Vampires - Take 2

I agree with you!!!! I have many Christian friends that are obsessed with these books. I read some of the frist book to get an opinion on it and by the 6th chapter of the book I was bored because Bella was so obsessed with Edward and that was all she was thinking about. I enjoy reading a review from a Christian perspective on this series.

I'm an 18-year old girl, and some of my closest friends are pretty much obsessed with the Twilight series. I read the first three books, decided it was objectively a decent series, but I don't like how sugar-coated it is. Vampires are raw, demonic, blood-sucking creatures, not the pansy "vegetarian" shadows that are portrayed in the Twilight series.

1. Obsessions are unhealthy, period. It's one thing for girls to point to a character in a story and say "I want to be with someone like that, but alive", but when I overhear girls saying that they want their men "cold, dead, and sparkly", I start to get worried. Girls will not get cold, dead, sparkly men unless they raid a morgue refrigerator and pour glitter on a male corpse.

2. I agree, Bella's relationship with Edward is not healthy. It's been a while since I've read any of the books, but from what I remember, there wasn't much communication between Edward and Bella when problems arose in their relationship, which is a serious issue in my book.

3. I feel kinda bad saying this--I'm metaphorically playing the devil's advocate here--but Stephanie Meyer kinda had to make Bella the one who pushed the physical aspect of their relationship in order for Stephanie to be able to continue portraying Edward as the dead gentleman that he started as. From what I've heard, lots of girls read this series because of Edward. And since it's really easy to relate to Bella's character, it requires little to no effort for the reader to put herself in Bella's role in the story, especially if Edward is Bella's boyfriend. And what girl wouldn't want to date a mysterious gentleman that at least seems to have your best interest at heart?

4. I'm not sure if anyone else has said this yet, but Edward kinda plays a Jesus-esque role in the series. (I haven't decided yet what role(s) the rest of the Cullens play in the series--Jesus's groupies? Again, it's been at least a year since I read any of the books, so my memory of the plotline is kinda fuzzy at best.) Even though Edward doesn't die--but he does leave for an extended period--him coming back to Forks could be considered a resurrection of sorts.

PS-I'm not saying that Edward is like Jesus, but I'm saying that in the story line, he plays a Jesus-like role. Nor do I believe in vampires, werewolves, witches, etc.

Wondering what all the buzz was about over the whole series I have only read the first book. I personally believe that the story is a bit too ridiculous to be entertaining. I think the author does a poor job on the plot level, and focuses on her characters more than the actual story. I think the readers a more intrigued with a mysterious, werewolf/human character, and find him very attractive as a character. It's similar to the temptations the devil creates to get us sucked in.

Therefore on the note about becoming obsessed I agree that we, as Christians should never allow anything to take up so much of our time. Novels are written for enteratainment and should never be a guideline to live our lives, those directions should be from God alone. The twilight books should be seen as more of a source of fictional entertainment that is a worldly form of pleasure. Not to say that pleasure are bad, but when they consume our lives we betray God and the only one worthy of our full attention.

I totally agree with what you said Jamie. The books are definately the hook right now. I do have to say I had a great time reading the books and I am so excited for the movie on Friday. But you have to remember that (especially at the end of Eclipse) that Bella is trying to be a bad girl if you know what I mean but I just took it as a chance to know what she is doing is wrong and I can live my own love story the way God would want me to (which will not be anytime soon!) I will pray that God will lead me his way and not the way of the world.

"However, if you find that you are obsessed with the stories and dream of being swept off your feet by someone like Edward, you probably need to step back from the books and spend some time pursuing the Lover of your soul who died so that you could truly live. "

That is exactly my point of view. Fun fiction, in my opinion, is fine. (I am a Christian Fiction type of gal). However, once an obsession begins, it's time to stop and think, "Am I at all following God with this material?"

I know a lot of girls who love these books (me included) but if it comes to the point of obsession, we've got a huge problem. There was a period where I believe I got too into these books, and I took a step back.

