Religion and Stephen Lawhead

[Adam]

I notice that many of the members on this board have strong religious convictions.

Myself I have a rather schizophrenic relationship with God or more to the point with religion.

From the age of about 15 years till my early 30’s I have actively been a Jehovah’s Witness. This is quite a strict and insular group, having no contact with other religions.

In the last year or so I stopped believing its message of being the only true religion. I don’t associate with any other group. I don’t think I want to either, at the moment anyway.

I have always found Stephen Lawheads books to contain a very human and basic message of Christianity one that is not too organised. This very much appeals to me.

I don’t know too much about Mr Lawheads life, even if he is a Christian or not, but I guess he is. How about everyone else on this board, do you read his books because you sense a Christian message in there? I would also love to know what faiths people who post here have?

[reynard]

For the moment I am not involved with any religion, yet I was born and raised a Roman Catholic, but while at University I began reanalizing religions to the point where I was and still am thinking about converting to Islam.

But alas, now I am doubtful.

I really like the natural celtic ideals of the Cele De which Mr Lawhead includes in the Celtic Crusades.

[eldon]

I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He died and for my sins rose from the dead and I rest in the fact that He cares for my every need. Without God, I am nothing, but in Him, I can do great things. He speaks to me about the things He wants to accomplish in my life. And I speak to Him about my life and my relationships or any of my circumstances. I have seen many miracles in my life, especially in the most recent months. And most of them could have only been completed by God.

My faith does not require me to belong to a specific church, although I do have a home church and I have a wonderful connection with the people that go there. For the most part, they believe the same as me. We love God and we want to see the most for our community and the world beyond.

As for Stephen Lawhead's novels, I find them incredibly fascinating. A man with the faith and conviction as his and the novels that he writes, it is a wonderful thing. I am a huge fan of science fiction and fantasy, but the selection is very limited. There really isn't a lot of decent material out there.

But that is about to change...

[Gwalchmai]

I was baptized as a baby (don't ask me under what church because I don't know) and have preceded to go to church a grand total of 6 times in my entire life (19 years). And to tell you the truth... I really don't care about christianity or any other philosophy.

All that I know and need to know, is what creates a good caring person that would rather give than recive. So thats what I try to follow. If its not good enough and I am judged to hell, I will gladly go knowing full well that at least in this life I was a good person. So for me, I don't need or want the guidance of God and what not.

And I think Morgan Llywelyn said it best, "If it is against God's will, he knows how to stop me."

[Riothamus]

For myself, I'm what is called a Calvinist, which is basically someone who believes God's in charge--period. (Calvinism, for anyone to whom the term is Greek, is a branch of Reformed Christianity--Christianity having its roots in the Reformation. Protestant, and all that.) My salvation lies in nothing I do, but in God's free Grace. Et cetera. And yes, His claim is an exclusive one.
I read Lawhead primarily because I am interested in the religious imagination. To see little theological tidbits in, for instance, the Pendragon books, helps me deepen my own understanding of how belief relates to the world. I may agree or disagree with the way Lawhead states it, but to see the idea itself in some sort of context is invaluable. (And there's more in there than you would think--even a phrase like "Heaven willing" is packed with meaning.)

I have always found Stephen Lawheads books to contain a very human and basic message of Christianity one that is not too organised. This very much appeals to me.

Distrust of organization? But you're right--as far as I can see--in that he is very basic in the stated message. But there are lots of undercurrents and sub-themes that you miss out on if you're not looking deep enough.

I don’t know too much about Mr Lawheads life, even if he is a Christian or not, but I guess he is.

Correct. From the Q&A:

Q: I am an avid reader of your books, and cannot wait to read your new one. My question is, Do you consider yourself a Christian writer or a fantasy writer?

A: I am a Christian. I am a writer. Sometimes I write fantasy books.

[Incidentally, there's another reason I read Lawhead--he's a great writer! ;D ]

[twyrch]

Adam said:

I notice that many of the members on this board have strong religious convictions.

Myself I have a rather schizophrenic relationship with God or more to the point with religion.

From the age of about 15 years till my early 30’s I have actively been a Jehovah’s Witness. This is quite a strict and insular group, having no contact with other religions.

In the last year or so I stopped believing its message of being the only true religion. I don’t associate with any other group. I don’t think I want to either, at the moment anyway.

I have always found Stephen Lawheads books to contain a very human and basic message of Christianity one that is not too organised. This very much appeals to me.

I don’t know too much about Mr Lawheads life, even if he is a Christian or not, but I guess he is. How about everyone else on this board, do you read his books because you sense a Christian message in there? I would also love to know what faiths people who post here have?

Lawhead is a Christian and writes with that background but does not neccessarily attempt to "convert" people with his message in the story.

I loved his Song of Albion series the best. As for me, I am a Christian but I do not force my views on others. I prefer to allow people to see christ through my actions instead of my words.

