Episode Details

We have already seen Halloween, full of candies and other tricky treats.[1. Featured images from Abhishek Hajare on Unsplash (red chilis) and Alexander Schimmeck on Unsplash (green candy).] Next came Thanksgiving with its famous feasting. Finally we get the grand finale of festivals: the Advent season leading up to Christmas. So much spicy. So much sugar. These reminded us about fantastical stories and other creative works. Some might have the spicy bite of sarcasm. Others fill you up with too much sugar. How’s a Christian fan to handle these ingredients with wisdom?

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Episode sponsors

1. Enclave Publishing: Lumen by J. J. Fischer
2. Secret of the Lost Dragons by Phyllis Wheeler
3. I. W.R.I.T.E.: How to Write a Novel course

Concession stand

• Here we use “spicy” not about sensuality, but satire, parody, edginess.
• We’ll try to avoid squishy and extra-biblical terms like “gray areas.”
• But we’ll also avoid absolute declarations about what’s right and wrong.
• For issues that aren’t clearly right or wrong, the Bible has other words.
• We’ll use those, such as “meat sacrificed to idols” or simple “wisdom.”
• Also, you may get hungry, because we’re using a lot of food metaphors.

1. What do we mean by ‘spicy’ creative works?

• Stephen thought about this after a certain culturally conservative movie.
• It was a surprise drop by the same guys we talked about in episode 188.
• Unlike kids’ shows or fantasy drama, this was a vulgarian sports comedy.
• Personalities promoted it by promising it will “trigger the right people.”
• Basically it was weaponizing a non-fantastical story to “own the libs.”
• Meanwhile, Christians are debating Douglas Wilson, a popular pastor/satirist.
• Wilson is also the father of the popular fantasy author N. D. Wilson.
• So all this discussion affects Christian fantastical fans one way or another.
• Some critics don’t like spice because it’s off-putting to them or others.
• Others point to biblical mockery and say the parody is morally fair-use.

2. What do we mean by ‘sugary’ creative works?

• This one might be easier or harder to define. We can all imagine these.
• Stephen’s examples: the worst MCU movies, kitsch, silly evangelical stuff.
• And at this time of year, everyone jokes about hate-watching Hallmark.