I know some people who spend all their time thinking about this book... their lives revolve around it. That's NOT all right. However, with the right mindset, I don't see a huge problem.

Great topic! I'm loving this discussion.

I think your making a good point about it. But, I am not like that girl in LA who broke her nose chasing Robert Patterson (Edward). Us Twilight fans can be semi-obsessed. Which in my case means we can read and LOVE the books, because Stephenie Meyer is a genius, and love God more than anything else.

THANK YOU!!!! I have been refusing to read these books and all my friends are asking me why. This is the perfect answer! I just dont want to get obsessed. The only person that really understands is my BFF, Jamie, and I thank God for her. Thank you for this post... I needed it sooooo much! I know just what Im gonna tell my other friends now =)

You have a point. The books are REALLY addicting.

Thank you, Thank you for this article!

Ouch. I needed that. Thank you Very much. Though, I, as do most girls(you all know it's true), dream of being swept off my feet by the amazing man of my dreams some day- the guy in MY dreams is definitely not Edward. My guy loves Jesus and challenges me to love Jesus- he doesn't thirst for my blood or invade on everyone's privacy (read minds). However, I'm guilty of obsessing-not ridiculously obsessed- over this book. I am making a committment-infront of all you readers where ever you are-to spend more time focusing on Jesus as my White Knight instead of Edward and even in front of my mystery man of my dreams.

First of all,We love the Twilight series and can't wait for the movie, and do agree with some of the comments that were posted. We think that it is a very addicting book because its such an easy read and has a Romeo Juliet touch to it, but like some have said you need to come back to reality and focus on whats more important a book or God?
if you take a break while your reading it and you bring your head out of La-La land than its a good series.
~ Rachelle and Juliette

alrighty, so I'm just gonna say right now that I needed that. It's soooo easy to get trapped by the surreal perfectness of it all. I find that that's exactly the thing that bothers me about the books, they're way too perfect (that is, worldly standards of perfect). Things like that don't happen in real life. You don't just solve your problems with a hug, you can't just trade out your less-than-perfect human friends for happy little dead ones, you can't just do reckless and dangerous things and have life be all hunkey dorey, and you cant just pass on your best friend's love to your daughter that everyone else is gonna take care of for you anyway. Sorry, ranting. I do, however find myself easily identifying with Bella on quite a few levels, since I'm a brown eyed brunette, i LOVE Jane Austen, I adore the sun, see? It just goes on and on. It is almost effortless to get pulled in by such an amiable little character. And who doesn't love a good bit of romance? I got to the point where I was happy when the story got angsty because the plot and the characters are so predictably adorable. Isn't that sad? I was rejoicing when they were suffering just because it made them a little more human. I mean, what was wrong with Mike? What made him so abhorrent? Why does Bella ignore him? I'll tell you why, it's because he's (gasp) a human. She gets so caught up in the supernatural world that she just can't wait to kill herself even though she had a pretty kickin' life before Edward. I just really get where you're coming from.
PS- anyone out there fans of Jacob over fickle vampire boy? Yeah, he's a werewolf, but he still acts so human. He's got a temper problem, he gets emotional, he can feel pain and cry about it. He will die eventually. He is just so... The thing with him is, I can see him as a normal human being and wanna meet someone with such a cool personality, but the Cullens come off as the sort who've just always been the way they are, inhuman. Except Carlisle, who seems like he's gotten to the point where he is very much in tune with his human tendencies and can fall easily into them. But even he is far too sage and benevolent to ever be thought of as real.

Okay,for starters I can see the appeal and how people could get obsessed.I mean if any of you are like me it's not that hard(especially if you wish you live in one of your daydreams. I know I do.)But why would you want risk anything negitive(Especially if you get the creeps easily)when there are so many great Christian fantasys out there?I know it might take a bit of work to find them but,I recently finished THE DOOR WITHIN TRILOGY and, all I can say is WOW!

