Okay to FanFic the Bible?

[Fsiphskilm]

I came up with the ide

[SwordSkill]

lol. XD well, it's a good thing you were pretty detailed in expounding on your fic, else i really would go to "well, it all depends" mode.

i write Bible fanfics because it's just the same (for me) with making a movie out of things from the Bible, like the Passion of the Christ, for one. my thinking is that it's my interpretation of what happened in the Bible and as far as i'm concerned, movies, books, songs that were inspired by the Bible as a source are in that category too. it's the writer's interpretation.

however, my fics work as retelling Bible stories in a very high degree. i retain everything and just add more dialogue, socio-historic background...stuff like that. like a movie. it's still the same Bible story, with just more embellishments.

erm, yours is sort of different because it takes a "what-if" from the Bible and everything else will depend on your own theology. it's not so objective as a retelling. so you will have to be very, very careful because the content you write might be very controversial. i think it's ok for you to do it...after all, exploring what you believe in is best done in writing because writing takes a lot of organization and understanding to make it coherent. but i will advise you to do a lot of research and make sure that if someone will challenge you (and i'm sure somenoe will) regarding your POV as to what might have happened if Adam and Eve didn't eat the fruit, you should be able to stand up for it, if you do believe in it truly.

it's really very dangerous ground. ^^;; and it's a very ambitious proposal. lol, i wouldn't do it, but if you can, then more power to you.

[AnimePat]

I don't see anything wrong with a what-if scenario.

[skynes]

Go for it.

If I remember correctly Middle Earth was supposed to be a pre-fall world.

I'd love to see hwo it turns out

[ThaKladd]

I have heard og that kind of fanfic... about if adam and eve did not eat the fruit.

but also - a nowegian person, David Aaleskjaer have written a book named "The Asphalt Gospel" about Jesus coming to the world for the first time in The capital of Norway, Oslo. He has also made a movie that is coming out this year in norway, and next year with english subtitles.

Christiananswers has a short article about it: http://christiananswers.net/spotlight/news/cen-03v01.html

[cbwing0]

I don't see any problem with this, as long as you make sure to use the scriptures as a guide for the underlying theology.

You could easily use them as parables, designed to convey spiritual truth/s to the readers.

[uc pseudonym]

As long as you are not attempting to say this is spiritual truth/doctrine, I see no problem in doing this. There are a plethora of Christian novels, after all, that are basically fanfiction of different parts of the Bible. The thing to remember is that you are writing modern literature that is an interpretation of the Bible. It is an image of spiritual truth, not spiritual truth itself.

I have a few random thoughts for similar purposes. For example, I had a manga idea in my mind, based on the following premise: tell the story of God trying to reach humanity, but with God as a character so no one will recognize Him. The goal would be to make everyone feel sorry for God, and only at the end of the story would they find out who He was.

Of course, I'd have to admit we were not aiming for scriptural accuracy.

[Omega Amen]

I see no problem either, and for my reasons, I would end up repeating what uc pseudonym just said.

One idea that I think can give you some freedom in your storytelling is to tell the stories of very minor characters in the Bible. For example, in one of the Gospels, a man came up to Jesus to ask that he heal his son who is back at his home. The man's request can be seen as the climax or resolution of the story of this father's and son's story, which you would describe in detail. Or you could take the "Ben-Hur" approach, where the major character lives in the times of crucial Biblical events but is not mentioned in Scripture.

The "what-if" idea is also a good approach, in my opinion.

[ThaKladd]

I agree, the Ben Hur approah is cool - there are also many books telling the story about minor characters in the bible... I have book about Maria and The girls who saw the empty grave. There is many fictions about bigger personlalities, like the books to Francise Rivers... and other series... I know about a book who tell the story to Judas. And yes.. I read a book once... "The Blue Cave" - where a girl(non-christian) who read a lot in the bible(mainly the old testeament) - was in a drowning alike accsident - but only switched place with a girl from the time of Jesus. There she experienced some parts of the story from her perspective. But mostly the story was about some kind of 1001 night perspective, where she told the stories from the bible as she remembered....

so.. the "timemachine" idea can be good too...??

Edit:... they are not that futuric themes.. .. but the timemachine thing can be funny, and it is somehow a future setting.. (I saw a movie once with that approach - he who was taken back in time came across barrabbas and his gang...)... and talking about Barabbas... There is a movie with that name(Anthony Quinn as Barabbas) what is played all from Barrabas point of view and how he became christian at the end... many years after the crucifixion.

