I think the article may have been making more of than what was really there. However I don’t believe that Twilight is necessarily a good book by any means. What bothered me most was how it was being placed as ideal readings in various Church groups. It’s not even an ideal read, let alone for any religious groups.
As far as religion goes, Edward constantly says how he believes he is soulless, a monster, damned, etc. and yet he makes no effort to do anything about it. It would be the equivalent of someone saying, “Well, I’ve already sinned and I’m always going to be a sinner, so let’s do it some more.†I have thought this in my past, and do not like the idea whatsoever. Also how Carlisle “saves†the others from death by turning them into vampires. Yeah, okay.
Then come other issues. It is a book that portrays what may as well be two obsessive stalkers drooling over each other’s beauty, with one of them being thoroughly abusive and controlling. Edward seems to feel he needs to control every aspect of Bella’s life to “protect†her. If he really loved her, he would at least let her do certain things of her own volition. In the book, he does anything but. On the subject of her protection, he repeatedly tells her he could kill her, is bad for her, dangerous, etc. Yet, he watches her, outside her window while she sleeps. If he really believed he was such a danger, he would not do this and put her in danger - never mind how creepy and thoroughly immoral it is.
Then is Bella. Bella is far too dependant and says a message to the female gender about their own independence, which is not a positive one. When Edward leaves, she goes practically insane and even jumps off a cliff to hear his voice. Hmmm…Schizophrenic? Extreme? Too dependant? Why no, according to Mrs. Meyer, this is “true love.†Throughout the series, she proves herself to be extremely shallow as well. She has a lot of disregard for any family ties or values and disrespectfully calls her parents by their first names. She also strings along a boy who is later in love with her, knowing she has no intentions of ever being with him. And aside from all her personality faults, I was rather disturbed to find Mrs. Meyer’s cameo as Bella. Give or take twenty pounds, and there you go! One in the same.
If someone would have told me 25 years ago, that one day a popular series of "vampire romance" books would be accepted and promoted by evangelical ministries, I wouldn't have been able to believe it. That's why I was shocked to read this article by Christian documentarian and researcher, Caryl Matrisciana & Paul Villanueva, Click Here which documents the glowing reviews of the occult book series by evangelical publications such as: Campus Life, Focus on the Family, Christianity Today, Christian Teen, and Christian Stay at Home Moms Magazine. All gave glowing testimonials, and some even suggested that the "Twilight" series could become the basis for Bible discussions and studies!
So, yeah, great material for Christian readings and studies.
2
Now give heed not to promote worldly devices that condone such practices whether in a fictional setting or not.
