The Twilight Saga (in four volumes)
by Stephenie Meyer
Published 2005-2008
This is a report, not a review!
The Twilight Saga is in the news today because the movie for the first volume is now out. The books and movie have created quite a sensation. Some people are comparing its popularity level to Harry Potter, but actually it doesn’t come close. It’s appealing to females only, as far as I can tell. So it might be more like the following for the movie Titanic.
Many people call Twilight a fantasy series, but it doesn’t fall within what I am looking for–books that appeal to my 16-year-old sons. It’s not my intention to read the Twilight books, so I am just going to pass on a little info about them today.
The Twilight Saga is a fantasy series about a girl, Bella, who falls in love with a vampire. The erotic vampire Edward has super-human strength and immortality. He proves irresistible to her. He’s got great self-control and doesn’t do vampirish things to Bella, resulting in a heroic feat of self-denial for the sake of love–a tried and true chick-lit theme.
It’s my impression that the resulting story doesn’t have much depth. But then, neither did the love story in Titanic. It doesn’t take a lot of depth to draw the bow across the heartstrings.
I asked E., a Christian, age 16, what she thought of it. “I think it’s a great role model for love,” she said. “They don’t have premarital sex. They are really committed to each other.”
Here’s a blog post about it from a girl who doesn’t like it: http://anoxfordcomma.livejournal.com/2491.html
And from a woman who does like it: http://faithwebbin.net/teenz/#169 She compares the “star-crossed” lovers to Romeo and Juliet.
And from a Catholic Christian who doesn’t like it: http://spesunica.wordpress.com/2008/11/16/the-twilight-saga-a-critique/
—Phyllis Wheeler
Just a note, Phyllis. Author Stephanie Meyer is a Mormon, and I think her worldview definitely colored her story.
Becky
Hey guys check out this article on Twilight on bustedhalo.com.Some might say the book is equivalent to soft porn. The article deals with how Christians grapple with the messages in this teen generation’s defining book. Here is the link: http://www.bustedhalo.com/features/twilight-zone/
I have to say I think it would be hard to write a report/review when you actually admit that you have no interest in reading the books. I am the mother of a 12 year old girl and I recently finished the entire Twilight series. Just to be clear, we are a devout Southern Baptist family and I at all times try to follow God’s will for my life. I started reading the books because I teach a mmiddle school girls’ sunday school class and felt like I needed to know what the hype was. That being said, the Twilight series, especially the last, is the best book I have read in a long time. I have allowed my daughter to read the first two, and she and I have discussed them openly. I don’t know where the soft porn comes in at, because I certainly didn’t see anything to suggest that. As long as you understand that this is FICTION. I have discussed it with other mothers in the church, as for the most part, all of the girls have been allowed to read it AFTER their mothers have first read them. I am extremely strict on what my daughter watches, where she goes and what she reads, but I encourage you to have an open mind and not just take Phyllis’ word about these books. I’m not at all saying these have any biblical/Christian references. If you’re not sure about your daughter reading them, try them out yourself first. You will be pleasantly surprised.
I think that a Christian has every right to read Twilight. I
think that it was a good example for Christians because it does
have some Christian views in it. For example, Carlisle was born
into a church going home and he became a pastor after his father.
Also, when he learned what he was, he decided to go the Straight
and Narrow path by not giving in to human blood. So that proves
that walking the Straight and Narrow is better and to not give in
to sin.
Twilight is a thousand times better than Harry Potter. I really love this movie, it is the best movie i have ever watched.
i love the chemistry between Kirsten Stewart and Robert Pattinson. Twlight will always be one of the best vampire-love story movies.
I think Twilight is a great book. First of all, we should look at the good doctor Carlisle Cullen, who states that nothing had ever made him challenge his belief in God even after he became a vampire.I have to admit Breaking Dawn does have some scenes that might not be suitable for younger children to read. Another thing I would like to point out is that Bella decides to keep her baby and not abort it, even when she knows she could die. Also Bella says that she believes that the Cullens do have souls and that’s one reason why she wasn’t so worried about that aspect of being a vampire. I have heard from other blogs that having a vampire boyfriend could be dangerous, but I don’t really feel that’s an issue because the book is FICTION and vampires aren’t real. Also, the books never said that the characters, even Edward, are perfect and will make mistakes. The character Carlisle are opposed to murder. One more thing that people have to consider when
discussing Twiligt is that the book is meant for entertainment and not as a social message.
interesting post. I watched the movie; it was clean (even violence was at a min.)
I appreciate the comments above; i was curious what others thought about it.
and I agree after i watched it i was intrigued b/c it was a compelling story.
I have to say that I am completely shocked after having read the posts about the Twilight series. They are about VAMPIRES people. How on earth can any Christian say that a book or movie glorifying VAMPIRISM is a good thing? You all need to get out your bibles and read what it says about associating with such things. It’s evil. You all are buying into satans lies.
Twilight is simply the best movie and i am so much addicted to it. Kirsten Stewart is very pretty and Robery Pattinson is so handsome.
Misty, have you ever heard of a literary device??? This series is about vampires who deny their desires in order to do right. By the way, all humans are sinners, which makes us BAD. does that mean that we should stop having any contact with each other?
I want to throw in 2 cents responding to Cat’s comment that “all humans are sinners, which makes us BAD.”
