Higher Things Photo
This is me delivering my in-depth sectional at the Higher Things youth conference last week in St. Louis. My topic was Christ in Fantasy Lit and Movies. The room seated 300 and we had maybe 200 or 250. The technology available was excellent. I used Powerpoint for the first time (only had a couple of goof-ups). But the techies were on the mark.
Very kewl. What was the toughest question your fielded?
Peperkorn
Anonymous
27 Jul 05 at 3:29 am
“The technology available was top shelf”
I just can’t begin to tell you how that reads to British eyes.
“Top shelf” has very particular connotations over here that you don’t necessarily want to bring in to references to teenagers and the use of technology…
John H
27 Jul 05 at 8:14 am
So what is the verdict? Is christ in Fantasy?
The Cubicle Reverend
27 Jul 05 at 12:46 pm
John H,
Thanks so much for the cross-cultural input. I’ll re-word it immediately.
Pastor Scott Stiegemeyer
27 Jul 05 at 4:11 pm
Peperkorn,
I don’t recall any particularly thorny questions. My biggest obstacle was the fact that many of these teens had read much more in the fantasy genre than I. I kept it sort of general and dealt with some underlying worldview themes with which I am very familiar and specifically focused on Narnia and Middle Earth.
Pastor Scott Stiegemeyer
27 Jul 05 at 4:16 pm
Cubicle,
Is Christ in fantasy? Yes and no. I would clarify that to say that there are images and motifs in all literature (including fantasy) that can either echo Christian beliefs or contradict them. Sometimes artists intentionally weave Christian thought/worldview into their art. Sometimes they do so unintentionally either because of being a product of Western civilization or simply because the conventions of storytelling naturally rub up against the basic truths of natural revelation.
I talked about fantasy in the broadest sense, including horror, sci-fi and comic book superheroes. This is not to suggest that I endorse every movie of these types. And also fantasy, in the narrower sense, specializing in Narnia and Lord of the Rings.
My chief goal was to help the teenagers become more discerning consumers of pop culture.
Pastor Scott Stiegemeyer
27 Jul 05 at 4:22 pm
That’s cool. Being pretty well versed in b-movies I am often amazed at how Christian themes sometimes wind their way into a lot of these stories.
The Cubicle Reverend
27 Jul 05 at 5:14 pm
I was one of the adults in attendance all three days of the In-Depth Session on Christ in Fantasy. I learned a great deal and will be able to better deal with questions raised by students in my school and church about themes in movies and Lit. Thank you for the great information.
Julie from AL
Anonymous
1 Aug 05 at 3:40 am
Julie from AL,
Thank you so much for the feedback. I’m very happy you found the session worthwhile. It was a pleasure.
Pastor Scott Stiegemeyer
1 Aug 05 at 5:13 am