But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.  1 Peter 3: 14-16

Speculative Faith - Apologetic Report
Tuesday, 20 December 2016 02:00

The Christmas Story: The First Epic Tale

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image A bloodthirsty tyrant. A group of “mages” from the East. Otherworldly messengers. A child of humble birth whose deeds would one day save the earth. Sounds like the basic premise for three-quarters of the fantasy novels ever written. And yet, it’s anything but a...

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Tuesday, 15 November 2016 02:00

The Need for Diversity in Christian Fiction

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How many books have you read that stood out in a way so different it was startling? How many of those books were written by Christian authors? Admittedly, I haven’t read a ton of “Christian” fiction (by which I mean stories that proclaim a Christian worldview). From the...

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Wednesday, 02 November 2016 06:00

Liturgy and Lunacy

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It's a sad truth that the Church is a very fractured stained glass window. As with all major religions, Christianity has many denominations, sects, rituals, centers of leadership. It is not my place to judge which denomination is best aligned with God's vision for His bride or which group of people...

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Thursday, 27 October 2016 04:45

Jack Chick, This Was Your Life

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Remember those cartoon evangelism tracts by Jack Chick, who most famously wrote “This Was Your Life” and other comic-strip-oriented literature intended to help save souls? On Monday . Christianity Todaylater reported it. Perhaps now, as the...

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Monday, 24 October 2016 13:17

When Christians Vacate An Industry

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image "Roy Rogers was a Christian who was not ashamed to witness for his Lord." [/caption]Shocking as it may seem to some, Christians were once a visible part of the motion picture industry. Christians also peopled state houses and even the...

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Monday, 17 October 2016 12:14

Prattle

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I have a lot going through my head today, and to be honest, much is unrelated to speculative fiction. Some is, but not the bulk. So I decided today I'd prattle. Here's a snapshot of what's on my mind. Saturday I celebrated the life of a friend . . . at her memorial service. She'd lived with...

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Wednesday, 05 October 2016 06:00

Who vs. What

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The debate over which is more important, character or plot, is hardly fresh territory. It is a highly subjective topic and everyone has valid reasons for why they support this or that side of the argument. Even this website has hosted discussions on this issue, but since it is such a critical...

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Wednesday, 28 September 2016 06:27

Pushing (Your) Boundaries

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I recently discovered that I wanted more edginess in Christian fiction. It came as a surprise. I’d always been so uninvolved in that particular argument before. It hasn’t escaped any of you that the world of Christian writers and readers, especially in the speculative fiction genre,...

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Tuesday, 27 September 2016 08:36

10 Presidential Candidates from Fiction

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Rumor has it there was a debate of some sort last night. Big stage, big names…Trump. Hillary. Say what you will about the state of our country, the options we have for leaders, the general annoyance with this entire election season. This isn’t meant to be a politically charged post....

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Monday, 26 September 2016 13:22

Characters Matter, And Their Character Matters

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In a Writer's Digest interview some years ago about how to write fantasy, author Steven Harper Piziks demonstrated that characters matter. He named five books he would recommend to fantasy writers and explained why he felt they were important. One thing jumped out at me from his list---he...

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Friday, 16 September 2016 04:34

Fiction Friday – The Mermaid’s Sister by Carrie Anne Noble

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imageThe Mermaid's Sister

by Carrie Anne Noble

2016 Realm Award for Best Speculative Fiction

  Introduction WHAT REVIEWERS ARE SAYING "There are elements of fantasy, romance, and adventure throughout [The Mermaid's Sister]. The book is a page-turner; the story pulls the reader in and...

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Wednesday, 14 September 2016 22:30

Christian White Magic: Q and A, part 3

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Riddle me this: what is the only acceptable form of Christian white magic? Answer: God’s spell! With this truth in mind, and I hope also with the true and saving Gospel of Jesus Christ in mind, let’s finish this series that fleshes out Six Christian Spells Worse than Fantasy Magic....

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Wednesday, 14 September 2016 00:11

Fame is Fugacious

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imageNot long ago, I took a vocabulary quiz. In the process of it, I learned two new words, avulse and fugacious. It struck me as unfortunate that I would have to look long and hard for an opportunity to use avulse, and I would probably never get a chance to use fugacious at all. They’re just too...

