every part of culture (books, movies, music, art and fashion) communicates the belief of the writer, musician, designer or director. The “Twilight” series is no different. It conveys specific beliefs about God. Statements about God and salvation are peppered throughout the story in a subtle way. Are they biblical?
Good and evil in Twilight. Edward and his family are supposedly a different kind of vampire. The Cullens think that killing humans is wrong. Even though they thirst for human blood, they abstain and instead hunt bears and large game for their blood.
Stephenie’s story communicates that even though Edward is technically an evil being- he is, after all, a vampire- he tries to be good by not killing humans for food. But can an evil being ever be “good”? If he repents and reforms his ways- Beauty and the Beast anyone?- yes, but the vampires in this series do not. They remain vampires.
Good and evil in the Bible. The Bible teaches the opposite of what “Twilight” does about goodness and salvation. Human beings are sinners. We cannot know God apart from faith in Christ’s death on the cross for our sins. Romans 3:22-24 states, “This righteousness from God comes is through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
Many people believe that when they die, God will allow them into heaven because they tried to live a good life and do good deeds. That is basically what the vampires of this series do; they believe that by doing “good” deeds (e.g., not killing humans), they can be saved,
But the bible clearly teaches that no one can be redeemed by good deeds. It’s only through faith in Christ that we can enter heaven into the presence of the God. Yes, the “Twilight” story is only fiction. It’s not the Bible, but Christian readers need to be on guard to discern is spiritual statements in books, films or music match the truth of God’s Word.
An Entry to the Occult
The final book in the series, Breaking Dawn, makes a hard turn from romance into horror and occult. Bella and Edward get married and have sex.
In one extended, very disturbing scene, Bella dies and is transformed into a vampire. She gives birth to a half- human, half- vampire baby, which tears its way out of her belly with torrents of blood.
What Do You Believe
It’s easy to think it’s no big deal to see the latest hip movie or read the books everyone else is reading and not pay attention to what those media are saying.
We’re to love God with every fiber of our beings, and that includes loving him with our minds (Matthew 22-36:38). We need to think about what fills out minds. Does it reflect biblical truth? The “Twilight” series does not. Just because the culture loves these books does not mean you should. As the scripture tells us “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you should be able to test and approve what God’s will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).
Article from Brio December 2008
By Melanie M. Cogdill is the managing editor of the Christian Research Journal.
Here is an article about Twilight from Brio. I know that a lot of girls really like the books and movies so I just wanted to post this.
< Message edited by pink_becca3 -- 10/27/2009 5:46:06 PM >
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RE: Twilight - 10/28/2009 4:20:04 PM
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mollypear
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I've read the books, and I also know a little more than the average person about the Mormon people (Stephenie Meyer is Mormon), and it's kind of weird how some things in her book come from her faith.
1st similarity- getting to heaven by deeds- is what Mormon's teach
2nd similarity- polygamy (granted, in Eclipse it was just a 'story' of the Quileute tribe, but she got it from her own 'spiritual' background).
3rd similarity- Mormon's believe that there are basically three stages of heaven, and every bad (bad meaning murderers, rapists, etc.) person outside of their own faith goes to the lowest heaven. This is where Stephenie Meyer gets Bella's argument of 'You're still going to heaven, Edward, even though you've killed lots of people and drink blood like someone in a cult'.
4th similarity-the Mormon's believe that through child-bearing, they become like gods. Bella becomes a supernaturally strong and beautiful vampire after having Renesmee.
Get my connections?
I learned about the Mormon's through a school presentation, and after that I was shocked and realized just how closely those books relate with Stephenie Meyers background. People need to beware of these books-this is Stephenie Meyer sucking people in and sending messages and sharing her faith. My friends and I once thought these books were great, and we didn't mind all the weirdness of them because it was so interesting to read. I didn't mind these books either, until I learned more about the Mormon religion, and though they say they're Christian, the more you find out about them the more you realize they are not.
What scared me was I talked about it to a girl I go to school with, who is a Christian, and she just shrugged and said the books were cool, so Mormonism must be cool too. This was even after the presentation. As I talked more and more with people, most of them didn't seem to care. That is not a good response, especially for Christian teenagers! (Though it's a common response...) Those people need our help!
So yes, even though the books are well written and great stories, people should stay far away from them, because they do influence the lives of Americans. If you don't think they have that much influence, I dare you to google twilight. It's huge.
