vampires

[steelbeliever]

while i'm thinking about it. since we're like christians, is it worng for us to do manga and write stories with vampires in them?

[mitsuki lover]

I think it would depend really on the context(i.e.what type of manga
it would be such as horror,fantasy,etc.)also how you are going to portray
the vampires.
Vampires generally would make good villians in a allegorical telling of
the Gospel,you could use them to portray Lust,Greed and the other
Seven Deadly Sins for example.
Note:I do happen to like Buffy,The Vampire Slayer.

[ShiroiHikari]

Is it wrong to write stories with killing in them? >_>;

[steelbeliever]

[quote="ShiroiHikari"]Is it wrong to write stories with killing in them? >_>]

absolutely not...it does depend on how you right, but i don't think so...mainly cause i write like that.

[ChristianKitsune]

Hmm... good question...

IMO Vampires are evil creatures, and IMO I think as a Christian..I should stay away from (As much as possible) things that have anything to do with Vampires...exspecially if they are seen in a goodlight....

There is no good in dragging a person down into darkness with you...because really, isn't that what Vampires do?

It is actually pretty scary to know, but there are real people who think of themselves as "Vampires" But really what are they? Confused right? lost in the darkness of that genre' that maybe Vampires are cool?

If you like that stuff...I would be careful of what you are getting yourself into...that is all I can advise! ^_^

hope that helps!

[Kawaiikneko]

well what kind of vampires are you talking about? If its a fantasy vampire, I'd think its fine. However if you're talking about a real human being a vampire you might want to be more careful when you're writing. That's a hard, touchy topic.

btw c-ronin the real ppl who think they're vampires don't think they're like blood-sucking immortal monsters. They're normal people who bloodlet volunteers for blood and drink it. No biting and sucking involved, but even so its a horrible (and unhealthy) thing. From what I've read they see people as walking meals and make relationships to get these meals. I don't think I'll say anymore as its a very touchy subject, and not my place to tell, nor do I completely understand everything about it.

Edit: I have read a page written by an ex-vampire, but as it is rather indepth, I won't post it here.

[ChristianKitsune]

I know Kawaiineko! I hope I wasn't offensive...

[Arnobius]

I recall reading that in medieval folk lore, a person who apostasized from Christianity would be doomed to become a vampire after death. So, there was always a sense of being unholy creatures (hence the being repelled by crucifixes and holy water). This was the usual approach of stories.

It seems like vampires as merely unfortunate people is a recent phenomenon. I would have more problem with them in that POV.

I think stories about vampires are not wrong per se, unless they take on a worldview that mocks Christianity.

[Kawaiikneko]

you didn't sound offensive at all c-ronin ^^

I always get so sad reading about medieval times becuase it seems like there was so much confusion about Christianity b/c people couldn't read as much. I have to remind myself that God was still speaking to people through the Holy Spirit...

[Kaligraphic]

There's nothing wrong (as far as your relationship with God) about using vampires in stories. It isn't always a good thing from a storytelling point of view (and you probably don't want to get into a rut of always relying on vampires in your stories, or you'll lose originality), but the Bible says that nothing - not even a paperback copy of Dracula - can separate us from the love of God.

[Cage_Merveille]

See, I like vampire stories and I read Ann Rice in all...but I don't take it seriously...I guess it just gives me another take on humanity/inhumanity and I find them interesting since there definitely is real evil out there, so it doesn't trouble me to read about evilness. I guess I just have more of a problem when people try to romanticize vampires, it's a confusing and touchy subject like you've said, since vampires in stories tend to have once been pleasant human beings. Can they justify their killing since they kill to survive? Can we justify killing animals to survive? I think we can...but animals aren't "intelligent"......yeah maybe I'll stop here I think I'm not making much sense X3
I think reading vampire books does show one a sense of real demonic evil. but also makes one wonder about the human mind....how did we come up with this stuff? ann rice makes me wonder just as much as her books....

[mitsuki lover]

I think if you ask people in my generation about vampires the first thing they think of is Barnabas Collins from Dark Shadows.

[kirakira]

Is it wrong to write stories with killing in them? >_>]

Ya mean like the Bible?

There's nothing wrong (as far as your relationship with God) about using vampires in stories. It isn't always a good thing from a storytelling point of view (and you probably don't want to get into a rut of always relying on vampires in your stories, or you'll lose originality), but the Bible says that nothing - not even a paperback copy of Dracula - can separate us from the love of God.

