On Fiction and the Christian: Emotion

What we read affects our thoughts and behavior—sometimes subtly changing our perceptions of ideas and sometimes rather obviously changing our emotions and, thus, actions.  For instance, when I read a sad or hopeless story, I feel depressed for hours afterward.  When I finish a great story or triumphant scene, I feel euphoric and energetic for the remainder of the day.  Vice-versa, if I read a distasteful scene, I might feel polluted and upset the whole day, and even months afterward any time I think of it.  If I read about a character’s unjust situation—especially if I stop reading before its resolution—I may take my anger and helpless feelings out on the people or things around me.  However, alternately, when I read about someone’s suffering, I may feel compassionate toward real people I hear of or meet in such circumstances and may be more apt to offer help.  When I read stories of attacks and battles or survival situations, I feel warier and more mindful of how to act in dangerous situations.  On the other hand, the romance novels I read as a teen increased my desire for a relationship, and once I was in one, such stories increased my urgency to rush into dating and marriage too soon; even Christian romance novels sometimes made me place the “need” for a husband over the need to let God be sufficient for me in my singleness—or later, to let God be the head of our relationship.

I don’t think it’s inherently wrong for fiction to make us feel emotions.  Aristotle, who though not a Christian had many worthy ideas, discussed a concept called “catharsis”—a cleansing of emotion that people experience when they watch plays.  Similarly, fiction allows us to vicariously experience life, and through our emotional reactions, not unlike behavioral conditioning, it teaches us to avoid behaviors that lead to grief and to act out behaviors that lead to lasting happiness.  Naturally, this mental conditioning argues in favor of avoiding books that model ungodly behaviors as though they were good and preferable.  However, as seen above, even godly-minded books can evoke emotions that prompt us to sin.  Thus, we need to discipline ourselves to put down books for a time—or for good—when they begin to affect us overmuch, and like any time sin tempts us, we must take time to prayerfully realign our emotions and attitudes as needed so they do not lead us to sin.