My advice? Just stay away from those books. Don't buy them. What with the movies coming out, they are spreading enough, and we as Christians need to let the world know that those books, and the Morman religion that influenced them, are no good.
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RE: Twilight - 10/30/2009 11:37:37 PM
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pink_becca3
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I have never read the books or watched the movie but I never even thought about it but after I read the article I knew that I didn't want to. My bff's sisters and her sister's boyfriend liked the movie and my bff was horrified (because she had read the Brio article) so she showed them the article and sent it to some people and after they read the article they decided that they weren't going to watch the movie anymore or read the books.
I didn't know that Stephenie was a Mormon and I had no idea what Mormons believe. I don't really know anything about the author except that she wrote the books.
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RE: Twilight - 11/1/2009 2:02:08 PM
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jesusXXjunkie
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I have read have all of the books, have seen the movie, and even own two twilight shirts. i see nothing wrong with it at all. its just a book. i love to read, books are my life, aside from music of course. but its harmless. i personallly love it.
_____________________________
The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.
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RE: Twilight - 11/2/2009 2:10:24 PM
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mollypear
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quote:
its just a book
Just be careful, please. Know what's right. Isn't the Quran just a book? Isn't the Torah just a book? Aren't the Harry Potter books just books?
This world is full of sin, and because books are of the world, they can contain sin. My point: be very careful.
quote:
i personally love it.
I actually like the books too. That doesn't mean they're good, because I've been corrupted.
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RE: Twilight - 11/2/2009 5:59:16 PM
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jesusXXjunkie
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its fictional..
it is make believe. its not like vampires really exist and they really sparkle.
as i've said before
its like talking cars and flying dogs and fairies that sprinkle pixie dust.
yet no one seems to freak out over those.
_____________________________
The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.
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RE: Twilight - 11/2/2009 6:01:05 PM
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pink_becca3
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quote:
ORIGINAL: jesusXXjunkie
I have read have all of the books, have seen the movie, and even own two twilight shirts. i see nothing wrong with it at all. its just a book. i love to read, books are my life, aside from music of course. but its harmless. i personallly love it.
It isn't just a book. Books effect how we think and what we think about. A lot of people think that Harry Potter is just a movie. (or a book) The Bible teaches the opposite of what “Twilight” does about goodness and salvation. Human beings are sinners. We cannot know God apart from faith in Christ’s death on the cross for our sins. Romans 3:22-24 states, “This righteousness from God comes is through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
The article made me think about other stuff I was watching. How it affected what I was thinking. Books and movies are made to make you think a certain way, act a certain way, and see things a certain way.
The Twilight books are trying to make you see things a certain way. Now a lot of people think that vampires are ok because of the books. Even if the author of the books didn't have a certain reason for writing the books, the devil did and was using someone so he could deceive people and make them think that something is ok (like vampires) when it isn't and totally goes against the bible.
Did you read the article I posted? If you didn't will you please read the whole thing. I like some stuff that I shouldn't but I have to decide not to watch them and do the right thing. Have you prayed about it?
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RE: Twilight - 11/2/2009 6:17:13 PM
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jesusXXjunkie
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quote:
ORIGINAL: pink_becca3
It isn't just a book. Books effect how we think and what we think about. A lot of people think that Harry Potter is just a movie. (or a book) The Bible teaches the opposite of what “Twilight” does about goodness and salvation. Human beings are sinners. We cannot know God apart from faith in Christ’s death on the cross for our sins. Romans 3:22-24 states, “This righteousness from God comes is through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
The article made me think about other stuff I was watching. How it affected what I was thinking. Books and movies are made to make you think a certain way, act a certain way, and see things a certain way.
The Twilight books are trying to make you see things a certain way. Now a lot of people think that vampires are ok because of the books. Even if the author of the books didn't have a certain reason for writing the books, the devil did and was using someone so he could deceive people and make them think that something is ok (like vampires) when it isn't and totally goes against the bible.
Did you read the article I posted? If you didn't will you please read the whole thing. I like some stuff that I shouldn't but I have to decide not to watch them and do the right thing. Have you prayed about it?
vampires dont exist.
they never have.
and they never will.
i also see nothing wrong with harry potter.
if people are convinced that vampires and werewolves exist and that a 13 year old boy waving a wand around is real
then they aren't stable enough that they should even watch anything at all.
and yess i have prayed about it.
and twilight does not bother me.
neither does it bother my parents who have worked actively in the ministry for 25 years, when i convinced them to watch the movie with me.
