As most of you know, I am a magazine writer with aspirations to publish a novel. I’m also a person whose life and faith are inseparable. This doesn’t mean I feel a need to walk around quoting chapter and verse all the time, but faith has to be a holistic part of every moment of life, not something that gets compartmentalized and thus rendered irrelevant.
Of course, this means I want to reflect the same attitude in my writing. And therein lies my trouble.
Christian fiction is a big market these days, but I have trouble reading it. Maybe this is just my problem, but when people start talking faith in novels, my muscles tense up. It sounds fake to me. It makes me want to roll my eyes. Now, why is that? I wouldn’t react that way in ordinary life.
Well, actually, sometimes I do. There are catch phrases used by Christians that set my teeth on edge. Ask me if I’ve “been saved,” and my gut reaction is to say something that would make you think the answer is “no.” And on the Catholic side, I have a real problem with the phrase “our Lord.” (“Our lord tells us…”) I don’t know why, it just annoys me.
It comes out in character, too. If Christian and I were at a movie and he said, “You want some popcorn?” I would say, “No, I really don’t need it, I’m trying to keep control of weight during pregnancy.” Now, a lot of people would say, “Oh, go ahead, you’re pregnant, eat whatever you want!” But Christian would say, “Yeah, I don’t really need it either, let’s skip it.” In real life, this is admirable. But imagine reading that exchange in a book. You’d roll your eyes and call him a goody-two-shoes. Right?
So here’s the conundrum: How do I reflect what I believe—which, let’s face it, is radically countercultural—without using religious language?
Recently I tore through A Game of Thrones. I found the treatment of religions very interesting. Characters often referred to prayer, but it didn’t come across as preachy. After a while I realized why: the religion was a) made-up and thus non-threatening; and b) shallow and undeveloped, and didn’t even really affect the characters’ lives from moment to moment. When they had something on their minds, they’d go to their grove of trees and pray, but the undeveloped nature of the faith—meaning, without a lot of theology or real-world overlap—meant that it never crossed into the discomfort zone.
Interesting, but it doesn’t help me as a writer.
The only books I’ve ever found that incorporated Christian faith, and did it in a way that felt natural to me, were:
In two of these books, the main characters were religious: a monk and a nun. Those who live in religious communities incorporate faith into daily life to such an extent that religious language feels natural, not something put there for the purpose of edifying and enlightening the reader. In the third, the main character was so conflicted, so deeply in search of authenticity, that when she confronted the lack of authentic, vibrant faith in the institutions she was accustomed to, it resonated.
But how to do it in non-religious fiction, with non-religious-professed characters, in a non-religious book?
I’d love to hear people’s perspectives as reader or writer, but this isn’t the first time I’ve written on these issues, and in the past, nobody’s had much to say. (Go ahead: prove me wrong! Fill up my comment box!) It’s just something that’s been on my mind lately. I wonder if I’ll ever figure this one out?
Kathleen M. Basi 
Kate, are you familiar with the novels of Madeleine L’Engle (both her children’s books and her adult fiction)? I think these are an excellent example of how one does what you’re asking about. Also, she wrote quite a bit in her non-fiction about the condundrum you’re concerned with.
I’ve read “A Wrinkle In Time” & sequels, but it’s been a while…but even at that, she is writing fantasy. When I’m writing grounded in contemporary America, it takes away some of the freedom. But I should read them again with this in mind. I’ll check out the nonfiction–do you have any suggestions for where to start?
This may be one of the authors that makes you want to roll your eyes–I don’t know–so sorry if it is!!!! but, Karen Kingsbury Christian novels are my favorite things to read any day of the week. I have read almost all of them. I put them on hold at the library so I can get a whole set of them at once because I like to read sets all in a row! Anyway, if you haven’t read them, I for one love how she incorporates Christianity into her novels as a part of the characters lives, and it seems very natural to me. They are inspirational and real, at least to me!
