A GREAT WAY TO PORTRAY SPIRITUALITY

What a great way to express new insights! Fantasy! A story! Books of fantasy certainly centered my attention in my youth. I remember thoroughly enjoying the adventures of Captain Blood and Scaramouche by Rafael Sabatini. At a later age I was fascinated by William Shakespeare’s shipwreck tale, The Tempest.

     Some fantasy stories attract a huge following. Consider the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling, the J. R. R. Tolkien Lord of the Ring series, and George Lucas’ Star Wars. Furthermore, stories like these can be seen to have implications at a spiritual level. A Christian perspective of these three fantasy sequences has been described by Russell W. Dalton in his book, Faith Journey Though Fantasy Lands. However, as he notes, the primary emphasis of these is the story. The spiritual quality is incidental. On the other hand, several books by C. S. Lewis present a spiritual perspective of Christianity as a central part of the fantasy presentation.

     A fantasy narrative can attract a large number of readers that have a wide variety of spiritual orientations. For people with many types of spiritual background, the use of fantasy narrative is a fine way to stimulate openness toward and understanding of new points of view. A fantasy setting in spirituality presentations provides a light touch that is both valuable and entertaining in making difficult topics easily accessible for readers. It is a way for people to explore ideas that may not come easily to their awareness. It is up to authors of this genre to find a way for readers to explore new ideas without being dictatorial or preaching, and using a fantasy setting is one way to do that.

     An example is presented of a use of fantasy narrative that, with a few words, can broaden perspective in an easily accessible way. The passage is from Wiley's Discovery – A Fantasy Search for God, by the author of this article. It concerns a fantasy character who uses abstract words that point to ineffability of God.

Praying Mantis: God is the Absolute.

Wiley: The Absolute? The Absolute what? What do you mean?

Praying Mantis: If you have to ask, it must seem strange to you.

Wiley: Right. I don’t know why you call God the Absolute.

Praying Mantis: It’s quite clear. First let me say that the Absolute is an impressive word. It sounds powerful. I’ll give you another word that can be used. The Absolute means the Ultimate—that which is the source of all meaning. You cannot know the Absolute beyond that. It means something vague and important and unknowable. It is a mystery. Belief in God, the Absolute, involves a sense of mystery.

     The light touch in this passage allows the reader to either believe or disbelieve what is said. Some would value God, the Absolute, as mystery. A skeptic might say the term Absolute is meaningless and possibly add: “What would it mean? Perfect? Perfect what?” For both those who feel the word Absolute is valuable as a metaphysical term and those who do not, it is possible through the use of fantasy for the reader to gain ready access to the material presented. It can even be said that a fantasy story draws one into an unfolding awareness of the tale with its accompanying concepts.

     The use of graphics to illustrate points in the fantasy realm also provides an opportunity to explore sometimes shocking or controversial ideas without alienating the reader. They create a way to reflect on what has always been believed to be true, yet may not be. For instance, the illustrations in Wiley's Discovery show headstones with strange inscriptions:

"No Meaning of Life"

"No Significance"

"Ask and No Answer."

     It is up to the reader to delve further into the spiritual meanings of these inscriptions in the context of their own understanding. However, it can be said that such messages might ordinarily cause dismay at the indication of meaninglessness of existence. The setting of a fantasy story makes it easier to feel enough apart from such prospect that the thought of meaninglessness can be considered as a possibility. Furthermore, if or when a more valid understanding of meaning is later revealed in the narrative, it will be realized from a broader base of experience.

     The use of a fantasy narrative setting is valuable for presenting a wide variety of insights about various spiritual orientations and facilitates the path for the reader to find his or her own solution.

     About Wiley's Discovery – A Fantasy Search for God (Creek Publishing, 2007):

     Virtual Valley-Meaning Meadow-Blind Commitment Cave. The stuff of dreams. This story is not real; it is a fantasy quest. Wiley is traveling by train to his doctor's office. He may face news that his death is imminent. On the trip Wiley drifts to sleep and dreams of a search for God and meaning. However, as a skeptic, Wiley is not sure God actually exists. We follow his adventure because we ourselves may also wonder about the existence of God and the meaning of life.

     As stated in the foreword by Michael Cavanaugh, past president of The Institute on Religion in an Age of Science, “I think you will soon agree with me that the story you are about to read is delightful, scientifically accurate, and easily communicates some ideas that are just flat hard to get across in a meaningful way.”

     This valuable book is available through local bookstores, Amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, QP Distribution (888-281-5170).

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