Can a Christian Fantasy Writer Create a Fictional God Character?

As a Christian fantasy writer, the idea of creating a fictional god character might seem like a bold and permissible choice. However, there are nuances and considerations to weigh carefully before embarking on such a journey. This article explores the potential challenges and strategies for successfully portraying a fictional god in your book, while also respecting the boundaries of both faith and literary credibility.

Creating a Credible Fictional God Character

The concept of a fictional god character can be both exhilarating and daunting. Whether you are aiming to stay true to Christian beliefs or explore unique takes on divinity, the key lies in how you present this character. Creating a god that resonates with your audience requires careful thought and substantial effort.

Thinking Outside the Box: Sherlock Holmes as an Analogy

Take, for example, the character of Sherlock Holmes. He is celebrated for his intellectual prowess and unorthodox methods. While creators might be tempted to portray a god with all-the-knowing abilities, the reality often falls short. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the author of Sherlock Holmes, provided a fascinating yet flawed portrayal of intelligence. His approach involved making the clues invisible to the reader, thereby requiring the reader to infer the solution alongside Watson, rather than being privy to the exact path of Holmes' thought.

Similarly, in the realm of mystery writing, Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple often follow suit, showcasing a narrative technique in which key information is intentionally hidden from the reader. This method ensures that the readers are engaged and challenged, rather than passive observers.

Balancing Brilliance with Humility: The Limits of Presentation

The challenge with fictional gods is that, unless you are creating a character that is widely considered a parody, it is incredibly difficult to capture the essence of a divine being without it feeling forced or trite. Not every writer can pull off the portrayal of such prodigious intellect. The efforts required to convincingly describe a godlike character are immense and often go unnoticed without the audience's deliberate effort to understand and appreciate them.

Flaws and Imperfections in Greek and Roman Mythology

One of the strengths of Greek and Roman mythologies is the portrayal of their deities as flawed and human-like. These gods are described through the eyes of mortal characters, which provides a relatable perspective. Nevertheless, even this approach requires significant effort to convey the divine quality without reducing the character to an archetype or a mere tool for the plot.

When it comes to creating a fictional god, the task becomes even more complex. Regardless of whether your god possesses all-knowing abilities or not, the character must still feel genuine and not overly simplistic. This level of complexity might prove overwhelming for most writers, leading to a character that is either overly cheesy or irrelevant to the story.

The Critique of Supernatural Intelligence

The critique of attempting to describe intellectually superior aliens is notably harsh; to write a god-level character would be even more challenging. The risk is high that your god character could end up either as an object of derision or as an entirely relatable character who lacks the divine spark. While these might be interesting perspectives, they may not fulfill the aspirations you have for creating a meaningful and impactful fictional god.

Strategies for Success

To increase the likelihood of success in creating a fictional god character, consider the following strategies:

Understand the Boundaries of Your Faith: Ensure that your portrayal does not conflict with the core beliefs of your faith. Respecting these boundaries can help in crafting a character that resonates with your audience without causing offense. Subtle and Relatable Traits: Focusing on the subtleties of a god character's behavior and actions can make them more relatable. Highlighting moments of vulnerability or humanity can make the character more three-dimensional without diminishing their divine qualities. Consistent Effort and Revisions: Writing a god character requires an enormous amount of effort and multiple revisions. Showcasing the process and the evolution of this character over time can make the portrayal seem authentic and meaningful.

The real question to ask is not whether you can create a fictional god character but how adept you are at writing even a low-stratum version of a god. Success in this endeavor requires diligent work, a deep understanding of human and divine traits, and the ability to balance the extraordinary with the believable.