I am exactly the same way about the phrase “…being saved.” I absolutely hate it. It implies that if one hasn’t been dunked in a giant tub of water and come up to a burst of sunlight and choir of angels singing, then one is really missing out. I think to write of faith without coming across and preachy and superficial is challenging because it is such a deeply personal thing. The prospect of worshipping in an auditorium with guitars ripping and people singing at the front on stage like rock stars, bent in half with the exertion of singing, arm flexed at the chest like a diva…well, nothing is less conducive to worship than that for me. Am I getting off-topic? My point is that outward, showy displays of “worship” ring false or superficial to me…and writing about religion/worship ends up suffering the same fate unless it is done very, very well. Sadly, I can’t tell you how to do that.
Christian Music often causes me to roll my eyes. I hate being preached at, and so much of modern Christian art is just that, whether it’s music, literature, painting, etc. I just don’t like being preached at.
Praise and Worship is a different kind of music, I think. The preachy stuff turns me away; praise and worship lifts me up, allows me to join in to the wonder and prayer of the performer. I think that taking this type of mode in writing would be advised. Instead of trying to write a piece that converts, Christian writers could try writing something that allows the reader to join in the mystery and wonder of the events that are happening. How does God play a part in the characters’ lives? How has his providence prepared and brougt together the seemingly random events of life, that, when reflected on in faith, we realize were not random at all. Show the interaction of God and the individual, instead of telling about it. I’m thinking of a “Quentin Terantino-ish” style of a bunch of random events coalescing at the end of the story, at which point the reader goes, “Holy Crap! This was all arranged by providence for the good of the character.”
Those are the stories that are amazing. Where all the players play an unseen role led by the hand of divine providence. And all of the characters participate in this, even the ones working against it. For example, “The Lord of the Rings Trilogy,” where even those characters of less noble nature (Gollum) play a role in the divine purpose.
Write something in which I can join in and worship, not something where I’m sitting in the pew thinking about where to eat after service is over.
I like to read books highlighting an unfamiliar (to me) religion… or a story that gives a deeper understanding of a well known religion. A book that really digs under the familiar surface, to explain how it feels – what it means – to “live” one’s faith.
I gather you’re trying to write a “non-religious book with non-religious characters”…. but is that really what you want to do?
You could write a book with ethical, morally good people who never bring up any particular religious faith. Simply avoid the topic altogether.
If religion is mentioned at all, it should have relevance in the story…. perhaps to explain a character’s motivation, ideology, and/or quest in life.
Don’t discount the Catholic factor, even if it seems uninspiring to you. 😉
If you’re writing for non-Catholics, they might be interested in learning a bit more about Catholic traditions such as confessions, sacraments, the various saints, etc…. as an intregal part of the story.
If done without preaching, it could make your characters seem more developed and real, and even help further the plot.
You could always add a “bit of fantasy” into your style… perhaps a saint could appear to your character as her guide. Like a modern day Joan of Arc, hearing the voice of God?
Write something that takes religion out of its stuffy churches, and makes it more real to its people. I know, easy-peasy right?? 😉
Look at that, your combox is filled up! The one series I thought did this well, and in a contemporary (although idyllic small-town, and thus maybe not “normal”) setting, was the Mitford series by Jan Karon. From the perspective of an Episcopal priest, if I remember correctly. I loved the gentleness of the way it was written, and the worldview.
…but I agree with you, typically this kind of language in a novel distracts me. (I read “The Swan House” by Eliz. Musser before I knew it was classified as Christian Lit., and I loved the story but when she got to the Christian point of it, it was like a record scratch in my head.)
Incidentally, an RCIA teacher once told me to answer, “When were you saved?” with, “2,000 years ago, how about you?” 😉
I love it when the combox fills up! Especially on days like today. Nobody EVER reads my blog when I write about writing. LOL!
I agree with you on the Jan Karon Mitford series. She incorporates faith in fiction quite poignantly and has driven me to writing inspirational fiction. This genre is touchy but when written so realistically is soothing and inspiring. Kate, you might really like reading some of her writing. I have read the whole series and am quite a fan. In fact, my last story I wrote was patterned after her style! If you don’t mind reading I would love to send it your way! Let me know!
The Mitford series sounds familiar, but I can’t remember if I ever actually read one. I will put it on my list.
As for your story…let’s wait till I have a baby to hold and no hands to use! LOL
I think I should reply globally to everyone. Sorry to be so unresponsive when you are all giving such wonderful, thoughtful responses! I was, ahem, attempting to work on my novel this morning. And an essay about death. But that’s beside the point.
