Book Review: The Twilight Gospel by Dave Roberts

***This review is part of a LitFuse Blog Tour. I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher, but the opinions in this post are my own.***

As a Christian, I have often sat back in bewilderment at other Christians and the way that some of them sometimes behave. One area that has often amazed me is some of the literature that is taboo among some Christians. My personal feelings regarding many of these books is that God has given us the gift of discernment and we should use that gift to help us differentiate between what is good and what is bad and that includes within works of literature. I am not one that believes in throwing out the baby with the bathwater so to speak and will often read these books for both the entertainment value as well as the literary lessons that they may hold. They are not presented to us as factual and therefore I do not read them believing the story to be true.

One series of books that has recently taken much criticism from some Christians is the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer. I admit, I have not read any of the series, but I have enjoyed the first two movies. When I had the opportunity to review The Twilight Gospel by Dave Roberts, I felt it would be interesting to read a book that was designed to serve as a sort of spiritual guide for those who wanted to read/watch the Twilight series or for parents whose children were reading/watching it.

About the book: The blockbuster Twilight Saga is being read by teenager and adult alike. These powerful novels are gaining even more popularity as the movies hit theaters. But what should a Christian response be? And is there a helpful way to approach a teenager or young adult captivated with the books without alienating her?

Dave Roberts read The Twilight Saga and while he appreciated the literary qualities, there were also parts that troubled him. As he considered the books as a whole and spoke to teenagers who read them, he saw the need for a resource. In The Twilight Gospel Dave brings to bear a Biblical lens showing that while there are important moral and spiritual lessons to be learned, there is also a promotion of a non-Christian worldview. He addresses such topics as the cult of beauty, the appeal of the self-disciplined vampire Edward, life after death, the use of myths and legends, sexuality, personal spiritual power, and the lure of materialism.

Crisply written and with a gracious spirit, The Twilight Gospel will help teens, their parents, and their pastors discern what is good from what is unhealthy in the novels and equip them to be biblically literate readers. Read an excerpt here.

About the author: Dave Roberts is a professional journalist, editor and speaker. For more information please visit his website at www.thinkchristian.co.uk.

My take on the book: The Twilight Gospel is an easy read and can be finished rather quickly. It is definitely a recommended read for any parent who has concerns regarding Christianity and the Twilight series, as well as for those teens who are reading Twilight. It does a great job of helping to separate the wheat from the chaff and ensuring that a reader would recognize the difference. It also allows the reader to see the series, especially the Cullen family, from a new perspective. If you are not a Christian and a Twilight fan, you would probably not get much out of this book.

To read more reviews of The Twilight Gospel, visit the blog tour page on LitFuse.

Want to win a $50 Amazon gift card? (I am not affiliated with this giveaway, just sharing it with you): Tweet this: (and be sure to use the hashtag #thetwilightgospel)

Understand cultural and Biblical insights surrounding the Twilight Saga by reading #TheTwilightGospel. Please RT! http://ow.ly/1vjc6p