[SVD997]

Hmmm.... Good question with some good answers. Here's what I would suggest: Do a couple of smaller stories in the bible in a futuristic setting with the intent of telling the story and getting the moral of story across. You just need to be careful what kind of stories you do, and how you portray the Biblical characters. You don't want to make David sound to cocky fighting Goliath, or you don't want to make a character seem much more evil than he actually is. I would suggest posting a couple short stories here at CAA, and then we could probably get a better idea of where you are coming from.

[Hitokiri]

What bout that "Hero" project that audio a, rebbecaa st. james, tait did. Bout Jesus (protrayed by Tait) happens in Bethlehem, Pennslyvania in like 2000 or 2001.

Thats kinda what you're tlaking bout.

[Michael]

No. Don't you dare do it.

Duet. 4:2 "Ye shall not add unto the word wich I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God wich I command you."

Ps. 106:39 "Thus they were defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions."

Matt. 15:9 "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."

[uc pseudonym]

Michael, please don't keep posting like this. At least acknowledge that you are by far in the minority and be respectful in voicing your opinion.

Your first passage has no relevance whatsoever. You realize how people can think that, right? We aren't adding nor detracting from the Word of God, nor are we claiming that what is written is the Word of God. We are claiming to be inspired to create works of art based upon God's doctrine.

By the by, it doesn't help you at all when you use an older translation.

[cbwing0]

Your first passage has no relevance whatsoever. You realize how people can think that, right?

Exactly. If creating fanfics of the Bible is wrong, then by the same logic sermons, commentaries, even evangelism are all wrong. All of these things provide interpretations and elaborations upon scripture, which is what is happening with the fanfics (when done properly).

Michael, I respect your sincerity and knowledge of God's word; unfortunately, you are sincerely wrong in your interpretation of scripture.

I apologize for posting what appears to be an argumentative reply, but I believe that it is necessary to answer false doctrine for the sake of those who might otherwise be by deceived by it.

[Michael]

I'm not posting my opinion. I can't comply with UC's request.

[cbwing0]

I'm not posting my opinion. I can't comply with UC's request.

In that case, please PM me and point out the flaws in my logic that allow you see my position and still hold to your originial opinion.

[Shinja]

im gong to have to go with michael there, i dont think the word of God should be messed with. theres a differance between writeing a novel that shows christian truths and rewriteing the bible. and even though he may be the minority he sitll has a right to post his opinon i hope. because i believe volt was asking for it.

[Michael]

Exactly.

I'm not going to debate this with you CB. You won't listen. That is not a logical argument, it makes no sense, the Bible clearly states that it is wrong to alter Scripture in any way. You disputed my first verse (Not well enough to make it invalid though) but why not my others? Because you can't. The Bible is as forthright with this as it can be.

[Fsiphskilm]

I see what M

[cbwing0]

Before I begin, I have to say that I regret your decision to keep this as a general discussion rather than taking it to PMs. I was hoping to save you some embarrassment, and abide by the rules of the boards.

You disputed my first verse (Not well enough to make it invalid though) but why not my others? Because you can't. The Bible is as forthright with this as it can be.

Oh, is that so?

Let's look at those verses again, shall we?

"They defiled themselves by what they did]Now for the second verse:[/size]

"They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men" (Matthew 15:9).

So, exactly how is a story that promotes biblical principles "rules taught by men?"

The flaw in your methodology is that you take various judgments from scripture, pull them completely out of context, then claim connections with people, doctrines, and practices that are wholly unwarranted.

At any rate, you failed to address my earlier point. The fanfics in question take the bible as their basis, then use them to teach biblical principles. This is the same thing that Christians have done for centuries with sermons, commentaries, and sharing the gospel. Can you tell me how these things are different? If not, then you must admit that your position is irrational and unacceptable.

You won't listen.

That fact that I do not accept your assumptions does not meant that I am not listening; on the contrary, I can refute your claims precisely because I understand your position and it's incongruence with the Word of God.

[SVD997]

Volt, I see nothing wrong with what you are doing. Like you said, you are simply going to retell the story in a new and different light, with the acknowledgement that it is not scripture, but your retelling of it in story form. I mean, come on Michael, you can't tell me if you have/had kids, that they never read Bible story books. Like the "Great Adventures" or the "Story Bible", all Volt is doing is the same thing. All he is doing is setting it in the future.