Monsters Without, Monsters Within: And the Twilight Zone of Imaginative Literature

Monsters Monsters Without, Without, Monsters Within:Monsters Within:

And the Twilight And the Twilight Zone of Imaginative Zone of Imaginative

LiteratureLiterature

““My mommy always My mommy always said there were no said there were no monsters. monsters. No real ones. But there No real ones. But there

are."are." Newt: Newt:

lone survivor of a space lone survivor of a space colony in the Sci Fi film: colony in the Sci Fi film:

AliensAliens

What is a Monster?What is a Monster?

1 a1 a :: an animal or plant of an animal or plant of abnormal form or structure abnormal form or structure bb :: one one who deviates from normal or who deviates from normal or acceptable behavior or characteracceptable behavior or character

22 :: a threatening force a threatening force

Pronunciation:Pronunciation: 'män(t)-st&r'män(t)-st&rFunction:Function: nounnoun Etymology:Etymology: Middle English Middle English monstre, monstre, from Middle French, from Latin from Middle French, from Latin monstrum monstrum omen, monster, from omen, monster, from monEre monEre to to warn -- more at MIND (Date: 14th century)warn -- more at MIND (Date: 14th century)

Monster Defined Monster Defined Continued:Continued:

3 a3 a :: an animal of strange or an animal of strange or terrifying shape terrifying shape bb :: one unusually one unusually large for its kindlarge for its kind

44 :: something monstrous; something monstrous; especiallyespecially :: a person of unnatural a person of unnatural or extreme ugliness, deformity, or extreme ugliness, deformity, wickedness, or crueltywickedness, or cruelty

55 :: one that is highly successful one that is highly successful

Are Monsters Real?Are Monsters Real?

If we define them as anything which If we define them as anything which deviates from the norm—yes.deviates from the norm—yes.

If we define them as beings of If we define them as beings of extreme wickedness or cruelty–yes.extreme wickedness or cruelty–yes.

If we define them as an animal of If we define them as an animal of unusually large for its kind—yes.unusually large for its kind—yes.

If we define them as beings of If we define them as beings of supernatural malevolence—yes.supernatural malevolence—yes.

Real Monsters:Real Monsters:

What About Supernatural What About Supernatural Monsters? Yes!Monsters? Yes!

For we wrestle not against flesh and For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places in high places (Ephesians 6:12).(Ephesians 6:12).

Ye are of God, little children, and have Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world that is in you, than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4).(1 John 4:4).

What Other Kind of What Other Kind of Monsters Are there?Monsters Are there?

The Monsters of MythThe Monsters of Myth The Monsters of Fantasy (and Science The Monsters of Fantasy (and Science

Fiction)Fiction)

Monsters of the Monsters of the ImaginationImagination

Monsters of the Monsters of the ImaginationImagination

So These Monsters So These Monsters are Imaginative and are Imaginative and thus thus Not RealNot Real—no —no problem for problem for Christians, Right?Christians, Right?

Well it depends on Well it depends on one’s World View,one’s World View,

One’s “Cosmology of One’s “Cosmology of Belief”Belief”

A Literal, Fundamentalist View of Belief Systems

The Only Truth is that which The Only Truth is that which comes from the direct revelation comes from the direct revelation of God first through the Jews, of God first through the Jews, then through Jesus and finally then through Jesus and finally through the Fathers of New through the Fathers of New Testament Church:Testament Church: All other belief systems since they are false, come from All other belief systems since they are false, come from

Satan. Intended to delude.Satan. Intended to delude. Thus Wicca is Satanic because it is outside of the true Thus Wicca is Satanic because it is outside of the true

belief system.belief system. So is Greek Mythology, Norse Mythology and Celtic So is Greek Mythology, Norse Mythology and Celtic

Mythology—all perversions, all SatanicMythology—all perversions, all Satanic So is Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam and even the Jewish faith So is Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam and even the Jewish faith

since it has failed to recognize the Messiah-ship of Christ. since it has failed to recognize the Messiah-ship of Christ.

The Exclusive Nature Endemic to Those Who Are Certain

““Essencalism”Essencalism”

A word or an idea has A word or an idea has qualities organic to qualities organic to

itselfitself

What is the most evil What is the most evil symbol of the 20symbol of the 20thth Century?Century?

What Does this Mean?What Does this Mean?