Over the years, I have received a good number of emails from new writers looking for publishing advice regarding their stories. Specifically ‘Christian Horror’ stories. This advice typically revolves around two questions: Should I publish traditionally or independently?Should I aim for the Christian market or the General market? There are many Christian writers of horror [...]
When Christians claim to be both ‘pro-choice’ and ‘pro-life’ they betray ideological bias and ignore the broader teachings of Scripture In an Opinion piece entitled Does life start at conception? That’s not what the Bible says, Christian novelist Matt Mikalatos defended a “pro-choice” position regarding abortion. From the article: “Given that the Bible is less [...]
Christian themes and biblical imagery contribute greatly to the contemporary horror genre. Whether it’s Catholic exorcists, angels and demons, end-times apocalypse, or visions of Hell, religious themes are replete in today’s horror. Folk horror is no exception. Folk horror uniquely appeals to specific biblical themes. In this article, I hope to outline some of those [...]
When approaching biblical doctrines, it’s been suggested that the student apply something referred to as “theological triage.” Albert Mohler defines “theological triage” as “a responsible biblical way of weighing theological issues and biblical doctrines understanding which are of first importance.” By using the phrase “of first importance,” Mohler is referencing a statement made by the Apostle [...]
A literal void occupies center stage in “Outer Range,” the new Amazon Western/Sci-Fi series. Sadly, a spiritual void prevents any significant metaphysical messaging from the show’s creators. (Spoilers will follow for Season One.) Shortly after mentioning the show on social media, and noting some of its many religious references, I was privately messaged by someone [...]
C.S. Lewis famously said, in his introduction to The Screwtape Letters, “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them.” Apparently, the authors of a recent [...]
From my latest article at Lorehaven Amazon ‘Rings of Power’ Promos Threaten to Burn Middle-Earth in the Fires of Industry: The Lord of the Rings is an important cultural artifact. Like most cultural artifacts and symbols, it emerged from a specific context. Understanding the historical settings and influences of cultural byproducts often brings richness and clarity to [...]
Literary criticism tends to follow the spirit of its age. This is nowhere more evident than in the genre of horror. More recent literary interpretations of seminal works of horror like Frankenstein, Dracula, and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde have leaned into critical theory and postmodern deconstruction, giving way to interpretive excess and reductive textual [...]
What Changes to Abbie Richards’ Popular “Conspiracy Chart” Tell Us about Disinfo/Conspiracy Research
Abbie Richards’ “Conspiracy Chart” became popular in 2020. I featured it in my lengthy piece on conspiracy theories. The chart serves as a barometer, not just of contemporary conspiracy theories, but of the intentions and ideologies of disinfo researchers in general. Richards’ recent update of the chart (see below) is illustrative of the evolving beliefs [...]
I used to be part of a writers group called “Edgy Christian Fiction.” At the time (early 2010’s), Christian fiction writers often debated pushing the content envelop of the stories we told. Whereas most Christian fiction was synonymous with “clean” and “family friendly” fare, some artists and authors aspired to address more mature thematic elements [...]
