Stephenie Myers is the new JK Rowling! Her book series, Twilight, is taking America by storm. It is finding a ready audience among girls in Christian Schools and even those who claim to be Christian. It's a story about an independent-minded teen-aged girl who feels like an outsider, having moved to a new town and school. A girl who meets a mysterious boy who piques her interest.
The problem is that this boy, Edward, is a Vampire! Of course, he doesn't drink blood, he and his family have chosen not to do this -- although he is tempted on occasion, usually in response to heavy petting. But he IS immortal. He has enormous physical power: he can run faster than a mountain lion and stop moving cars with his bare hands.
The movie depicts threatening beer-toting males surrounding a lone girl on a dark street. A vampire bites the necks of his victims. Two men are chased, attacked and killed by vampires. One vampire is beheaded, dismembered and burned, presumably to create sympathy for Edward's plight as a member of a persecuted minority.
The movie is rated PG-13 because the truly gruesome events are off-screen or simply illustrated in a book. But the real danger is NOT in the violence. It's in the subtle seduction of our youth. The heroine is shown engaged in a near-obsessive attraction to Edward that pushes him to the edge of his self-control. She lies to her parents and friends, jeopardizes the safety of Edward and his family, wears a low-cut dress with the expressed intent of allure and kisses passionately in a bedroom. For love?
We are watching as our young children are being hurried into adult situations by an aggressive media, without parental control. Girls are increasingly seductive, both in fashion and in behavior. Boys are increasingly assaulted by graphic sexuality. Dating is looking more and more like marriage and children are having babies. (the out-of-wedlock birth rate is climbing again)
When do we say "enough!?" When do parents step up and take control? Why are we letting our children make adult decisions about romance and relationships? Because they look like adults?
The Wall Street Journal opined: "Twilight has targeted the collective soul of teenage America, and will surely have its way."
If the goal was to undermine Christianity, incite rebellion against parents, eradicate biblical values and spread moral chaos, surely this book / movie will do the trick. If your daughter is reading this "stuff" she is At Risk.
1 comment:
A couple of thoughts...1. It's Stephanie Meyer 2.It's J.K. Rowling. 3. "Although he is tempted on occasion, usually in response to heavy petting". That's just simply untrue. My assumption is that you have heard about the series, rather then having read it for yourself. The reality is that the character of Edward rarely even kisses Bella precisely because of his attraction for her. He feels that he would lose control and therefore restrains himself.
While I think there is much that is true in your comments regarding the moral condition of youth in this country. I believe you miss the mark when you say "If the goal was to undermine Christianity, incite rebellion against parents, eradicate biblical values and spread moral chaos, surely this book / movie will do the trick."
Certainly the books (I have read them all) are fluff, and I would not suggest that anyone go out and read them. I simply feel that you are incorrectly jumping on a bandwagon in order to advance your own agenda. The trouble that I am having is that, for the most part, I agree that young men and women in this country are at risk. And that parents need to step up and be in charge. Yet I cannot agree with your use of this series as a post from which to launch. Very little research is required to find things that are beyond the pale "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" and "Gossip Girl" readily spring to mind as do numerous book series. I think your points are valid, but they are misdirected in this case.
Post a Comment