Today, I felt like discussing beliefs. Hold up. Before you exit my blog, I'm not about to preach a sermon. Mostly, I'm digging around to see how much our personal views (political, spiritual, and social) effect our writing. I mean, they have to, right? After all, our beliefs make us who we are.
Now, if it were up to me, we'd all step away from our picket signs and snatch each other up for a universal group hug. As crowded as that might be, I think it would do wonders for the world. I'm not saying we have to agree about anything, except the fact that we're all human--people caught in the trenches of an ever darkening planet.
Nobody can argue, our population is divided. One side is ready to abolish guns while the other would lay down their lives before surrendering their weapons. Voices rage about marriage. Violent tongues saturate the airways with hatred. They burn to the core in the name of God--the God who tells them to win people over with love.
When I see the state of our world, I try not to let the craziness consume me or let the sadness steal my joy. But I do want people to know the truth. God is alive, and even if you don't believe He exists, He still loves you. I won't pretend my words are strong enough to change a heart. No human has the power to open a closed up soul, but in my writing, I try to at least make people wonder about The Guy who came to save us all.
I know not all who read this post are believers of my beliefs, but I'd like to know if your passions seep into your writing. Are you bold? Or do you whisper your thoughts across your pages? Don't tell me you say nothing because that can't be true. Whether a lot or a little, it's impossible for who we are not to touch our characters in some way.
I'm not out of thoughts on this subject, but I'll stop here because I'm anxious for comments.
Until next time, happy writing or whatever makes you smile. :)
Totally agree with everything you said here. I haven't had much call for my faith to come out in my writing....yet. When that time does come, though, I plan on embracing it...not as a soapbox to bash my beliefs over other's heads...but just to bring them out into the light.
ReplyDeleteAwesome post!
Hey Mark!
DeleteI'm with you 100% because we have the ability to shine a bright light with our words. It does no good to be all crazy and radical. That only turns people farther away from the good stuff. I'm betting one day, you'll be a great mouth piece for God. :)
I like Anne Lamott's prayer each time she sits down to write: to get out of the way. I want to be a conduit of words, whatever form that takes. I believe in a creative God and believe he intends for me to breathe that creativity into my writing. Does that mean it will have a bold message? I don't know. I kind of hope it's like a lighthouse-- a beacon for someone who needs just what he wants to say through me, however subtle that might be.
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful approach, Julie. Your comment makes me think of Moses--how he said he wasn't an eloquent speaker. I think a lot of times, we get in the way of what God has to say, but if we do like you say, He's able to do just what He needs to do, through us. And I love it when that happens! :)
DeleteIf our words reflect our actions; and our actions demonstrate our commitment to justice and tolerance and an unconditional love for others - we have a great deal to offer this world no matter what particular belief system we subscribe to.
ReplyDeleteHey there!
DeleteI agree! Every human being has something to share. We all have the ability to make the world a better place. Thanks for dropping in! :)
I think this is a great post - and question - because you're so right. Surely all writers pour a little of their beliefs into their writing, however unintentional.
ReplyDeleteI'm a Christian, and a mostly conservative one. So I'm right there with ya wishing there weren't people out there hating and bashing and using their children for such evil messaging. Sometimes my characters are believers. Sometimes, they're not. I try to let each character's beliefs stand out, not my own, when it's their turn to talk. But I think my themes are often shaped by my beliefs - things like forgiveness, second chances, and love.
GREAT post!
Daisy! We're so on the same page. A lot of my characters are total non-believers, and I let them be who they are. Sometimes, I worry that when my book comes out, Christians will think I'm awful for having "real" characters in my story. I think I should stop worrying because God didn't leave the bad out of The Bible. Truth is, none of us are perfect, and we'll never reach the lost by pretending we are. :)
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ReplyDeleteSo far I haven't touched on it because I write SpecFic, but I'm in your boat. There's nothing more frustrating than trying to spread God's love when there are "Jesus freaks" twisting the message to their own hateful causes.
ReplyDeleteHey girly,
DeleteFor sure! It's sad that people try to talk about Jesus with anything but a humble and loving heart. He was all about peace and reaching the lost with love. :)
This is all so true. And 100%, my ideas and passions and thoughts seep into my writing. I would go as far and say that I write about my ideas! Writing, for me, is like a plea saying, "I think! I have thoughts too, and here they are!"
