Fiction is a Lie, pt. 2

It probably wasn't very nice of me to leave you stranded in the middle of a moral dilemma yesterday. Let's fix that.

The question is, "Can a Christian justify writing and reading Fiction, when it is ultimately a lie?"

If great men like CS Lewis (who was wholeheartedly passionate about God) can write fiction (allegories aside), then the answer must be "Yes!" But even sincere men of faith can sin, so that can't be our only answer.

Fiction is an agreement between writer and reader to suspend truth for a time. Even when an author passes his work off with authority, there is a knowing wink between them. The knowledge that it isn't real to begin with is a safety line, allowing the reader to become fully immersed in the story with the guarantee that they will come out unscathed on the other side. This diffuses the lie.**

In spite of what Oscar Wilde said, art imitates life (I'm pretty sure my life has never imitated a Renaissance Masterpiece). To a degree, art also imitates truth, whether it intends to or not. Any story of good and evil is a picture of the battle between righteousness and unrighteousness, however subtle. Fiction (for a follower of God) must then follow certain standards. While evil does not always have to win, it can never be glorified. Characters don't always have to conquer their flaws, but they must be perceived as flaws. God must never be portrayed in a way that does damage to his Holiness.


In the answer, there is also an echo back (at the bottom) to what has already been said about reflecting our Creator when we create.

Does it have to be real (or true) in order to honor God? Can a work of fiction still acknowledge the preeminence of the Almighty? Can you write about dragons and fairies without insulting the Creator of the Universe? This is not a topic that can be adequately addressed here. I can only ask the questions and point to one resolution. You have to finish the wrestling on your own. If you can answer these questions to the satisfaction of your conscience, with the help of the Holy Spirit, then let the lies fly!


*Young children miss the wink between author and reader that renders fiction safe. If you cannot supply the safety line for them, then the nightmares at 2am are your own fault for letting them absorb something they aren't ready for.