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Monday, 12 September 2016 15:34

Courage, Dear Heart

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We’re all afraid of something. It may be something big, or it might be something small. Often, it’s both. Our fears come in all shapes and sizes.
  • Fear of failure
  • Fear of criticism
  • Fear of heights
  • Fear of bats
  • Fear of the dark
One of my greatest fears is speaking in public. Take my...

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Wednesday, 07 September 2016 22:00

Girls und Panzer: Ridiculous Anime Brings Real Heart

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Sometimes Japanese media can have some strange ideas for premises. Sometimes these ideas are delightfully ridiculous and intended to be taken as such. Other times the ridiculous premises are actually intended to be taken seriously. Whether or not this works on the how well the production team can...

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Tuesday, 06 September 2016 02:50

The Qualities of a Hero

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What does it mean to be a hero?  Ask ten different people, and you’ll probably end up with a handful of different answers. Every bookworm and movie junkie is well-acquainted with that small word: hero. But down in the dust, dirt, and toil of Storyville, what does this mean? I love...

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Monday, 05 September 2016 05:37

Christian Speculative Fiction News Of Note

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When presenting news of note, what could be news-ier than the announcement of the Spec Faith 2016 Summer Writing Challenge winner? Congratulations to Bethany A. Jennings for her first place finish in an incredibly tight vote. I'll be contacting her to see if she wants her gift card prize from...

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Thursday, 01 September 2016 23:36

Christian White Magic: Q and A, part 2

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We’ve explored six Christian white magic “spells” and Christian white magic definitions. Now, what about some of the general questions or challenges, especially to the first article?

1. Doesn’t God want Christians to have health, wealth, or success?

In Six Christian...

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Wednesday, 31 August 2016 21:30

Christian White Magic: Q and A, part 1

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Last week’s article about Christian white magic may have put the wand before the wizard. I ended up exploring the what of Christian white magic, while skipping over the whys. Of course, that’s what comments sections (at their best) are for—to allow give-and-take, clarity,...

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Tuesday, 30 August 2016 23:11

‘Pete’s Dragon’ Gentle, Thoughtful Fantasy

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Despite the old and no doubt wise saying, Disney canon clearly holds that being raised by wolves is not injurious to childhood development. This is one of the lessons of The Jungle Book, another being that if a ferocious man-hating tiger gets your calling card, you cannot lose if you arm yourself...

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Tuesday, 30 August 2016 03:02

Should Heroes Be Good Role Models?

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A story is nothing without a solid hero to carry it. They’re the ones we relate to most closely. We cheer for them and expect them to accomplish great things. Because of this attention, should they act as positive role models, or can they display a darker, more disturbed side without...

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Thursday, 25 August 2016 22:40

Unlocking the Theme of A Cast of Stones

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I’m not even sure I could have told you the theme of my first series, “The Staff and the Sword,” even after the last book came out. But I can tell you that I started the first book, A Cast of Stones, and set it aside for three years because I didn’t have a theme. I could...

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Wednesday, 24 August 2016 21:30

Six Christian White Magic Spells Worse Than Fantasy Magic

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Recently a Facebook friend shared an example of Christian white magic in the real world. [caption id="attachment_3189" align="alignright" width="154"]image You'll never guess what magic book it was.[/caption] His family owned a “book of magic,” a fantasy novel. That wasn’t the...

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Tuesday, 23 August 2016 04:59

The Shadow Vintage Radio Drama vs. Kindness That Kills

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The Shadow is an iconic figure whose history dates back to pulp fiction magazines and became popularized over radio. The show often dealt with strange and occasionally supernatural creatures. One would expect that the January 22, 1939 radio episode, “Valley of the Living Dead” was a...

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Monday, 22 August 2016 04:18

Spec Faith 2016 Summer Writing Challenge – Evaluation Phase

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The Spec Faith 2016 Summer Writing Challenge is now closed to new entries. We received a good number of interesting and entertaining stories, some coming in over the weekend. We want those "last minute" entries to have a fair shot at moving on to the finals, so please take time to read and give...

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