_____________________________
The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.
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RE: Twilight - 11/3/2009 3:51:52 PM
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mollypear
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Here's the thing: You know it's not real. Your parents know it's not real. Some people don't, and they're the ones I'm worried about.
I know a girl who can't be home alone, can't go to dark rooms without lots of light, and gets nightmares about monsters. You would expect that from a five year old. This girl is my age (16). And Christian.
There was a story in the news a long time ago that a woman started her house on fire because she tried to do a spell (or something to that effect) she found in a Harry Potter book. People are influenced.
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RE: Twilight - 11/3/2009 5:50:29 PM
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jesusXXjunkie
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so...
if im stable...then whats the issue with reading the book?
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The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.
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RE: Twilight - 11/13/2009 10:39:56 AM
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Tarox
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quote:
ORIGINAL: mollypear
There was a story in the news a long time ago that a woman started her house on fire because she tried to do a spell (or something to that effect) she found in a Harry Potter book. People are influenced.
Should we abolish the stories about King Arthur? Merlin's a wizard after all.
People who build up theologies based on movies or books are a rare breed IMHO. I don't think that woman burned her house down because JK Rowlings wrote an evil book. I think that woman was either disturbed, or really missing something in her life. She chose to make an idol out of something and burned her house down. People want something in their lives, and if they don't get Jesus, then they'll make just about anything else try to fit in that hole.
The golden calf in Exodus- are cows evil? Are statues of cows evil? No. Willfully making something else the object of your worship, or building religion on something that isn't God, that's what's bad.
The best books are once that immerse you, create a vivid picture of the wold they're in- that's why LotR, Narnia, Twilight, and Harry Potter are all popular (along with other elements of good story telling). But that doesn't mean they're bad, and if a person takes it too far, the blame rests on that person.
However, if God is telling you to keep anything out of your life as an act of obediance to Him, do it. No book is worth jeopardizing that, and good for you for doing what God wants in your life  . Just know that we don't all have those same convictions.
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RE: Twilight - 11/13/2009 2:10:48 PM
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mollypear
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quote:
Should we abolish the stories about King Arthur? Merlin's a wizard after all.
That depends. Are they history books on Merlin? Twilight is purely fictional. Besides, there are no records that I know of that people were trying Merlin's spells besides Merlin.
Have any of you heard of the teens now biting each other because of the Twilight series?
quote:
I think that woman was either disturbed, or really missing something in her life. She chose to make an idol out of something and burned her house down. People want something in their lives, and if they don't get Jesus, then they'll make just about anything else try to fit in that hole.
That is exactly what I am afraid of. Those people should not be reading those books.
And cows are not evil.
quote:
Willfully making something else the object of your worship, or building religion on something that isn't God, that's what's bad.
That's what I'm getting at. But my question is this; if you know something you do or eat or read will cause people to become interested in the book, and take the book literally or use the book the wrong way and sin, why would you do it?
Am I just arguing a losing cause?
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RE: Twilight - 11/16/2009 12:48:58 PM
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Tarox
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quote:
ORIGINAL: mollypear
if you know something you do or eat or read will cause people to become interested in the book, and take the book literally or use the book the wrong way and sin, why would you do it?
Am I just arguing a losing cause?
But I don't know that reading a book will cause people to take it literally. I think people that do that are in the extreme minority, and I for one don't have people like that in my life. I have a variety of friends, but none of them come anywhere near the level of instability and foolishness that trying to turn your life into Harry Potter or Twilight.
I think that when a spiritual leader tells a group of Christians "Don't read this!", while he may be acting out of genuine concern, he's expressing an underlying distrust and insecurity in their faith, maturity, and stability. It's insulting.
My point was that even if they don't read Twilight or Harry Potter, the really unstable kids (who do need help and guidance of the kind in the above paragraph) are going to seek out something to preoccupy themselves. They'll search high and low to find it, because they need filled. Crusading against Harry Potter and Twilight is like trying to cure the flu with tissues: it seems like it helps, but it doesn't tackle the real issues and it doesn't make them go away.
If you have a friend who seems like the type to get into this, then yes, be a good friend and advise them against it, and abstain from it yourself, that's very Biblical. But it just isn't a necessary thing for most people.
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RE: Twilight - 11/18/2009 2:41:32 PM
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rae_of_light
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I have a few issues with Twilight.
