Someone alerted me to this fascinating blog post where the blogger compared my book From Eternity to Here to the hit movie Twilight. I thought it was interesting.
If you haven’t yet read “From Eternity,” someone named Matt recently described the book on Facebook in words that are far better than I could ever come up with. He wrote:
What I love about the book is that it really shows a reason why we were created. It goes beyond the typical platitudes and unveils this great mystery. In Pagan Christianity Frank put words to how so many of us feel. I think this time he’s put words into how Christ feels.
I’ve never seen Twilight, and I don’t plan on reading the series (I can’t read fiction; but I love fiction films). Wondering if I should watch the movie after reading this piece. I love romance movies above all else.
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I read through the complete Twilight series in five days. It was a sacrifice for my family since I can be completely swept away by the world I enter through the written word. It is easy for me to lose desire for anything except the knowledge of the fate of the characters I am reading about. But I travailed, as did my family.
I am not a bandwagon Twilight enthusiast. I enjoy a good book, and had the opportunity to read these books due to the generosity of my sister-in-law. I had seen the first two movies and knew the plot line was developed well enough that the books were probably worth the read. But to be considered a ‘good read’ I have to be able to draw something from them besides mere entertainment. Spending precious time reading for the sake of entertainment, is not a high priority for me at this juncture in my life. Between motherhood, being a wife, city-leauge basketball coach, home-schooling and normal household duties I did not want to waste time for personal gratification.
I was 3/4 of the way through the fourth book when it was laid out for me why these books appeal to the female gender. My sister-in-law had shared with me that she felt the reason women and young girls were drawn to the books was because of the ‘perfect’ love Edward held for Bella. He would go to the ends of earth and time to provide for her every need and want. He would sacrifice himself and his own personal desires for her happiness. He wanted nothing more than to be with her and share in her joy and comfort her in her sorrow. But if he could withhold the sorrow from her life, then he would go to any extreme, including befriending his worst enemy, to keep Bella happy. He was the embodiment of the ‘perfect’ man.
There were other parallels to ‘perfect’ love as well; as with Jacob and the other werewolves. When they ‘imprinted’ or saw their mate for the first time, it was as if the sun had never really shone for them. For Jacob in Breaking Dawn he said, “It was as if a million steel cables were all tying me to the very center of the universe.” He had found ‘the one’ for him.
The main reason these books appeal to so many women, is the exact reason I did not want to read them. I did not want to take my focus off my true love, my passion, the one who has a perfect love for me, the one who has been seeking me (a part of His bride) from eternity. I am part of the bride of Christ and He is the perfect groom. He is not a fictional character to be twisted with words and imagination. He is the creator of the universe and He wants a bride to share it with.
My fear was that I would give into the enemies ever so slight ploy of taking my focus off of my true love and focus on one that was not obtainable, but very appealing to my flesh. It is easy to get caught up in the rush and excitement of these books, and months later realize how many nights were lost dreaming about someone or something that is not real. Spending days fantasizing what it would be like to have a man love me so incredibly unselfishly that other women would envy me.
My other apprehension was directed more towards the other reality of now; that I am married, and all of the false pretenses that could/would be placed upon my husband by me based off a fictional character. We all desire more. But would I place undo expectations on my mate? I have heard many women swoon over Edward and wish that their husbands could be a little more like him. It is easy to deny that I would never be such a wife, but the truth is, if it was not something of a desire within me, then the books would hold no appeal.
So why is it that the desire burns within our hearts, so much so, that we have countless stories throughout time that bend our hearts toward a perfect love? Why do books such as Twilight hold such an appeal over mankind? I believe Frank Viola sums it up best in his book From Eternity To Here.
How Would Your Life Be Different If . . .
I have kind of scorned the whole vampire thing. I mean . . . vampires? Come on! Talk about the ultimate bad-boy-gone-good teeny-bopper fantasy! But this does make me interested. I love John Eldredge’s perspective on this, which echo’s Frank’s, that all the stories we tell, however imperfect, are centered around the ultimate and perfect story; God’s love affair with (of all beings) us!
I asked on a women’s forum at Simplechurch.com why people thought women and particularly young girls were so attracted to these vampire heroes, but this is the best answer I’ve found. (Both the review and the comments thus far) Jesus as a teen idol. Who would’a thought?
I’ve only seen the movies myself, but I did appreciate a way to look at Edward’s family. Edward’s “family” was a group of vampires that were bonded into a tighter than tight family. They were family because they had renounced “feeding on humans” even though something in them still screamed inside them for it. They helped one another- especially the older ones helping the newly converted ones that were still very susceptible to the old ways. These vampires became vampires just like any other, but their care for humans had led them to leave behind their vampire natures and formed them into family. They were seen as a different “species” of vampires- in the movies they are called “vegetarians.” They looked like other vampires, but inwardly they were very different and outwardly they acted very differently.
This is just like Frank talks about in From Eternity to Here- us humans who have seen our natures for the evil it is and left it behind, have been brought into Family, God’s Family. We were born as humans just like any other, but Christ has led us to leave behind our old natures (or humanity) and become a new species of humanity Headed by Christ. We look like any other human, but inwardly everything is different and outwardly we act very differently. We need each others’ help, especially those who are more seasoned in this life. Because of an inward reality we have left behind our human nature and become knit into a tighter than tight family.
I’ve read all the books mentioned and was really fascinated with all the comments from friends and family about how they wish they had an Edward [from the “Twilight” story]. I also caught a lot of grief from Christians for even reading the books. But I’ll tell ya, I asked God why Edward was so blasted wanted and desireable and His reply was, “because he’s me”. I assumed He wasn’t talking about the vampire part ;). He is the only one who can love us like Edward loves Bella. Period. He just does it better.
I don’t go to movies and where the Twilight series is concerned, would mosey on past the books quickly as I headed to another part of the store. I am now more than curious, after reading this brief review, being single and all (ha haha). But I do know who my True Love is and no one can hold a candle to Him as He is The Light! Thank you so much for this well written comparison that is truly a reminder of who we are to Christ! I too feel sad for those who do not know who their True Love is as well as for those who have not made the ultimate commitment as yet. The desire to love and be loved is so strong in humanity, yet can only be quenched by total submission to He who bought us for a price. Our relationship with each other, especially man to woman in marriage, succeeds only as much as our relationship with Christ thrives. It is never easy, but oh – so fulfilling!
The author of that post has done a beautiful job in summarizing the counterfeit draw of the search for ‘perfect love’ without Christ. I agree.
I’ve not had any interest in the Twilight series, but I know many who do, who’ve read the books with literary delight; watched the movies with anticipation. The majority of these folk are well able to separate fact from fiction as it pertains to their faith ~ but I do feel a sadness for those lost, without hope, without knowledge of the Something Better that stands at the door and knocks.
May their expectation be found in Him as He, by His grace, draws them with cords of compassion and mercy.
I haven’t read FETH yet, I’m new to this and still with earlier books….but I love this post! The idea of man’s quest for love is only satisfied by Jesus, and that all ‘temporal’ love is a shadow or substitute for this is food for thought. Similar, I suppose, to CSLewis comment that pleasure is man’s substitute for the joy that God gives….if you have a mind to, I guess that this could be carried through to many if not all areas of life.