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(More customer reviews)For the past several years, I've been intrigued with the popularity of the "Twilight" saga. It certainly has rivaled the hysteria seen with Harry Potter, though this audience seems to be skewed slightly older and with a higher percentage of females.
Although I'm a fan of the Potter series, I didn't feel highly compelled to read Stephenie Meyer's books. I don't prefer vampire stories. In fact, the subject of one of my lectures in a college speech making class was "Bram Stoker's Dracula" and why my fellow Wheaton students should choose to not patronize the 1992 film.
There's much debate in the Christian community about whether believers should be reading "Twilight" and its subsequent sequels. Vampire mythology has always been rooted in death, darkness and occultist practices. Just recently I read in "Home Life" magazine, "[we] encourage readers to think about why so many Christian women are drawn to the Twilight series when the plots and characters depicted are obviously contrary to biblical principles." (April 2010)
As a reviewer for Litfuse Publicity, I was pleased to receive Dave Roberts' book, "The Twilight Gospel". I wanted to get his perspective on this topic, especially as a Christian writer, speaker and minister. Dave is the author of the best-selling "The Toronto Blessing" and "Red Moon Rising". He is a former editor of "Christianity" magazine and won awards for his work on "Renewal" magazine. He is a church pastor and conference director for three major annual conferences on worship, children's ministry, and women's ministry.
In order to prepare for Roberts' book, I thought it would be appropriate to at least read "Twilight", the first book in Stephenie Meyer's series. This would give me at least a working knowledge of Roberts' topic, if not a completely informed one. Because this book has been reviewed dozens of times over the years, I don't feel the need to post a full critique. I will say that I found "Twilight" entertaining, not as sinister as some have made it out to be, yet not for children or young teens.
After reading "Twilight" I dove into Roberts' "The Twilight Gospel". He begins with short plot synopses of all the books in the series, plus the unpublished draft of "Midnight Sun", available on Stephenie Meyer's website. Roberts then goes on to explain his motivations and goals for the book, showing that he has no desire to turn his back on popular culture. Unlike many who criticize popular culture, he doesn't write from a place of fear, but "from a place of wisdom", wanting "to help people understand and respond and make good choices." (p.22)
Chapter 2 is centered mostly on the history behind vampires and other "undead." I found this to be very helpful in understanding the bigger picture, as I'd either forgotten these themes or had never explored them. The mythology behind these characters and stories has a long tradition, with varying degrees of darkness and occultism. Fortunately for the readers of "Twilight", there are no coffin-shaped beds, sinister gothic clothes or repellent crosses.
The rest of the book explores several themes that are of interest to Mr. Roberts. He addresses the seemingly heavy emphasis on materialism and physical beauty seen in the lives of the vampires. We see how sexuality and occultist issues are handled, the "theology" of Meyer's vampires, free will and pacifism. He concludes with a few personal words of wisdom, and a few book recommendations of his own.
My thoughts: At 155 pages, "The Twilight Gospel" was a quick read and held my attention well. I felt a little out of sorts at times, as Roberts refers to plot elements in books 2-4, which I haven't read. If you want to avoid plot spoilers, read this book after you've finished the series. However, if this isn't a concern because you're reading this to be an informed parent or reader, do read "The Twilight Gospel" first.
While I don't disagree with Mr. Roberts' assertion that materialism and beauty are given a lot of emphasis in the Twilight series, these elements didn't concern me. Those factors are a part of the fantastical tale--to complain about them would be like complaining about Snow White being the "Fairest of Them All" or Cinderella having the most beautiful gown at the ball. However, if you are easily influenced by these issues, then he has some good points to consider.
Although the sexual tension in "Twilight" was much chaster than I've seen in other romantic stories, Roberts tells us that it takes a more predominant role in the subsequent books. I admired Meyer's choice to have abstinence to be the rule rather than the exception in "Twilight", but Roberts writes that things become spicier as the series goes on.
Overall I enjoyed "The Twilight Gospel". I didn't feel the urgency that Roberts feels in some of his topics, but I can understand where he's coming from. I wouldn't call this the definitive Christian response to "Twilight", but it certainly raises some interesting ideas, ones that are worth considering as these stories continue in popularity, both in print and on screen. I'm glad that he was able to show us how good, admirable themes are found in Meyer's books. He also presented some negative aspects that should be considered. I agree with him: "Enjoy, but do not believe."
Click Here to see more reviews about: The Twilight Gospel: The Spiritual Roots of the Stephenie Meyer Vampire Saga
The blockbuster Twilight Saga is being read by teenager and adult alike. These powerful novels are gaining even more popularity as the movies hit theaters. But what should a Christian response be? And is there a helpful way to approach a teenager or young adult captivated with the books without alienating her?
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