#16 - 'New Moon,' New Opportunity

[Just to let you know: I haven't been posting on this blog for several months because my health has become such that it's become difficult to be at the computer for very long. I'd appreciate your prayers that at least by the beginning of the new year, my health will return to where I can be well enough to keep this blog updated more regularly. Thank you.]

A Twilight Discussion Guide
By Molly Wyer|Published Date: November 17, 2009 (found at the Breakpoint.com website)

It’s opening night for New Moon, the second installment of the Twilight series. A line outside the theater is fairly buzzing with eager anticipation. In front, a young girl holds her mother’s hand and two Barbie dolls—Bella and Edward, of course. The mother seems almost more excited about the movie than her daughter is. Far more striking, though, is the sea of teenage faces: guys in heavy white face make-up and dark eye-liner, and girls with a bit of blood where they’ve been “bitten.” And this is just the local theater—not the premiere!

Stephenie Meyer’s young adult series tells the story of Bella Swan (a girl in her late teens) and Edward Cullen (a vampire who has been 17 for almost a century). Bella is klutzy and introverted. Edward is unbelievably handsome—but also strangely attracted to the smell of Bella’s blood. The forbidden romance between this unlikely pair develops over four lengthy novels: Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn. New Moon, the second of the books to be made into a major motion picture, has already sold out in over 60 theaters nationwide. It’s safe to say Twilight is popular. So if your son or daughter wants to go see the movie, you won’t be surprised. But what do you say?

There are several reasons why you may not want to see this movie, or allow your kids to see it. Despite the so-called abstinence message of these books, while Edward and Bella remain virgins before their marriage, they continually push the envelope on physical intimacy. Additionally, the positive portrayal of the main vampires in the saga (the Cullens, for example) could tend to glamorize vampirism in the real world. Vampirism can be practiced as a cult (followers have been known to drink each others’ blood and commit other horrific acts).

Further, Meyer’s Mormon beliefs certainly influence the story—this can be seen, for instance, in the emphasis on secret knowledge. Only the privileged few are allowed to see reality as it “truly” is—in this story of course, vampires and werewolves are the secret, instead of principles of the Mormon faith.

But if you decide to let your kids watch the movies (or read the books)—or, if your reading club wants to do either—here are some thoughts on how to turn the experience into a jumping off point for discussing deeper issues with your teens or your friends, rather than a cultural dead-end.

The Appeal of Edward

In the Twilight books and in the movies, Edward Cullen is depicted as godlike in his physical beauty. But beyond his flawless physique, what qualities does he possess that would make him a good mate? Does he have traits that would make him undesirable as a spouse? One of Edward’s positive qualities is his faithfulness to Bella. Even in New Moon, when he breaks up with her so that she will (he hopes) be able to lead a normal life again, Edward does not forget Bella and move on to “the next girl”—his love for her is far deeper than that. Another admirable quality is his self-control. Edward never allows himself to put Bella’s life in danger; he never permits his physical desires to overcome his reason (at least, not completely).

On the other hand, Edward is highly controlling. In one instance, he bribes his sister Alice (with a yellow Porsche, no less) to kidnap Bella in order to keep her from hanging out with her werewolf friend Jacob, whom Edward considers dangerous. Usually, what Edward forces Bella into is for her own safety, but such tyrannous behavior is hardly conducive to a functional relationship between two equals. Another downside to Edward’s character is the fact that he is perfectly willing to go along with Bella as she deceives her father about the depth and intimacy of their relationship.

What qualities should someone look for in a spouse? Use Edward’s strengths and flaws to help your kids think about seeing beyond the superficial in relationships to qualities that are really lasting. Or, if you see the movie with a group of friends who are married, take time for each of you to talk about what attracted you to your spouse.

The Allure of Evil

In Romans 12:9, Paul instructs the Roman Christians to “hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” Why is it then that, even as we are repelled by evil, we also feel secretly fascinated by it? This tension is often apparent in the Twilight books. The answer is two-fold. Perhaps most obviously, man’s view of reality is distorted by the fall. Ever since Eve reached for the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, humans (even believers) have struggled with the lure of what is forbidden. We are intrigued by what we are told we should not do or know—we want to be like God, knowing good and evil.

