That'll do it. Now people will read this blog, and then stop reading forever.
I was just reading Prodigal John's recent post on Christian Romantic Fiction and I remembered I wanted to do a post on this.
I seriously do think that Christian Romantic Fiction is more insidious for Christian women than pornography is for men. Considering my considerable experience with pornography (see my post on 3 years of Freedom - soon to be 4), I consider myself a sort of lay-expert (pun not originally intended but now left in on purpose).
Since porn is a false god set in place of an appropriate view of God's intention for sexuality, and since it is addictive, and since it is so destructive, it is obviously bad. But because it is so obviously dangerous, huge battles are fought over it. Your local Family Christian Store retail outlet isn't going to carry it.
However, since Christian Romantic Fiction is written by Christians and is about Christians in ministry situations (why, if the Prairie-Living schoolmarm, Marie, isn't able to tame the wildness of David Gideon's rebellious but lonely heart by the end of the 28th Chapter, I don't know if I'll be able to live with this world), it clearly belongs in our Christian stores.
My mom's not reading this, and she's not going to, and neither will my dad, so I'm pretty safe here I think, but if not, I guess this is no surprise to either of them: My mom probably read every book by Brock and Bodie Thoene, and she did so (and does so) because she had and has a desire for genuine affection. When my dad didn't give it, she found it in these formulaic, sanctified romance novels.
It's Danielle Steele meets Jesus and Zondervan publishing house on the same day.
So why is it eviler? It's been baptized and cleansed by its presence in the bookstore alongside legitimate Christian writings. At least we recognize that porn is dark and we don't let it in the front door. This stuff arrives in broad daylight, ready to seduce hearts with saccharine-sweet "goodness."
Just one more example of being "Of the world but not in it."
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3 comments:
Good post. I don't know if the legitimacy of Christian romance, although horrible, is worse than regular pornography - as it is not as available. Emotional porn is rarely available at anyplace other than the local money changer store or walmart, and assumes that it is Christians that actually read it - which also gives it an advantage over the larger portion of porn. Just a thought.
Oh, liked the pun, intentional or not. It reminds me of a old saying from college about the protestant work ethic: "procrastination is like masturbation - its fun while you're doing it, but in the end you're only screwing yourself..."
What a bunch of crap! Do they have Fabio in an open-breasted preacher's robe on the cover? Rubbish! I didn't even know these books existed...mainly because I don't see how anyone would codone them.
Hah! Fabio! I tried a Christian romance novel once in high school, and found it weak and insipid. And, qutie frankly to my love starved sixteen-year-old self, not enough sex. I haven't read one since. (When I was young, the hottest thing I remember reading was the scene in L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time when Calvin first held Meg's hand. Shivers up and down my spine. Yeah, I'm a lifelong dork.)
I must admit, I do read "Chick Lit," the genre that began with Bridget Jones Diary, and usually concerns a young British professional trying to find love and stay successful at work. Very little sex, actually, but some good making out. Anyway, more than any of the guys that read this wanted to know, but a chick's perspective, nonetheless.
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