Mark Driscoll shares his thoughts on the Twilight series and all the new vampire-ish books for preteen/teen girls. Some of you aren’t going to like what he has to say. Please watch and we can discuss in the comments.
HT: Katie Howard
The Twilight Gospel (The Spiritual Roots of Stephenie Meyer’s Vampire Saga) by Dave Roberts is a must-read for the parent or young person seeking answers about Meyer’s book series. It would be even better if parent and young reader read Roberts’ book together for discussion.
From The Twilight Gospel:
We have to ask the questions because we believe that while popular fiction or popular film may not “make” anybody do anything, the diet that we consume will have some impact on our emotional health and personal worldview if we have not rigorously examined its assumptions.
Well said.
Roberts continues:
What messages about beauty, self-image and personal contentment is the Twilight Saga giving to the emotionally vulnerable, often insecure, maybe not conventionally beautiful, adolescent audience that forms its core market?
A few other things I like about this book:
The examination of supernatural powers (like psychic power) consumerism and money. The chapter on vampire Alice Cullen is worth the price of the book, in my opinion. Very eye opening (and I missed it when I read the novels. See? Even I learned something new.)
Roberts and I are on the same page when it comes to Twilight. Read it if you have a Twilight fan in your house.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher to review.
Remember those two questions I posed at the beginning of my reading the Twilight books? With this final Twilight post, I’d like to answer both of those questions:
What does the Twilight series teach young people about sex and purity?
Bella calls Edward “old fashioned” because he resists her advances. Bella’s father, Charlie, tells her “times have changed” and to “be careful” when he suspects the teens have become intimate. I was so disappointed in this exchange between father and daughter. I hoped Charlie would be the one voice of reason for a girl lost in so many ways.
Moms (and any dads reading this), there is nothing wrong with telling your daughters (and sons) to wait for sexual intimacy. Purity is not old fashioned, out-of-style, or only for the eternally 17 year old vampires concerned for their eternal soul.
Purity is for today’s teen too.
And if you don’t want to play the No-Sex-Because-the-Bible-Says-So card, think about this:
AIDS. STDs. Unwanted pregnancy. All real issues any sexually active teen needs to think about. Purity for the teen just makes sense.
I’ve read articles in which the books are praised for being pro-marriage. Unfortunately, that’s a bit misleading. Bella isn’t enthusiastic about marrying Edward. Marriage for Bella is just a way for her to get what she wants: transformation into an immortal, and forever-beautiful vampire, protection for the wolf-pack, her friends and family in Forks, Washington.
Sounds more like Bella is looking to escape her problems. That’s no way to enter a marriage.
Do the books promote godly behavior?
The books have snippets of things that I like, but it’s not enough for me to say the series truly encourages how I want my sons and daughters to behave in relation to the opposite sex, especially when dating.
Like I said, I wish Charlie gave Bella different advice regarding her boyfriend vampire.
Edward refuses Bella because he wants to protect his eternal soul. Throughout the first three books, he’s committed to his decision, but at the end of Eclipse, Edward agrees to do whatever Bella wants – including sex – before she becomes a Cullen vampire.
Hmmm. That’s not exactly biblical virtue. Poor, Edward! He almost had it right.
Lust, obsession, low self-worth – these are the attributes taught to our girls when they read Twilight.
Methinks we can do better by our daughters.
Twilight elsewhere
For more commentary on the Twilight series:
Christ and Pop Culture, “Twilight: a positive or negative influence for teens?”
Her.meneutics, “Consider the vampire.”
Visionary Daughters: How Twilight is re-vamping romance
5 Minutes for Books: Touched by a Vampire (book review)
That’s it. . . for now
I shall put Twilight to rest for now. Yet one never knows when the opportunity will present for another post. I hope you found this series helpful in your understanding of Twilight and it’s message to our young readers.