Heyah. Soo In some aspects I agree with you, but in most I don't. Twilight is a great series, and as long as you don't put it before God, then its even better. It's just a love story, people need to STOP freaking out about it. Read it, watch the movie. God can come before all of these easily.

I get it that you don't want to be obsessed. But in response to Emily, vampires aren't real, so really, they aren't demonic at all. Some stories make them out that way, and some don't. The point is, they're stories, not real! I personally love these books and while I have issues with some of Bella's behavior, I think anyone who can write a story as popular as the Twilight books should be applauded, no matter what the story is about.

Hi guys--

Well... I qualify with some of the statements posted here. For instance, I see where it could be easy to get trapped in 'The Twilight Zone'-- but with all do respect to everyone, is it really that big of a deal to want to have a guy love you with all his heart (no matter how much or less it beats)? The point isn't just how much they love eachother that makes it cool, but also that since that type of love dosn't exist in the real world, many people, (like me) enjoy reading about the possibility (even if it's fictional) that it'd exist. I don't understand why people make a big deal about books that kids (like myself--I'm 16) get caught up in... Just because we'd rather read about things imaginary to our world, rather than biographies, or christian based books, dosn't mean it's bad. I have no conflict with Jesus and the Twilight Saga... Sure you can argue that the books take away from time we could be at church, or reading the Bible instead-- but if that's the case, dosn't EVERYTHING that we decide to go to, watch, or read that's not religiously based take away from Jesus too? People are taking their critiques of Mrs. Meyer's writing (Bella's love for Edward is unhealthy, and vice versa!) and trying to shame her fans just because we like the fantasy of it all. Why can't it just be a really well-written fantasy book? You know, I realize that I'm not the oldest person in the world-- but for as long as I can remember, as soon as we get a best seller aimed at youth, and it takes America by storm, all of a sudden Jesus pops up. Jesus is ALWAYS there, but people use him in their arguements to shame literature that has primarily a fantasy foundation-- why? As I said earlier, I have NO problem distinguishing between The Alpha and the Omega, and Twilight-- why do people make it such a big deal? Because it's not...It's just a book.

Imone,
I personally love fantasy books as did C.S. Lewis who wrote the Narnia books. And J.R.R. Tolkien is one of my all time favorites, so don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to say "read only your Bible" or "stay away from fantasy books", what I'm saying is that Jesus IS that perfect relationship we're all looking for but we don't go for it 100% and end up settling for less and losing ourselves in love stories that seem to offer what the world can't. My theory is that we love stories like this because we were created for a perfect love and only Jesus can satisfy that desire. But since it's so much easier to get lost in books or boys or stuff we settle for that instead of running after Jesus with all we've got. Can you imagine what this world could look like if we all were as excited about Jesus as we get about stuff like this. It would be amazing...
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Ok; so i am taking the girls to see this movie.... Yes both mommy and daddy and then we usually have "the talk" and then they go back to being "Daddys girls". I know my girls and Jesus is in their hearts.

Hey, so i really don't understand why people can get so over obsessed with the books and the movie. It makes me sad because all my friends ever talk about is Twilight and about how their going to see the movie when it comes out at midnight! Thats crazy! Even my christian friends have fallen in love with the book. The relationship shown in the book is not one Jesus would want us to have,and it is really hard not to get wrapped up in it. Everyday I start with a clean slate and a bible verse to try to think as positive as I can.

I have got to say...I'm 12, and almost ALL of my friends are hopping over this book. I point out the racy-ness of the fourth book, and- get this- they try to defend it! "Oh, it's not sooo bad, you just have to skip over it." Whenever they bring the series up, always pops up the question, "Why aren't you reading it, Em?" I can never get a full answer in before they start talking again. Ah, sorry, ranting. But my point is- and I do have a point- kids my age- 7th grade- should most likely not be obsessed over this book! Thanks a bunch for this article-- I can feel confident about bringing obsession into the conversation now.