ReplyDeleteWe all do seriously need a universal hug. Great post. I love, LOVE when people express their ideas in a non-threatening, open-minded way. I don't know why everyone's all for hiding what you believe in. That just sucks, in my opinion.
Well put, SC! I'm glad I'm not the only mushy person around here, lol. I love, LOVE, too, and love that you are all for sharing ideas and beliefs. No matter what a person's views, it takes guts to speak them! Maybe we can all take baby steps and stop being afraid to be ourselves. :)
Deletemy religious believes have a lot to do with my writing. there will be no cussing and huge sex scenes...great post!!
ReplyDeleteThanks! It's great to see you! I'm torn on the whole cussing issue. While I'm not a cusser, (unless something is exploding or dying)some of my characters are, but no F-bombs or G-d's. I prayed and agonized over my characters, trying to decide if I should let them be them or if I should bridle them. In the end, I decided to let them be the obnoxious people they are. I don't have sex scenes, but there's temptation. I only hope people don't judge me by my character's actions. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm sure some people could figure out my beliefs by reading my books, but I really try to keep politics out of my blog. There are some crazy people out in the world, in every religion, political party and geographic region.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I think it's that way with most of our stories. Our beliefs always creep in. I think we all have to do what we feel lead to do. I don't mind talking about anything on my blog, but I'll not do it in a judgmental way. And that's right for sure, crazies are all over!
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking about this post. Mostly, I try not to get into religion because it is such a hot button, and for many reasons. Partly, it's personal, and some people take it as their identity. And then of course, if you call yourself Christian, does that mean you agree with all the other Christians? What about other religions? There are sects of Wiccans who follow a very strict and profound edicts of "Harm none," and then every crazy who murders someone claiming it was for a witch's sacrifice really throws mud in the Wiccans' faces (no Wiccan would draw blood from a chicken let alone a human). And if you look at Muslim, they have their bad behaving people too (hello, 9/11). Every religion does, and there are so many people more interested in a flame war than in discussing what all of these religions truly have in common: Compassion, devotion, charity, forgiveness, and mercy.
ReplyDeleteBut this could start a flame war for suggesting that there's anything in common between Muslims, Christians and Pagans.
So, do my beliefs make it into my writing? Oh yeah. I'm always preaching our similarities and not our differences (even if I'm talking about aliens and faeries since I write Science Fiction and Fantasy). I think to write any other way is fake, and everyone sees it.
Do I believe in writing doctrine? Um, no. That's the character's job. If I have a character who is devote and would quote the bible, he or she is going to let out with scripture to help cope. If I have a devote atheist, then they're going to invoke the spaghetti monster when in need. And if I have a God fearing alien, they'll have their religion too (and it won't just be an earth derivative).
That's my two cents, sorry it's so long.
Love it, Rena! Thank you for sharing your thoughts. This is what we should all do. Like you, I let my characters lead. I've got some real ugly ones, but that's who they are, and I want them to be believable. God bless "the God fearing aliens!" :)
DeleteGreat post. Even though we are not our characters I do think that our beliefs come out in our writing, or rather our hope of how things should be.
ReplyDeleteThanks, S.P. I know you're right. It's inevitable. :)
DeleteMy Sunday post was THE GHOST OF EASTER PRESENT "touching" on much the same things. Great minds and all that. :-)
ReplyDeleteIt is in the nature of Man to destroy himself it seems. Insightful post, Roland
No way! I'll have to check out your post. :)
ReplyDeleteSo true and sad. Without Him guiding us, we'll do ourselves in.
I can't help but pepper my work with my faith. It's not even a deliberate thing, it just oozes out of me and who I am at the core, just like my writing.
ReplyDeleteAND I can't tell you how many times I just want to scream in frustration when I see signs and ignorance like that spoiling what true Christianity is! It makes it so hard for anyone to understand and judge Christians as individuals, having those horrible images burned in their minds.
Great post Celeste- I agree with you 100%
You and me both, Tammy, it's sad how many extremist think they're doing what God wants them to do. They can't see how wrong they are and how hate will never lead anybody to Jesus. :(
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