by Kevin Bauder | May 13, 2022 | In the Nick of Time
[This essay was originally published on June 29, 2012.] When you ask people, “Who are you?” they usually answer first by giving you their name. A name, however, is only a label. It does not reveal the identity of the person to whom it is attached. If you...
by Kevin Bauder | May 6, 2022 | Fantasy Literature, In the Nick of Time
The Bible certainly distinguishes sources of the supernatural. Some supernatural events are caused by God. Others are caused by Satan and his forces. Satan is the prince of the power of the air and the god of this age. He and his demons can do things that are beyond...
by Kevin Bauder | Apr 29, 2022 | Fantasy Literature, In the Nick of Time
Many Christians who do not see a problem with fantasy per se are nevertheless troubled by the presence of magic in some fantastic writing. In the Christian view, real magic has exactly one source: Satan and his demons. To trifle with any form of magic (even the...
by Kevin Bauder | Apr 22, 2022 | Fantasy Literature, In the Nick of Time
We have seen that fantasy can be a powerful tool for communication. It allows us to suggest ideas imaginatively that might be resisted if they were stated explicitly. It allows us to engage sensibilities that might remain unaffected by more prosaic discourse. It...
by Kevin Bauder | Apr 15, 2022 | Fantasy Literature, In the Nick of Time
Over the past couple of essays we have seen two biblical examples of fantasy being used in fable. Can we learn anything about fantasy by studying these examples? I believe the answer is yes; these biblical fables offer several lessons. The first is fairly obvious:...