I've read this blog article and some comments. At my school or just anywhere everyone or most people are talking about it. A lot of people are planning to go on opening night. It might seem great to other people, but as a non-reader I can see a bunch of girls falling into this "twilight filled hole". You can really tell too who is part of God's fan club rather than Twilight's fan club. They don't talk about it everyday and everysecond. So if you do read it that's fine but i know from watching and hearing its not fun when it occupies every conversation

Ok, it seems to me that the moral of the story is...CONTROL YOURSELF. I love the Twilight series because it is entertaining and pretty clean, something that is few and far between for teenagers.

I know that Edward and Bella's relationship is not always healthy...I wonder if we are meant to see that? I saw that from the beginning and then took note of what was going on. I DON'T see it as such a big deal though. Bella was obsessed with Edward, it's true, but other than that their relationship was actually pretty decent(especially compared to relationships in other teen novels)

As far as it pulling us away from God...IT IS NOT A CHRISTIAN NOVEL. it is writtten by a member of the LDS church, not a christian, so we should stop expecting it to be the ultimate example of a good relationship and be devoid of any evil. It will be there, because it is coming from the secular realm. We need to expect that and deside if we can handle that.

This is an obsessive novel for a lot of people. I, personally, have that kind of tendancy. It has happened before this book and it could happen again. i know that about myself and I figured after hearing all the hype about this novel that i would be slightly obsessed. So i counted on that fact and took two weeks of my life to read the books and another week to kinda debrief myself. Yep, i lived in the clouds for two weeks...not because of the evilness of the book as some people have suggested, but because the writting was so compelling that i felt like i lived in the book. For me, that has happened even in Christian novels, i expect it and deal with it. Hey i have a weakness for good writting.

I think the key to these books are to take into account our own weaknesses, our age, our maturity, and our circumstances and deside if this is the book for us. Then we should enjoy it for the work of fiction it is and fight to not be drawn into the "romantic" protrayal of vampires(who be the way DO exist but definately not in the way described in the book).

So this November, i will be watching the film and enjoying the magic of it all, but i will be fighting as so many other christians to keep it in perspective and keep God first, something i find is not that hard to do once i think about the books rather than just soak in everything they say.

Oh wow. Yeah. That would be pretty cool if everyone was excited about Jesus like Twilight... I really wanna say something, but I don't wanna offend anyone. Jesus knows my heart, so here it goes... Maybe if the Bible was as intresting as Twilight (not with fake stuff like Vampires, but with how easy it is to follow and understand) we would have more youth on fire for Christ...I understand that The Holy Bible is a manual on which the foundation of millions of people is placed-- but why is it so wrong to re-write, no-- wrong word...Re-translate the Bible to how we can understand it? I've had, total to date 12 youth Bibles, and all they do is kiddy-fye it. Accessability, and simplicity, is what we lack in the Bible, that's present in Twilight. That's why people are in love with it, and not the Bible. Ye's, and Thou's, require work to understand sometimes. Twilight dosn't. It's sad, but I mean well, and speak nothing but the truth.

I recently finished reading Twilight, and I loved it. I'm going to see the movie sometime soon, and I'm pretty stoked. You have no idea how many of my friends are absolutely obsessed with the story... but while I do love reading and good stories, I wouldn't say that I'm obsessed. I plan on finishing the series, because I'm an avid reader and enjoy series. As long as you don't let yourself go crazy over vampires and whatnot, I don't see too much harm in reading these stories. It's just like the Harry Potter series... when those first came out, people burned them because they contained witchcraft and wizzardry. I read those books for sheer entertainment. I know Hogwarts doesn't exist; just the same as Edward doesn't exist. I know who my one true love is... Jesus. And I know in my heart of hearts that he exists. Forever.

