Seven Ways to Find Truth in Fantastic Stories
This weekend I’m sharing Lorehaven magazine with Realm Makers Bookstore in Cincinnati.
I’m also sharing these bookmarks with folks who visit the booth.
Here’s the complete text.
“Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.”
— Scotch catechism
Seven ways to find truth in fantastic stories…
1. Explore the story itself.
Who does what, and why? What happens in the plot?
2. Discover this story-world.
What place is this? What styles and images do we find?
3. Find the common grace.
What is beautiful, good, and true?
4. Discerning idols.
What may the story exalt for “worship” apart from God?
5. Behold the gospel!
Idols always fail, so how does Jesus fulfill the story’s broken promises?
6. How can this story help Jesus’s people glorify Him?
7. How can this story help me better enjoy God forever?
E. Stephen Burnett creates sci-fi and fantasy as well as nonfiction, such as The Pop Culture Parent: Helping Kids Engage Their World for Christ (coauthored with Ted Turnau and Jared Moore, from New Growth Press). Stephen explores biblical truth and fantastic stories as publisher of Lorehaven.com and cohost of the Fantastical Truth podcast. He and his wife, Lacy, live in the Austin area, help with foster parenting, and serve as members of Southern Hills Baptist Church.
Now I must look to see if I have this bookmark amongst my stuff from the convention.
This bookmark is new since then, actually! We began using it at the Cincinnati convention.
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