We were created in God’s image, and so there’s a lot of good in us. But we have twisted away from the light. It’s a big subject. There’s a happy ending (beginning?) because Jesus has rescued us from our estrangement from God. Please read the Book of Galatians in the Bible, New Testament.
That was sarcasm, by the way. What I meant was that we’re none of us perfect, but that doesn’t mean we should dissociate ourselves from each other. Sorry I didn’t make that clear. I was in a hurry when I posted last.
This whole website is all about what alludes to christian vallues and what doesn’t. I would think that Christians, of all people, would notice that even though the word “sex” is hardly mentioned, Bella constantly wanting Edward to turn her into a vampire is clearly a metaphor for her wanting to have sex. With the language Meyer uses, you could just substitute “sex” for “turn me into a vampire”, and it is basically an erotica novel. Not to mention, Bella is “so hot for Edward she tells him she’s going to “spontaneously combust” and frequently forgets to breathe when he kisses her”, “openly launching herself at him without shame”.
Not to mention, if Christians are so against humans practicing witchcraft, why aren’t they against humans marrying vampires? Seems to me everything is a justification for why fans don’t have to put a book down, or why others shouldn’t read a book you didn’t like.
I have recently read the 4 books and watched the 3 movies out of curiosity and to equip myself
for conversations that may come up on the subject of Vampires.
First of all, I congratulate the author on a very well told story. I found the drama, suspense,
action and romance very moving and compelling. I am not at all surprised at the success of the
books and movies and the huge fan base!
Aside from the brief historical references to spiritism in the Native American legends, I did
not notice any overtly spiritual references, Christian or otherwise. There are evil characters
of course, but I did not notice anywhere that the story gives credit or blame to any spells,
potions, magic, or ‘higher power’, evil or otherwise. There is a brief questioning whether God,
heaven or hell exist.
In this story, people become a vampire when a venom is injected as a vampire bites a human,
and shape shifters (they aren’t really wherwolves) are genetic. No higher powers, spells or
magic are involved. There is some discussion of whether a person who has been made into a
vampire has lost their soul. Those who believe their soul is at risk may be thinking it because
they have murdered people in the course of feeding on their blood. The ‘vegetarian’ vampires
in this story feed on only animals and so don’t kill humans for this purpose. The shape
shifters
and vegetarian vampires protect humans by killing some vampires who feed on humans.
Although many moral virtues are promoted in the story, God is barely mentioned and is not
given first place in anyone’s life. (This is the first and greatest commandment). This is
typical
of most of today’s book and entertainment media. There is no mention of sin or it’s
consequences. No God, no judgment, no heaven or hell, no repentance, no salvation, and no
forgiveness.
Bella’s main goal is to stop aging so she can spend more years with Edward.
What happens when she gets a beautiful immortal indestructible body, an immortal loving
husband, child, and extended family, and riches enough to supply every whim? If you never
die, why fear judgment day or need heaven? Who needs God?
In the real world, everyone dies and faces God on judgment day. Are you prepared to meet
your maker and give account for every sin you’ve ever committed? Please visit
http://www.NeedGod.com and find out.
My daughter is 12 and was made to watch Twilight at school. She came home shaken, frightened, repulsed and desperately worried about the effect this film was having on one of her friends who now has a shrine to Edward in her bedroom. We just had to sit down together and pray, we had to ask GGod to in His mercy remove the images and sensations from her mind, heart and spirit. We asked Him to protect her. Since praying she hasn’t mentioned it again once. But if you had seen the effect it hhad on her, you would maybe begin to consider that what the person Misty has been saying is actually really worth considering prayerfully. The enemy is not stupid, and he is for real. He will try and entice us to open ourselves up to him and his ways in any way imaginable, even through “harmless fiction”.
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AOL named Angel in the Shadows by Lisa Grace as The Christian alternative to the Twilight Series. In addition It made AOL’s Top Ten Most Challenged Book List for 2010. The Angel Series will be making an impact in the churches soon while the secular world has already put it in Amazon’s top 20 for teen fiction. Angel in the Shadows is currently beating out Harry Potter 2 and Eragon on Amazon. Angel in the Storm Book 2 is being released this Fri. July 1st as an e-book on Amazon. The Angel Series is the only Christian book on Amazon’s teen fiction list. Watch for this series to surpass Twilight by Dec. and the release of Book 3 Angel in the Ice.
If you are a young man who enjoys seducing young underage women
then you can just model Edward the vampires actions and lots of foolish
girls will give up their virginity to you. If this offends you as it should any
Christian, then DO NOT READ these books. They are not harmless entertainment.
This book series preys on little girls minds. Girls who are unhappy at home will
seek comfort from the vampires and the good girls will fall for the werewolves.
Dear Ms. Wheeler,
I have published my first Fantasy novel “Angel’s Breath”,
written in a Christian perspective.
My author’s profile is available both at Goodreads and Amazon.
Would you be interested in reviewing my book? If so I would be
happy to provide you with a digital or paperback version.
Thank you,
Yvonne von Innes
Hello Ms. von Innes,
I consider reading a book if it has been professionally edited, and if I like the first chapter. You are welcome to send me the first chapter at my email, phylliswheeler “at” phylliswheeler.com .
Phyllis Wheeler