PS - for those of you looking to read an absolutely AMAZING Christian series about true friendship and TRUE love, I recommend: The Christy Miller Series (by Robin Jones Gunn)
The characters in this book are truly remarkable and inspiring. All I can say is, go read it now! :)

sooo... i am a TOTALLY fiction-book loving girl! i've read eragon, eldest,and brisinger(dorky-i know :) but they are really good!), so i have NOTHING against the whole vampire thing.(i didnt read the books because i was afraid they would mention blood and that makes me queezy) i just believe that these books are completed revolved around sex. and they portray bella and edward's relationship as something all girls need to have... if some guy was sitting in my room watching me sleep, i would not think " o, wow... he must love me" i would be saying " ahhh! creepy stalker!!! get away from me!". i also know that some girls (myself included) can get COMPLETLY obsessed with stuff and its obvious from the other comments that you guys agree. a lot of girls have been sucked in and its UNHEALTHY. these comments have made me glad that i didn't read these books.

I read the books over a year ago and well, they weren't that great. Twilight has become a faze for teenage girls to obsess about, just like the Jonas Brothers. The main reason most girls are overly obsessed about S.M. series is because of Edward. A FICTIONAL male vampire. It bothers me how many girls are in love with the fake Edward. Some girls in my school even say ridiculous phrases like, "Edward would never do that to me". Well of course he wouldn't, because he doesn't exsist! Girls would obsess about this perfect vampire, and yet, would not give more attention to Jesus Christ. Someone who is very real and has died for us. Who could love us anymore than Him?

I completely agree all of you guys! I read the books and they are very distracting. I would finish school as fast as possible, then do the same with my chores. All I thought about was the books. At noght i would dream about what I thought would happen next. t may sound really dimb, but I was obsessed with them! My mom kept saying you're never here anymore! I was there but I was always with the book, on the couch in my room. Then i started to realize that if my mom and dad are always telling me I'm gone I should probably lay f the books. At least until I figure out how to control my obsession. I prayed about it for a while and Jesus told me that my eyes were focused on things they shouldn't be. That scared me. I stopped...I haven't read them since! Now all my time is with Jesus!

I wish my friends would do the same as you, Brittany. And no offense, Imone, but the Bible is interesting! (But that`s just from my point of view)

I agree as well...
my thing is I actually like the twilight series...
it's how I handled it that made the difference. I was under my parents supervision when I read these books, and they reminded me to make sure I had my devotions...
I read for pure enjoyment- no obsessions attached or anything! I agree that Bella & Edward's relationship is not a healthy one, but I'm a logical thinking girl so I know that when I watch the movie- even tho it'll be cool & fun to watch- I know the right way to handle things & I am not dumb-founded to what really everything is like (the way it actually is).
I look at it like this- we all pretty much go to the movies and watch different movies, but the fact is they're all FICTION- just like twilight. So even though I did enjoy reading the books & will see the movie- to me there is no harm b/c in the end it is all just FICTION...
The only problem I see with reading the books is if someone strays away from God in which this case I think it is wrong & the person shouldn't read them.

I'm sure that it's not so cool to hear from a Mom on this subject, but I'll try to write a short comment because I've been dealing with this subject the last couple weeks in our household. I have a 12 year old daughter who without our permission has read the first book and some of the 2nd and 3rd book. My husband and I have concluded that these books are a "grey area" and we know each parent/child must decide for themselves if these books are worth reading. The author is an excellent story teller, I do give her that. The contents of course are where I have struggled bigtime. I did skim the first book for about an hour. Bella seemed to be quite "taken" or maybe obsessed is the better word. When I opened the 3rd book (I believe) to do some skimming of that book, I hit a chapter called "comprimise." When the main character wants to lose her virginity, red flags again went up for me. I just can't see that this kind of reading is spiritually healthy. I'll keep praying for wisdom and guidance. This will be one of many spiritual battles we may face I'm sure along this road of bringing up kids, but I've got to stand firm and help my kids discern
some of the cloudy stuff that comes along... Pray on these thoughts, and here is a challenge (I challenge myself on this too), can you read God's Word as long or longer each day to equal or exceed the other "stuff" you read?
Thanks for letting me share my thoughts.
From a Mom who loves her kids more than they know!

