tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post440534120600067120..comments2023-06-10T22:42:19.087+10:00Comments on Australasian Christian Writers: Bookish Question: How do you define Christian Fiction?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-24643535523239442632017-08-01T11:56:03.134+10:002017-08-01T11:56:03.134+10:00Yes, that novel deserved every glowing review it r...Yes, that novel deserved every glowing review it received.Iolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17199141868703826943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-48309311432443217952017-08-01T11:52:45.575+10:002017-08-01T11:52:45.575+10:00It would make a great ice-breaker question at conf...It would make a great ice-breaker question at conference!Iolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17199141868703826943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-38563916603370268462017-08-01T11:52:01.912+10:002017-08-01T11:52:01.912+10:00That's interesting, that non-Christians will a...That's interesting, that non-Christians will actively look for Christian books at the library because they'd rather that than sex and swearing! Ours makes that easy, by putting a little cross on the spine of each book (romances have hearts, and mysteries a picture of Sherlock Holmes).Iolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17199141868703826943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-29756690470567067132017-08-01T11:49:59.076+10:002017-08-01T11:49:59.076+10:00I suspect there are as many definitions as there a...I suspect there are as many definitions as there are Christians! Yes, I have read Writing in Obedience - I think it's a must-read title for any Christian writer, whether they're writing for the Christian market or the general market. <br /><br />Yes, I'll definitely share the feedback in a future post.Iolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17199141868703826943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-45227188559359379742017-07-31T15:35:31.466+10:002017-07-31T15:35:31.466+10:00It's a great question, and sure to stir a lot ...It's a great question, and sure to stir a lot of opinion. I'd love to read more from you once you've collated the results of your research.Meredith Rescehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13119649437940781847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-27773547397115727532017-07-31T09:49:38.752+10:002017-07-31T09:49:38.752+10:00Iola, I think Sally Bradley's "Kept"...Iola, I think Sally Bradley's "Kept" is a great example of a romance novel where the spiritual thread is essential to the story.Ian Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00192687613923596829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-79600003763563960582017-07-31T09:21:34.734+10:002017-07-31T09:21:34.734+10:00Forgot to say there are a lot of readers who are o...Forgot to say there are a lot of readers who are older who are readers and they are often the ones who are buying or borrowing the books.Ausjennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07644698706787568679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-53517808422157678542017-07-31T09:19:56.055+10:002017-07-31T09:19:56.055+10:00As a reader I would define Christian fiction as a ...As a reader I would define Christian fiction as a clean read with no sex scenes outside of marriage and then its off stage so its g rated. No swearing or bad language as we get enough of this in the world and most of us read to get away from that. Most would have some sort of faith element which doesn't have to be much but often characters will attend church or some sort of encounter. I would expect no sex before marriage. <br /><br />On a side I donate Christian fiction the the library and they are always grateful because many of the borrowers are so happy to see them because they say they know what they will get a clean read and many of these are not Christian's. Ausjennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07644698706787568679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-41886412636137208052017-07-31T09:18:33.983+10:002017-07-31T09:18:33.983+10:00This is always a fun discussion because of the man...This is always a fun discussion because of the many different views of the subject. It's important that we all exercise grace when participating in it as we won't always agree with each other's perspectives.<br /><br />I've always liked Terry Burns and Linda Yezak's perspective that they discuss in their excellent little book, "Writing in Obedience" which I think you've read, Iola. It goes something like this: "You can't pull the Christian thread out of a Christian novel and still have a viable book."<br /><br />And to apply such a "definition" to one's story makes writing a Christian novel really hard. There are many great novels that feature elements of Christian fiction, e.g., Les Miserable has a fabulous perspective of grace and forgiveness but would it be regarded as Christian fiction? <br /><br />I'm often confused by why many titles are classified as Christian fiction, the author is Christian and there is a mention of God and perhaps a virtue like forgiveness, but there's no real evidence in the story of anyone having a developing (even if it's a struggle) relationship with Jesus.<br /><br />I hope once you've written your thoughts you'll be able to share them with us and also to hear how your audience responds.Ian Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00192687613923596829noreply@blogger.com