A Question for the Masses

[Yeshua-Knight]

ok folks, got a question for you, do you think it would be wrong or sinful in any way to write a fanfic based upon characters in the bible? the reason why i'm asking is 'cus there are characters in the bible that are present in such a way so that they could have had various types of adventures and that kind of thing while at the same time not deviating from what is written in the bible, just wondering 'cus i was actually thinking about writing some about Samson and Gideon from the book of Judges

[bigsleepj]

Well, I'm not sure if its wrong (although teaming Samson up with Hercules and Sinbad would be a no-no for me ) but you can do it. But I'd remember to keep them in character (as portrayed in the Bible) and not go outlandish by having them use things like "A mystical sword forged in the fires of Mt Fuji" or something like that. Just remember that they are not the creations of just an author, but of "The" Author. But that's just my point of view. You should hear the oppinions of others.

But if it bothers you so much that you get depressed and you can't stop feeling about about wanting to do it, then take MY ADVICE and don't do it.

[Yeshua-Knight]

my plan was just to have the characters have adventures fighting bandits, philistines, invaders from other countries, that kind of thing, nothing that is so far out that it couldn't possibly happen without it getting mentioned in the bible itself, and don't worry the moment i feel that it's wrong or that i'm sinning, i'll drop my writing utensil and stop period without an other thought

[bigsleepj]

my plan was just to have the characters have adventures fighting bandits, philistines, invaders from other countries, that kind of thing, nothing that is so far out that it couldn't possibly happen without it getting mentioned in the bible itself

Hmmm. Then I see that its not a bad idea as long you do it right.

... and don't worry the moment i feel that it's wrong or that i'm sinning, i'll drop my writing utensil and stop period without an other thought

I made that mistake and I really don't want anyone to suffer as I have suffered with the spiritual angst that it causes. Its almost too horrible and confusing a feeling to bare. That is why I'm very careful when I write anything and plan out anything. But a story can get a life of its own as well and when this "idea" of the story clashes head to head with theology is when it causes the moral storm, so to speak. But since you know already of these 'traps' I suspect that you wont make these mistakes.

Good luck writing!

[Yeshua-Knight]

thanks, and to you as well

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

I don't really know. I think its fine to do that. As long as you don't claim it to be part of the Bible (or something like that)!

[Photosoph]

I agree; as long as you don't claim it to be part of the Bible, it might be all right. However what do you think about this: (it's something I've been pondering for a while, since I like to write) writing stories with inspiration taken from the Bible, e.g:

Take David's life of hardship, and change either the time, the planet, etc to create a new enviroment, while still keeping the main events of the stories from the Bible -like David being some sort of shepherd (maybe he looks after his Dad's farm of intergalactic somethings?), who ends up becoming a leader. So it would be a lot different from the Bible but would still bring through the main messages that the original stories had. Even if you kept similar enviroments but changed the races etc to retell the story of David's life through another similar situation.

But are you wanting to retell the stories of the Bible or want to write something new with the same characters?

I think your original idea should be okay as well; I'm not totally sure on wrongness or rightness of it but I think it might be ok, as long as you try to keep it true to the original characters, messages etc of the Bible.

[Yeshua-Knight]

what i'm actually planning on doing is taking a person from the Bible, and without deviating from the characteristics that have been presented to us in the Bible, write a fanfic about this character, there are several cases in which i could write a fanfic and make it sound like it took place during a period of time mentioned in the Bible, but something that's not so major so that if it had happened it reality, it would appear in the Bible itself, so like maybe imbetween all of his dealings with the philistines, samson spent his time keeping his town secure from bandits or philistines coming to claim something that doesn't belong to them, or maybe something like Ehud, i definitely want to do something on one of the Judges, seeing as those are the majority of God's warriors, you have Gideon, Samson, Ehud, etc...., but i have no intention of claiming it as being from the scriptures in any way, my fanfics are just that, fan written fictions, the Bible is the eternal Truth of God and will never change,


'nuff said



side note: the idea about taking a bible character and story and just changing the setting and time and just the details, that sounds good, a christian singer named Rich Mullins at one time wrote a musical called "Canticle of the Plains", it's about St. Francis of Assisi, but instead of being in italy, he's in the old west, so yeah, i think it's a good idea

[Photosoph]

Hmm... St Francis of Assisi as a Western... sounds interesting ^_^

Yeah, now you've explained what you're doign I personally think it might be all right. All the best if you do end up writing it!