Imone,
You just gave me a great idea for an article!! Thanks for your honesty - I know a lot of people struggle reading their Bible because they find it boring or hard to understand. Hang in there - there are amazing things in there if you don't give up.

Jamie

When these books came out I had refused to read them, they seemed over rated and way too obsessed over and they are.

However my friend who had the same idea was hearing great things about the book from her friends. So together her and I decided to read the book, coming at it from a Christian perspective and a Christian worldview and take thorough notes on what the worldview of the books were. At the end of each book we compared notes which really helped us stand firm in are Christian perspective while reading the books. But I still found myself having a hard time putting the book down, and I totally agree with your comments on the books!

Stephenie Meyer tries so hard to make these books ok with the only group of people she thinks would be iffy about the vampire thing, Christians. Carlisle
being the son of a preacher, the big cross in their house, Edward thinking that vampires might have been created. But I think Christians should be more then just iffy about these books. So many of my friends idolize the Twilight books. I just wish they would ask themselves, as we should with all books,movies and other such things we put into our minds and enjoy. "What type of worldview is this trying to portray? Is is a Christian worldview? And I am putting this before Christ, making it an idol?

Thank you so much for taking the time to review the twilight books like you did, it is very encouraging!

~Nicki

To Imone-
I know what youre saying!!!! A lot of teen bibles made it sound really little-kiddish. I finally found a really good bible though thats written really well..The Revolve Devotional Bible...I found it when i went to the revolve tour this past november, and its amazing! its easy to understand and is written for TEEN girls...you should check it out online!

ok, so i haven't actually read the series, but just from reading comments and hearing what other people had to say, this is a combination of what i can tell and what i think:

1. as people are saying over and over, bella and edward's relationship IS NOT HEALTHY!! sure, edward is the "perfect gentleman" and everything, but your true love should not be battling constantly with the decision of wether or not to kill you! as almost all girls do, i sometimes think about my future husband. of course, i want a guy who's crazy about Jesus before he's crazy about me. and not someone who's as controling as edward.

2. bella is waaaaay too obsessed with edward. just as i want my future husband to be obsessed with Jesus before me, i want to always put Jesus first.

3. it's not sexy at all, no matter how you put it. it's an unhealthy relationship put in a profane way.

i hope i didn't offend anybody, and again, i haven't read the series, this is based on what i've read and heard.

thx, guys for sharing your opinion!

I totally agree with a lot of what's been said. I know I'm coming in after the month long topic thing but I felt that I should put my 2 cents in. I'm the first to admit that these books are addicting. You get obsessed because you can live in the stories. The character development is so good that you could imagine how they might react to things not I the book, this is a sign of great writing but it's also very dangerous ground. It distracts you from other things. I personally read each of these books 4 times or more. Twilight four times in a row, New Moon then Eclipse, then New Moon again and so on in 4 cycles, then Breaking Dawn 4 times in a row, then Twilight again 3 times in a row. It wasn't like I was doing this in the day time and not getting anything else done, it was only during the couple hours before I fall asleep when I always read my fiction, but still it wasn't exactly healthy. I was living the books, I would imagine alternative plot lines and fix things in the story I didn't like. My friends, who were also obsessed, and I discussed them alot, what we liked and didn't like. Even my small group. We did also discuss however how we would love to date Edward if he wasn't so: obsessive, overprotective, stalkerish, ect...

When you read this book you should know that Bella and Edward's relationship wasn't a healthy one. Edward was to grrrr, and Bella was just too fragile, she was all about Edward, for goodness sakes she went catatonic when he left, does that sound healthy to you?

