Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Thinking Biblically on Twilight


Twilight—the story of teenage angst mixed with vampire love—has become talk of thousands of girls across the world. At the book's release, even the critics were quick to form a fan club. (Publishers Weekly described the love story in glowing terms and named Twilight "Best Book of the Year.")

Now, the movie version of Twilight is scheduled to release November 21st, and the box office estimates that it may break records. The movie is expected to be a hit among teenage girls, so it makes sense to discuss it here.

I just finished reading God's Missionary, by Amy Carmichael. I found her thoughts appropriate, both in relation to Hannah's recent post and the upcoming movie release:

Do we never hear the question "What is the harm of it?" asked about reading certain books, following certain pursuits, taking our recreation in certain ways? Perhaps... we need change of thought and rest of brain. "What is the harm of the latest novel, even if it happens to be rather unprofitable?" And we (who have not time to read one out of a thousand of the real books that have been written) spend a precious hour by deliberate choice over something not worthwhile; and when our immediate world interrupts us, breaking in upon us with some call, do we find that we come back to it with quite undistracted gladness?

...."Surely there is no harm in recreation?" To this question we answer, "No, if by recreation is meant re-equipment for future work with no leakage of spiritual power." We must have a fresh influx of life for both soul and body, or we shall dry up and become deserts in a desert. But where are our fresh springs to be? That is the main question.

"All my fresh springs are in Thee." Can we say so truthfully? Or is it not a fact that-- with some of us at least-- certain forms of recreation have, perhaps quite insensibly to us, got out of their place, and hinder, rather than help, all-round robustness
of life?

After looking through Twilight and just reading a few chapters, my mind felt dirty---like I had to go cleanse it with Scripture. Some Christians have praised the book for its lack of pre-marital sex; but when everything else is there--desire, kisses, discussions, touches--so what? That makes it pure? Honestly.

The movie hasn't been released, and I haven't seen it. The trailer looks similar to the traditional superhero movie plot. (Girl falls for guy with special powers. Guy doesn't want to endanger her. Time passes. Guy saves girl from villain. Love conquers all.) But it does provide food for thought--is this worth watching?

What are your thoughts on Twilight? Does the vampire aspect give you pause? Any plans to watch it in theaters?

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