How do protestant christians view fantasy"?

Question

Christian mother and son trying to choose appropriate reading material based on Baptist Christian beliefs.

Answer 1

For me, I don't let the church or anyone else regulate what I read. I don't have children, but I taught for 15 years and I think that books are one of those things that choose be chosen on personal preference. If you child is not old enough, then you make that choice on his behalf fairly.

I can say in defense of fantasy. It is just that. It is make-believe and out of the realm of possibility. It is not something that would harm your child, in my opinion, and it may even help to enhance his creative abilities.

I am a strong believer that I have a God given right to make choices for myself. It  it was makes me...me.

If you are concerned about it altering your son's thinking or something, I would tell you to have much more faith in how you are rainsing your son. The fact that you have asked this question shows your concern for him. But I was raised in a Methodist church and it was never dictated to us what we could or could not read.

Karen Syed

http://karensyed.blogspot.com

Answer 2

I am a Christian; I have read the Lord of the Rings, His Dark Materials, and some of the C.S. Lewis space trilogy. I am going to start on Harry Potter soon. I like to see how other people view this world, from a Christian and atheistic perspective. I don't limit myself. I read what I wish. However, for you and your son, I suggest The Lord of the Rings and War of the Worlds.

Answer 3

It is your right to censor your son's reading, I think you should ask the pastor of your church where he stands  and what books that he recommends.  Other then p**n, which I think is totally stupid,  I let my kids read anything they wanted as did my mother let me read anything that I wanted.  Reading fiction is just that it is fiction not real an escape from everyday life.  Alice Through the Looking Glass also called Alice in Wonderland is fiction Harry Potter is fiction the books on unfortunate incidents is fiction.  Make sure your children know the difference between escapism in reading and nonfiction and I don't think that you will have any problems.  Non fiction on the other hand probably should be monitored a little closer.  Everybody has an opinion and there are some opinions that you may want your children to be a little older before they start reading them

Answer 4

I am a protestant Christian who can tell you how I handle it.  I let my children read the Harry Potter and Eragon series.  I even let them read the very controversial The Golden Compass.

I think it's important to be informed about my children's reading material so I read the books too.  If I find something that sets off an alarm with me, I discuss my concerns with them.  Sometimes I do a little extra research by reading reviews of the book.

I believe that Christians are in the world but not of it.  We need to be informed about popular culture and help our children to navigate within it.  I am not an isolationist.  I especially like the parable of the bad steward, the point of which was to teach us to be smart about how we handle the world.