Like I said before these characters are real when you read the book. Them being so real though reveals many flaws. I almost wonder if Stephanie didn't write them that way to show that relationships aren't always healthy and that if you choose and unhealthy one it will kill you. Bella does die after all and that's the only time she really gets her happily ever after, her heaven. It almost seems to me that this unhealthy relationship is a drawn out metaphor that something bad will in the end kill you, but when you die there is hope of something better (but something bad isn't the best way to reach that something better just fyi). This may not have been expressed in a thouroughly Christian way but if you look at these books, I think Mittens was right in saying that Edward plays a Jesus like role, because he almost appears to, but when you look closer it's actually Renesmee the good thing borne out of the bad that eventually brings Bella to her Heaven, and I think the message here is that good come out of the bad, and Renesmee is an alussion to Jesus and his saving us, but that's a little bit of a strech. (I'm turning into a lit teacher, yikes)

Now I'm going to go back to where I started with obsession. If your obsessed with these books, and I totally was, my advice would to step back. Don't do anything Twilight related for a few weeks then come back and try to experience it in small doses, the complete shut out for a while is important though so you don't just get sucked back in.

I don't think God would have a problem with these books as long as you know that they're one not real, and two not an example of anything healthy. The obsession element I don't think is any bigger then say a Ted Dekker series, I was just as obsessed with his Circle books as I was with Twilight, it isn't healthy in either case but it's not just secular vampire books that do it. You just need to remember to spend your time with God and to pray to him to ask him what he thinks of you reading these books, and for him to reveal something in them that brings your attention and glory to him.

Twilight is a very good series, but it's not a good example of how things should work, and if your obsessed it's not healthy, again I know cause I was and it was hard to break but now I can discuss Twilight without my heart stopping once. (I actaully read Twilight when I had a heart monitor and this happened a couple times, pre obsession breakage) It's a lot like junk food, it's okay in maderation, but that's true of everthing exapt God so I don't think there is anything inherently wrong with reading the books, but what you take away and your response that can lead down dangerous roads.

So...That's my two cents and I hope that this may help someone with their own Twilight obsession and kind of speak for some of the Twilight Christian fans out there! :)

P.S. I have a very random thought process and that reflects in my writing so sorry about that, you should see the first drafts of the novel I'm working on

Also two extremely good Christian fiction writers are Frank Perreti and Ted Dekker, be advised may have an obsession risk for those with obsessive personalities :)

I wrote this in response to a friend asking for opinions of Twilight. It basically tells you why I have a problem with Twilight.

I have no problems with Christians reading books that delve into the realm of the fantastical or supernatural. I read the Harry Potter books, the Eragon books, the Middle Earth books, and the Narnia books. I have read parts of the Twilight books, but couldn't stand the obsessive behavior of Bella so I put it down.

Obsession and blood, two key elements of Twilight that I have a problem with.

Problem #1: The Role of Blood.
I see your point in the comparison of elves and vampires, (She pointed out the similarities of agility, beauty, human traits, feline traits, and magical capabilities) but you did not mention the greatest difference between the two races: elves do not have a desire for human blood (in fact in the Inheritance Cycle, elves do not even eat animal flesh) vampires on the other hand(though they may be "vegetarians" as Edward Cullen is in Twilight) still have a longing for and an urge to taste blood.

Now I am a girl who likes weapons of all kinds and enjoys movies containing battles, martial arts, swordplay, murder, or just plain old fist fighting, all of which typically contain varying amounts of blood. However I do not enjoy or watch horror films, where it often seems the whole premise is to focus on a lunatic's obsession with someone and then to release this obsession in a torrent of blood. I see a link here with Edward's innate desire to sink his teeth into Bella's skin.