Well, that being said, you don't want to be dabbling in something ungodly, even though it can't rip you away from God. (I'm not saying that *fictional* vampires are ungodly, I haven't decided what I think of them yet, but what I'm trying to get across is that you shouldn't dabble in sin just because God'll always want you back.)

[uc pseudonym]

Welcome, Alu_Chan.

As for the original question: I feel it is entirely a matter of context. However, I am already straying from the question; my previous sentence is about if it is wise to write such stories, not if it is right. Personally, as others have said, I feel that it is merely a story element that must be considered carefully, like all story elements.

It depends upon what permutation of the vampire myth you are using (and I presume you are using the myth, not referring to real life). In some, they are decidedly evil, but recently there have been a number of different takes. But, like most things, it is merely an element that could serve God's purpose, or do quite the opposite.

[Moonmonk]

Vampires are supposed to be evil and anyone who tries to make them otherwise is either seriously messed up or is trying to stir the stagnant pot. IF you use them as mere fantasy based creatures then I don't see what is bad about it, although I would stay away from it getting too dark. I have to watch my own stories sometimes they can get "darker than the underside of a Mau Mau's moo moo" as my grandfather would say.

Just be careful with evil in stories and be sure to contrast it with the good to make anyone reading it hate the darkness, and embrace the light. That is my reccomended approach vampire stuff, I could say the same thing about demons and ghosts and stuff. C.S. Lewis wrote a book focused on the demon's point of view and I don't think that was "Bad" the screwtape letters is a great book because it makes us rethink much of what we take for granted. Just make sure it has a point other than being just evil. A redeeming point some might say.

NOW reading vampire stories you must be REAL careful what you put in your mind. I have felt the draw of evil many times in such cases and I don't even read the hardcore books. It is important to ask God what he thinks and look to his word for the answers.

[Debitt]

"Vampires" have been the stereotype of satanic evil in Eastern Europe for many many centuries. These vampires, aside from drinking blood and being able to turn into bats/wolves/cats/etc. were seen as godless people (it was believed that illegitimate children and those excommunicated from the church were most likely to become vampires) who were risen from the dead by some means and now live off the blood of others.

However in modern times vampires have been portrayed in many other lights (some good, some bad), and by all means glorifying some of these portrayls should be avoided at all costs, especially the vampire "templates" of a minion of Satan or of a human who partakes of a fellow human's blood.

But at the same time there are plenty of fantasy based portrayls of vampires that are relatively harmless. I myself have written a few stories with vampires as both protagonists and antagonists, though they are no way associated with the Devil, and are not repelled by holy objects. So in the end it depends on the context, though I should stress that if even the "fantasy" vampire seems to be influencing you negatively, then you should just stay away from the genre as a whole.

[K. Ayato]

The story I'm working on has no vampires, but I am writing about creatures that only exist in mythology. I might include some magic going on, but that's not the central theme of my story at all.

[termyt]

Far more important than the content of a story is the story it tells - it's moral. If the story is worth telling, then, generally speaking, just about any device is OK to use.

(Please note the inclusion of "generally speaking" and "just about" in the above statement.)

As to whether it's wise or not is a bit of a different question. That would depend on a few factors, namely your writing ability, your own feelings about vampires, and your target audience.

Do you have a specific idea for a plot in mind?

[Heart of Sword]

I don't think there's anything wrong with fantasy vampires that don't have evil motives. I searched around in the Bible for blood drinking and found absolutely nothing. So I think it totally depends.

I'm a werewolf fan, by the way. Some people think they're evil. I don't just as long as it's fantasy. But I do feel differently about fantasy witches. Witchcraft is a very evil thing...period.

[EireWolf]

I searched around in the Bible for blood drinking and found absolutely nothing. So I think it totally depends.

Actually, the old testament makes a big deal about not eating meat with the blood still in it. Probably it's safe to assume that drinking blood is bad, too.

[Slater]

I think that Lev. 17 calls blood drinking a damnable sin. check me on that one tho...

Anyways, my take on this subject is that it's ok to write stories with vamps in them. I do it. The protagonist, who is a Christian bountyhunter, put a sword through one's heart

[uc pseudonym]

I searched around in the Bible for blood drinking and found absolutely nothing.

I expected people to be all over that more than they did. None the less, I will point out that drinking blood is specifically prohibited in the old testament (as is eating a fair number of meats). But if we want to bring morality into the entire vampire issue, we run the risk of significantly complicating the discussion.