I’ve noticed a trend in entertainment recently. It seems as though some strange anachronistic lens has been placed over history regarding faith and religion. People of a Christian faith are often depicted as weak and feeble, while people of pagan religions are shown as powerful and successful.
Why does entertainment depict the Christian God as effeminate and impotent but the pagan god(s) with power? Where is the honesty of history, showing the reality of faith in all people in the ancient world? Martyrdom and bravery – across the board – were rather ubiquitous.
Don’t get me wrong, I am a man of conviction; however, I think what we need is a nuanced, balanced approach to stories. We need to see an authentic battle between light and dark. We need to see the reality that all sides of the spiritual equation are laden with some level of power (for why else would anyone put their faith in them?)
We need complex characters with a message of hope that doesn’t preach.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
My Review of The Bear and the Nightingale
Green Monk: Blood of the Martyrs
Are you a fan of my Raven Son series? If so, I have a fun giveaway for you! Let me send you a high-resolution fantasy map that highlights important destinations my characters traverse. Simply add your email address below!