The Bible clearly says not to drink blood. Twilight glorifies this practice, and it doesn't matter that it's not human blood that the "good guys" drink.... Biblically, it's still wrong!
Bella has an unhealthy obsession with Edward, a dangerous guy. She feels that life is not worth living unless she has her boyfriend, and she is willing to sell her soul to be with him. A lot of really young, impressionable girls are reading these books, and what they are being shown is that it is normal and right to make your boyfriend your whole world, even if he could seriously hurt you.
Oh yeah, and I almost forgot! The books are not well written. At all. I work at a library and a bookstore, and the books are somewhat of a joke in the literary world. Somebody get Stephanie Meyers a thesaurus!
_____________________________
I don't need to swear to get my point across
I don't have to change who I am to be cool
I don't have to drink to have a good time
...And you're asking me what MY problem is?
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RE: Twilight - 11/19/2009 7:50:48 PM
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MrFribbles
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OK, so, I'm not a teen anymore, but I was not too long ago. If my post gets removed, I'm cool with that.
quote:
Bella has an unhealthy obsession with Edward, a dangerous guy. She feels that life is not worth living unless she has her boyfriend, and she is willing to sell her soul to be with him. A lot of really young, impressionable girls are reading these books, and what they are being shown is that it is normal and right to make your boyfriend your whole world, even if he could seriously hurt you.
This is the first legitimate reason I've seen for a Christian (or anyone with common sense) having a moral objection to Twilight, and I think it's a good point to bring up. What are these books teaching the young folks if not, "Make romantic love your god!"? Many people, regardless of age, do foolish things in the name of romance already. Is it wise to allow an obsession to grow when such poor role models are the ones being obsessed over?
Of course, the same could be said of the myriad of romantic comedies in the theaters and movie stores, so remember to be careful. It's important to have a universal standard about these things.
Oh, and I really like your signature, rae.
_____________________________
"To the humble man, and to the humble man alone, the sun is really a sun; to the humble man, and to the humble man alone, the sea is really a sea."
-G. K. Chesterton
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RE: Twilight - 11/20/2009 9:20:01 AM
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jesusXXjunkie
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technically...edward has the same obsession with her. he was the one that was going to kill himself because he no longer had her. its not just a one sided thing, here. its more identifiable with bella because its from her narative point of view.
and i cant believe im talking about this as if its a real situation. as if some girl somewhere is becoming obsessed with her vampire boyfriend and is willing to give her soul for him...
its just a book. if you dont like it, dont read it. but you shouldn't put your convictions on other people.
_____________________________
The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.
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RE: Twilight - 11/20/2009 2:01:29 PM
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MrFribbles
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quote:
you shouldn't put your convictions on other people.
This isn't a matter of putting convictions on other people - it's just sharing concern of what kind of impact these books may have on their readers.
_____________________________
"To the humble man, and to the humble man alone, the sun is really a sun; to the humble man, and to the humble man alone, the sea is really a sea."
-G. K. Chesterton
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RE: Twilight - 11/20/2009 3:24:07 PM
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Tarox
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quote:
ORIGINAL: MrFribbles
quote:
you shouldn't put your convictions on other people.
This isn't a matter of putting convictions on other people - it's just sharing concern of what kind of impact these books may have on their readers.
I think certain books get blacklisted for this kind of treatment though. There's tons of books that would be worse for people to read, but books like Harry Potter, Twilight, and DaVinci Code get targeted. It just seems like an example of Christian culture in the US being reactionary to mainstream fads, of being reactive instead of active.
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RE: Twilight - 11/20/2009 4:27:21 PM
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MrFribbles
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quote:
I think certain books get blacklisted for this kind of treatment though. There's tons of books that would be worse for people to read, but books like Harry Potter, Twilight, and DaVinci Code get targeted.
I completely agree with this. If you'll notice, I said, "Of course, the same could be said of the myriad of romantic comedies in the theaters and movie stores, so remember to be careful. It's important to have a universal standard about these things." And that's just one genre where the dangerous obesession with romantic love can be seen. We should bemoan the unhealthy relationship habits of Bella and Edward, then pop in, say, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days because we think it's such a great movie. Or pick up a "Christian Romance" novel, where everything is picture perfect, even the conflicts. If we're going to disagree with one, we have to disagree with them all.
_____________________________
"To the humble man, and to the humble man alone, the sun is really a sun; to the humble man, and to the humble man alone, the sea is really a sea."
-G. K. Chesterton
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