Even though Bella knows that Edward is (especially at the beginning) constantly tempted to drink her blood, she does not pull back from the danger. Instead, this terrifying possibility seems almost to add an edge of excitement and danger to their relationship. While Edward himself is not “evil,” his vampiric attraction to blood is clearly wrong—yet Bella wants to become a vampire (albeit a “vegetarian” vampire) as well. She longs for what is forbidden.

A second reason that humans are sometimes drawn toward evil is that, oftentimes, it doesn’t appear to be evil on the surface. For example, almost all of the vampires in these books are creatures of unearthly beauty. Yet this very beauty can sometimes be used to attract humans—or “prey.” We are told in the Bible that the devil himself “masquerades as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14). If we are not careful, we can be taken in by things that appear to be perfectly harmless (or even very good), yet are actually harmful to our Christian walk.

Discuss with your friends or your teens how Bella’s fascination with vampires and her desire to become one mirrors the way we are often tempted to reach for “forbidden fruit” in our own lives. Also, talk about the ways that evil can disguise itself so that it appears to be a good thing. How do we, as Christians, avoid being duped by the wiles of Satan? Consider the example of the Bereans in Acts 17:11, who compared what Paul taught them with the Scriptures, to see if what he said was actually true.

The Inadequacy of Abstinence

In Psalm 119:9, David asks, “How can a young man keep his way pure?” He answers himself: “By living according to Your Word.” Since neither Bella nor Edward has God’s Word to guide their actions, it is surprising that they manage to remain abstinent until their marriage. Actually, all the abstinence is Edward’s idea, thanks in part to his fear of physically hurting Bella. Despite his reservations, Edward has no problem becoming physically involved, as long as it is contained with in certain defined limits.

God calls us to chastity, not just abstinence. Abstinence says, “I will remain a virgin until I get married.” Chastity says, “I will keep not just my actions, but my thoughts and emotions above reproach, whether I am married or single.” As Paul reminds his audience in Philippians 4:8, we are to think on “whatever is pure, whatever is lovely.” We need to get our thoughts focused on what God calls us to, as opposed to what we not allowed to do.

Think about this with your kids or friends: Was David just talking about saving sexual intimacy for marriage when he was reflecting on “keeping his way pure”? What happens after someone is married if he or she feels an attraction to someone other than his or her spouse? If that person has only developed minimal self-control before marriage, how is he going to restrain himself physically, much less emotionally and mentally, after marriage?

The Importance of Community

Edward and Bella’s romance is undeniably compelling. But how should we view the way they go about it? Bella’s dad, Charlie, has no idea how intense his daughter’s relationship with Edward is. If Charlie knew that Edward spent almost every night in her room, he would ground Bella for life (not that he could really keep a vampire out, but Charlie knows nothing about the whole vampire thing, either). Even though Bella and Edward are not being promiscuous, the level of intimacy that they develop fairly rapidly in their relationship is troubling, especially given that they reach this point without the knowledge of Bella’s parents or non-vampire friends.

While God did create man and woman to be together, He did not plan for this to happen in a vacuum of other relationships. As humans, we are part of an intricate web of interpersonal ties: our relationship with God, our relationships with our parents, siblings, friends, fellow-believers, etc. All of these connections should serve as safeguards when we are heading into a romantic relationship.

Bella lacks a depth of relationship with anyone other than the Cullens and her werewolf friend, Jacob, who is too emotionally involved with her to be much help for advice or accountability. Her dad is there, but she has gotten too deeply involved in things she has decided she cannot tell him. She simply has not invested in many other relationships.

Discuss some ways you can hold one another accountable (even if romantic relationships are not the issue) while still showing love.

The Impact of Imagination

Ultimately, choosing whether to read or watch (or allow your child to read or watch) the Twilight saga is a personal decision based on personal convictions. If you do decide to take the plunge, make sure that you use this opportunity to engage your kids and/or friends in some discussions that might not otherwise come up. The Twilight series has the capability to awaken people’s imaginations—and that power can be either harmful or helpful. If we as Christians can use this story to help our friends and/or children understand God and His principles better, as well as to build relationships, then we have succeeded. In Psalm 139:12, the psalmist writes of God, “Darkness is as light to You.” The transforming power of God’s truth can lighten even the deep darkness of a world haunted by vampires and werewolves, and use this world too for good.

Molly Wyer is a BreakPoint editorial assistant and a senior at Patrick Henry College in Virgina.