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Mr.Trip Williams replied to the topic Friendly debates here! in the forum Fantasy Writers 3 years, 9 months ago
That sounds like an interesting story. Is that the one my sister E. N. Leonard beta read?um… not quite. lol. She read the prequel, so to speak. She read the story of how my main protagonist’s parents got together, (which consequently was when the the main protagonist’s father killed the main antagonist’s father…. due to the blood curse as well…. so… yeah! all connected. 😮😉)
thanks. that’s encouraging.So yeah, I think as long as you keep it unexplicit and brief, you should be ok.Also, your books already deal with some pretty mature topics, so I don’t think this is going to feel shocking or out of place at all – it’s a lot smaller of an “issue” than some of the other things you’re writing about, so I think if your readers are fine with the rest of it, this isn’t going to be an issueaw, thank you!
I’d just have to call it “hard-cased heartburn”…😉🤣
natural outpouring of the events, is not overly described, and is not sexualized👍
What constitutes “magic” in fantasy and where do you draw the line? I.E. do you think there is such a thing as “good magic?” When does it become “bad magic?” Can magic be a good thing at all?lol. ALL DEPENDS ON THE DEFINITION OF MAGIC!!!! for me…. if Magic is defined as witchcraft, sorcery, etc. WHERE the power is derived from the spiritual realm (in other words, demons… just not many say that…) Then of course it is “no good”
I would argue that vernacular is HUGE here! I would also argue that Most “Quote” “Magic systems” “Unquote” used in fantasy are less “””Magic”””” and more special abilities. My argument for that being that their “magic” is derived from one of a few places… (1) their blood (ie. special power personalized to themselves and/or inherited ability). Examples include Harry Potter, I am Number One, E.T., Lord of the Rings (2) the world (magic is “in” somewhere or everywhere and people have the ability to tap into it). Examples include Narnia, Star Wars, Spiderwick. (3) Items (ie. magical items gives them the ability to use magic, which is kind of a spin off of magic in the world, just limited). Examples include King Arthur, Lord of the Rings, Locke & Key. That may not be the only three ways… but I think that gets the picture across…
My personal fantasy stories use something called “essence” which is like a magic system, but it is definitely an example of #1. It is an ability passed on genetically through the different races of my world. But it is such a fantastical element that most people would describe it as magical.
Now, as far as “Bad magic”, I would say that as long as it’s not idealized (hehe. @denali-christianson , I stole your word. 😏) then it CAN be used in certain cases. For example, the antagonist use of said bad magic.
In a suspense novel I was attempting to write before I found out that fantasy was my niche, I had an antagonist who toyed with demon possession. Bad magic? Yes. Appropriate usage in the novel? Yes… I think so.
The reason that magic is forbidden in the Bible is because it involves using demonic forces to gain power for oneself. It’s in direct, open rebellion to God.👍
So, “spiritualized” magic systems are an instant no for me. For example, I know a lot of Christians love Star Wars, but I personally don’t really feel inclined to watch it because the “magic system” is portrayed as spiritual, and it’s very similar in many ways to real new age practices (which are clearly demonic). This is my personal perspective, though.I do, admittedly, like Star Wars, But you are ABSOLUTELY right! Even the director (or was it the author?) admitted to the influence of Zen Buddhism, specifically, in the authoring of Star Wars Jedi philosophy.
I also commend you for not watching it (even though I do enjoy it), because it really is a conviction thing! For example, personally, there are some movies I will watch just so I can have conversations with people about the bad philosophy in it and attempt to bring God glory, for the movie is a common foundation point in which to jump into theological conversations (now, yes, I definitely have to be wary and careful that I don’t make that an “excuse” to watch what I want, etc… but for example, a few years back a TON of my students were watch a show on Netflix called 13 Reasons Why. It is not really a God honoring show, and it talks about suicide, etc. But I watched them because I felt I needed to know first hand what the kids were talking about, especially because suicide is a huge theme in that show. I was glad it did not glorify or (hehe) idealize suicide, but it was definitely not a show I would elect to watch otherwise [nor would I recommend it. 🙅]. but there were important conversations I was able to have with my students because I had that prior knowledge of what 13 Reasons Why was about. … hope that made sense….
but on the other hand of that same coin, yes! I applaud you for keeping to the personal conviction of not watching Star Wars. Kuddos. 👍
I forget how to do English All the time😂. “Eqivalate? No.. equviate… equalate… oh! Equal. That took way too long.” 😂😂I’m such a … big-worded person…. sometimes it works against me. 😂. I looked at your first word and thought.. .oh, you mean ‘equivocate’! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 doh.
I think we often dub things we don’t understand “magic” because we have no better term for it.👍
hehe. not much of a debate yet… but still awesome. 😁
Some other debate subjects (not necessarily related to writing, per se….) …. (feel free to pick…)
– Which is better? Star Wars, Star Gate, or Star Trek? (… and if anyone asks, “what’s star gate”, I’m gonna cry. 😭) (hehe. okay, that one is kinda tongue in cheek)
– Is there limits to how villainous a villain can be?
– Capitalism or Socialism?
– If God is good and all powerful, why is there pain in the world?
– What is being taught in schools these days. . . . . . . . . . (sex ed, evolution, relativism, historical revisionism, etc….)
– Free will vs Free choice
– Predestination vs. Free will
– What determines if something is a cult, and what if someone who claims to be a part of it doesn’t actually know all that they believe… is that person still considered a cultist?
– Textual criticism of the Bible or Biblical inerrancy?
– Proper and appropriate (God-honoring) dating relationships…
– *** (I’m really interested in this one…) Difference between where we should draw the lines morally and where we should draw the lines legally… (example, our nation doesn’t force anyone to believe in Christianity, so there are certain things we see as evil that we have legal in our country – examples… homosexual unions, gender-changing operations, abortion, euthanasia (in some states), legalized drugs, pornography… those are blatant ones… but also things like… church membership in other religions, sex before wedlock, other forms of promiscuity, etc..) A perfect example would be I just had a long conversation with a Christian friend of mine who felt that we didn’t have the right to legislate against abortion, even though he personally thought it was wrong. Where do you draw the line between what you think is wrong and there should be a law against it and what you think is wrong but should not be a law against it…
……. I could probably think of some more…. but…. 😪 that should do for now…….
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