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@PenSword fair enough. I have seen it work though when a representation of Christianty is woven into story’s world (such as the characters in The Wingfeather Saga that already believe in the Maker). In my case, my story’s world has no magic and draws inspiration from our own history (think Rome’s invasion of Germania). I certainly wouldn’t consider it “high fantasy”.

In our world, there is darkness. War is real; not glorious but destructive. We lose what we love, and our lives can easily be shattered. People look for satisfaction in the world but find emptiness instead. The only thing that is unshakable—a true source of hope, peace, and joy—is Jesus. So if I want my characters to find hope, peace, and joy that go beyond their war-torn lives, where else could it be but in Him?

In other words, I don’t think I can instill a TRULY hopeful message without including God. I could drop the message of hope entirely and just focus on story-telling, still with Christian values, morals, etc, but that feels…I don’t know, I guess wrong, like an easy way out. We don’t need more stories telling us to be good people. We need stories showing us the depth and beauty that can be found, not through religious works, mind you, but through the Holy Spirit’s personal intimacy which is a gift we need only accept.

On the other hand, I agree that allegory can not only ruin a story, but be dangerous if misinterpreted. And so, this is my struggle.

@DeepRun I agree. It was in those stories that I caught glimpses of God’s beauty. I didn’t find Him in them, but they got me thinking and feeling. They set me on the path.