I believe that is what happens with Lawhead's writings as well. Arguing over "who's religion is better" is only a way to start a flame war and cause hard feelings between members of a forum. For that reason, I stay out of the "debate" aspect to these threads...

[Dred]

I'm a Christian. I grew up going to a church most closely associated with Lutheran. I'm currently attending a Methodist church with my wife. We have been going there for a few years now.

I try to follow what the Bible says even though it is very, very difficult to hold to the straight and narrow.

Treating others as you wish to be treated is basic for me. I try to be nice to other people and let me actions speak for my beliefs.

I help out with a youth group at our church and am involved in small group studies on different topics.

I have always enjoyed Mr. Lawheads writing for many reasons. I believe he is a great writer and his message and story lines have always been wonderful. I don't know if I have a favorite series or book of his. I enjoy them all.

I thought Search for Fierra and Siege of Dome to be very different and enjoyable even though there was a darker tone to them.

[Child of Immanuel]

I'm a Christian!

The Celtic Crusades and Grail made me a little uncomfortable in the veneration of relics that goes on, but, as Riothamus pointed out to me, that is an essential part of the historical background and the story.

I wonder what denomination Mr. Lawhead belongs to? Not that it really matters, of course.

[dinadan]

Lawhead's vision of Celtic Christianity really, really appeals to me.

I've had kind of a turbulent course with religious also. I was raised Methodist, then went to Pentecostal, Evangelical, Non-Demoninational, Messianic Jew, and neopaganism.

I'm back to being nominally a Christian, but I haven't found "a church" or demonination to suit me. I've thought on an off about Islam a lot--but Islam's doctines on the Unity of God turn me off. I've also thought about Orthodoxy or Byzantine Rite Catholicism (basically the same, except BRC is in communion with the Pope...unfortunately, there are only 5 or so such churches in the US--if I ever move to Ravenna or Cyprus, I'll be fine).

[Child of Immanuel]

I attend a Baptist church... at least it's nominally Baptist. I believe that we are members of the American Baptists Organization or some such so that we can afford to pay our pastor.

I love my church. Basically, we follow what the New Testament says. (We use the OT as well). ;D

[skyparker]

I used to go to church, up until I was about 16.. but then I left to follow the lord, outside of our religious ways,.. though, countless times I've just found myself creating my own religious rules and whatnot in order to try to contain what I believe.. anyway, it's part of the journey, and I'm constantly learning from my faltering steps.. it's quite lovely actually..

I've loved lawheads books for almost as long as I can remember, my dad used to read them to me when I was quite young, and I've read them over and over again since then, I can really sense the truth shining through these stories mr lawhead shares with us..

[Daae]

I'm a Christian, and I was raised that way. I don't really belong to any denomination, but I currently go to an Assembly of God church. I believe that accepting Jesus as God's son and your savior is the only way to Heaven, and that shoving Hellfire and brimstone at someone is a really stupid way to get them to become a Christian.

[dinadan]

Here's my take on Salvation, for what it's worth:

Christianity, at its core, teaches that the nature of sacrfice is substitutive--hence the need for the Incarnation of God as the Christ, the crucifixion, the whole redemptive grace thing. Where modern Christianity has got it wrong has to do with this; we've gotten too focused on personal salvation, insisting that people "make themselves right with God" and have a "personal walk with Jesus Christ." This kind of self-centered salvation ideology robs Christianity of the kind of special power that it has; to function properly, Christians must understand that the "bearing of one another's burdens" isn't some metaphoric phrase meant to make the prose in the Bible prettier, but rather an exhortation to do just that. Substitutive salvation...I suppose the maxim that I'm getting at is "We cannot save ourselves, but each one of us can save everyone else." Hence why Christianity was orginally community-based. Hence why it was important to partake of the Eucharist together as one body--it was acknowledgement of the substitutive nature of Christ's sacrifice, sharing that substitution with one another.

Ok, I'm off the soap box.

[Riothamus]

Well, I'll agree that modern Christianity is too self-centered, and that bearing one another's burdens is a too oft neglected command. But

"We cannot save ourselves, but each one of us can save everyone else."

is taking it a bit far. The whole reason for the Incarnation was that man could in no way make expiation for sin: one can only take another's place if one is not already under the scentence of death. So that, if all men are fallen (and some might take issue on this, but let it pass,) then no man can "bear another's burdens" in the sense that you mean, because his own burden is too heavy. Only Christ, the God-Man, sinless and therefore not subject to death (only sinners die,) could successfully bear the sufferings, or burdens, of another in such a way that full payment was made for it.
I may be talking past your point, so I'll stop. ;D I think we do agree that less focus on self is needed today in the Christian world. (And the non-Christian one, for that matter.)

[Taliesin]

I'm a follower of Christ, a Christian Hedonist, and non denominational. I do agree with Calvinism mostly. I guess I'm a John Piper guy...that about sums me up. Take that as you will.