I love all the suggestions for reading material. I’ll be checking them out, believe me. Jenny’s point about what annoys her reminds me that we all come from different places, so just because something bugs me doesn’t mean it won’t minister to someone else.
OTOH, the people I’d most like to minister to are those who don’t particularly care to have faith integrated into their lives–those who feel most threatened by religion, and want it safely compartmentalized, where it isn’t an inconvenience. And in that way, Tara’s suggestions might be good ones. Although I’m really going to have to think about how to make a novel that could integrate Catholic elements w/o being “Catholic fiction”!
My biggest problem is that I don’t write extramarital sex, and all my crit partners are questioning me, pressing me to justify why the characters aren’t sleeping together–because in this day and age, in this culture, extramarital sex is taken for granted, and if there’s an exception, there’s always a justification for it. This opens up all kinds of difficult topics to address without getting preachy & religious!
To avoid the standard “everyone is doing it” obstacle, you’d need to establish the characters’ backgrounds…
Did they have conservative, older parents?
Raised in a small town?
Do they dream of finding chivalry and romance in a sex-obsessed culture of one-night-stands?
Perhaps the female character had trust issues, and the interested male partner had to prove his sincerity with a good ol’ fashioned chase and marriage proposal? 😉
It CAN be done believably… YOU can do it ! We have faith in you! LOL
Have you read “Keys to the Kingdom”? Forget who the author was but it was made into a movie with Gregory Peck. Great faith book, and interesting presentation of premarital sex. Written in early 1900’s. T.S. Eliot believed on cannot write great literature if one does not first read great literature.
There are great examples from fiction written during previous generations… 🙂
In the 1930’s, premarital sex wasn’t quite as accepted as “the norm”, the way it is now.
In our parents’ and grandparents’ time, if people were doing it, they kept it discreetly (ashamedly) to themselves. 😛
I considered giving a few examples from my favorite novels, but I think Kathleen wants to base her novel on 21st century characters… in a modern setting.
That’s where she runs into trouble, because readers would expect a different attitude towards sexual “freedom” in today’s world.
Unless she can set her story a bit farther into the future, and explain that society has re-embraced the modest culture of its forefathers. LOL
That’s exactly it, Tara. You’ve hit the nail on the head. It’s so frustrating to want to make something really reflective of and relevant to a person’s experience today, but having my hands tied because the culture doesn’t see anything wrong with, as you say, sexual “freedom” (love the quotes–so apt).
Stravinsky said the greater the limitations, the greater the art. I think of this quote often, but it often makes me gnash my teeth, too.
Interesting post, Kate! I happen to like reading Christian and Catholic fiction (and I generally don’t mind if it is preachy…but that’s just me). Because of that and because I was “new” at writing fiction ten years ago, I recognize that my first novel comes off as very preachy (but many people seem to love it). My second novel is less preachy. In that novel, there is one instance of pre-marital sex and one of extra-marital sex but no graphic sexuality. My third novel has less in the way of religion, except that the characters pray and are Catholic. When trying to decide how the characters are going to act, I believe the actions have to be natural to the particular characters (even if it’s something you’re not comfortable with). Sometimes characters can take on a life of their own. The key is to not make the bad behavior seem like it is the right and moral thing to do. Keep writing your novel, Kate! I hope we get to read it someday!
Me too, Ellen. Me too. 🙂
I think the issue of premarital and extramarital sex could be handled in a way that is honest, which would be decidedly counter-cultural. Showing the real life consequences of these relationships would be a refreshing change from the “Friends” and “Sex in the City” lies of “sexual freedom.”
That’s an interesting thought, Jamie. Going in the stew pot for a future project…
I have enjoyed some of Francine Rivers’ fictionalized biblical stories. The first I read was “Redeeming Love” and then I read most of the lineage of grace series because I have been more interested in the feminine bits of the Bible. Frankly, they’re more enjoyable the less you know.
As to writing Christian fiction in contemporary society, I have had some bits of characters traversing through my brain that I have often thought their stories should be told. So, what if your character(s) were simply based on someone you look up to? Just a thought.