Problem #2: Bella's Obsession with Edward or Edward's Seemingly Perfection.
Bella starts out infatuated. We have all been infatuated at least once and know there is no harm, but Bella becomes so entangled with Edward that she starts risking her safety. Edward has become a god for her and in turn he has become such to many girls and women. So many have said that Twilight is their escape. I like to escape into books as well, I try to do it as often as possible, but so many people are allowing their "escape" to enter their lives. I realized this happening when I overheard a young woman comparing her husband to Edward, wishing that her husband were more like him, and wishing she could find a real man like that. Edward is first of all a fictional character and even then he is not a man! This obsession with a figment of someone else's imagination can not be good for us, can it?

"Maybe elves, at least those of the Tolkien variety, embody our yearning after purer, more angelic duplicates of ourselves while vampires are their darker shadow," you said. This basically sums it up I think. In our imagination we create better pictures of ourselves and when we tire of that we create darker pictures of ourselves. We find a strange beauty in this darkness. I believe this beauty comes from our knowledge that there is redemption from darkness. Redemption is the most beautiful thing I know of and it subconsciously enters our thoughts when we see something sad or dark. Some people mistake the beauty of redemption they see in darkness as being the darkness itself. That is where the danger lies, not in our imagination of dark things, but in our saying that this darkness is beautiful even if it can't be redeemed. After all Edward himself believes he is damned for eternity, but Bella still thinks it is all beautiful.

Well, to be honest, I haven't read the books..but I can see from reading what a lot of people are saying that Bella and Edwards' relationship isn't healthy..I also read that Bella is "forcing" some aspects of the relationship..maybe that's a moral of the story, or a "theme" is that when a girl forces the relationship, it won't be a healthy relationship. And if that's not what Ms. Meyer was planning on getting across that's one thing that we as christians could get out of the book.
Now, like I said I haven;t read the books so I;m just throwin stuff out there, but for the most part I agree with what Jamie is saying, if you're obsessed, I'd flee from it! because the only thing we as christians should be "obsessed" with is Jesus, and our heavenly father, best friend, and daddy!

It looks like I'm a little late with a post, but I have to say something. I am already concerned with our young girls and the ideas they get from the media, be it movies, books, television, whatever. It is hard as an adult to keep a pure mind and our teens have it even harder. I have a burden for our young people and the things that they are being exposed to. I have not read these books and neither has my daughter. She has asked to read them and I've told her no without having read them. I started reading these comments to get more of an idea of what these books are about and to be able to give my daughter a sound reason for saying no. After reading all of your comments, my answer is still no.

The thing that keeps coming up is that these books are not "that bad". So, if they're not "that bad", then they can't be "that good". If we have to justify our entertainment with phrases like "it's not that bad" then there is something wrong with our entertainment. God doesn't direct us to live lives that are "not that bad". He tells us to be not conformed to this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. What our girls need in their minds is God and His way. Not the world's idea of romance. There is no perfect guy, no perfect relationship, no perfect marriage. Even those that are centered on God. Why? Because we are human. And as humans, we must totally saturate our minds with God in order to keep a pure mind. We keep telling our kids to stay pure and then we tell them that it's okay to read books or watch movies that do just the opposite. Staying pure is so much more than just not having sex. It's keeping our minds clean and focused on God. I want so much more for our kids! I have a burden for our youth and pray earnestly that God will open their hearts and minds to Him as He did with Lydia in Acts.

i also agree with most of whats been said, but one thing i'd like to add in response to what laura said.
yes, the cullens still thirst for human blood, but they choose to control that thirst because they know that it's wrong. just like we naturally have a desire to sin. but we choose to fight those temptations becasue we know they are wrong. everyone is tempted, even jesus was tempted, but it is our choice to give in to those temptations or stand against them.
i'm not saying that these books are perfect by any means, they are obviously very flawed, and i am also not trying to compare jesus to the cullens. i just liked the comparison of the cullens and us.

I read Eclipse in three days :(
Sorry!! (pout)... ... ... ...
I have to go (pout, again)

good read, I'll be back