Also, there’s a pretty decent indy movie called “Bella” that deals with Christianity in a contemporary, under-tonal way. Might be worth watching…
http://christianmoviereviews.wordpress.com/2007/12/05/bella-the-movie/
I understand your feelings about christian fiction, because I feel the same way. While I will read any type of fiction, I am not so quick to pick up faith fiction; in fact, I once made a Lenten commitment to only read religious books (fiction) … and it was torture. The fiction didn’t seem genuine to me, and even the conversations seemed so contrived. Of course, then I felt guilty for not liking them.
But here’s what I thought: I have a deep, Catholic faith; I like studying, praying, and living my faith. But I am not charismatic; that is to say, when given the opportunity I am more than willing to speak about my faith, but I don’t go around speaking about it all the time. So maybe Christian fiction is like that for me.
Then, I believe that our actions — the way we live our lives — is one of the best ways to be examples of our faith ; the same is with Christian fiction. I like reading about a character and recognizing him/her as good without being told. For example, I recently re-read Jane Eyre, and I was surprised how much it spoke about God, morals, and making the right decisions. There were many conversations in the book (especially between Jane and Mr. Rochester) that weren’t preachy or obvious, and yet they were religious.
Anyway, sorry about the long comment. Very though-provoking post:0)
I haven’t read Jane Eyre in years. I should do that. Thanks for the thoughts!
Of the 3 books listed, I’ve read Canticle. It was wasn’t a Catholic or Christian novel, but a novel whose main characters were Catholic. I would include it with The End of the Affair and The Power and The Glory, both by Graham Greene; Morte d’Urban by JF Powers; and The Moviegoer, by Walker Percy. All these stories are products of Catholic worldviews, but are not in an explicit sense Catholic, even though the characters may be Catholic priests or monks.
You’re right; it wasn’t a Catholic novel (or Christian), and that’s why I thought it was so impressive that it was done with all the language and basic theology incorporated. I think 5 for Sorrow, 10 for Joy is much the same. That story was truly amazing, although it’s vvveeerrrrryy slow getting started. And as Ruth says below, Quaker Summer is about a women’s authentic struggle with her faith–that IS the story; it IS Christian fiction, in the best sense.
Well, you are a reader of my blog so you have some idea of my taste in Christian fiction (and have seen me pan some bad writing). I wrote about this topic here: http://rannthisthat.blogspot.com/2010/09/christian-fiction.html and here: http://rannthisthat.blogspot.com/2008/05/why-i-read.html Christian writers on my “must read” list include Lisa Samson (did you know she is Catholic now?) and Susan Meissner. I just finished a good WWII Christian romance by Sarah Sundin.
Quaker Summer was off your review. I’ll add those names to my list. I know you always say “in this case, ‘Christian’ means….” but I’ve always wondered if you find it distracting. Although I assume not, since you review a lot of it. 🙂
I review a lot of it because a lot of it turns up in my mailbox-I’ve gotten on publishers’ lists and they pitch stuff to me, and I respond. As far as whether I find it distracting, I’d say it depends on the book, and why the faith elements seem to be there. If a character is struggling with faith, then I consider it part of the character and do not. When it gets trite, that bothers me. I also don’t like those ending where one of the characters has to find Jesus before living happily every after, or where Jesus comes across as the Santa in the sky–all problems disappear when He is there.
Look on my blog for some reviews of Julie Lessman’s books. She’s an ex-Catholic who writes romance about a Catholic family. She doesn’t “get” Catholicism, but works it into the story well–I talk about my issues with her on my blog but the religious elements of her story are well-down.
From your perspective, I’d say that the trick is to know your characters and if your character is Kate Basi, Catholicism is going to come out as it does on your blog. When you mention going to mass, it is because going to mass is a normal part of being a mom to you. In other words you are’t saying “I want to mass this morning (aren’t I a wonderfully religious person, and by the way, you do realize that if you are Catholic and didn’t go to mass last week you are in a condition of mortal sin and need to go to confession)” If your character has to tell the lady next door that she went to mass to avoid mortal sin (and that she went to confession last month when she missed mass to care for her sick baby) then I’d say you are going overboard; if something happens at mass that advances the plot, tell us; but don’t “treat” us to the homily just because we need to hear it.
Oh, I’m so glad you came back to comment again. That’s a lot of food for thought. Thanks.