Comments on: Christians and Vampire Mythology

By: TheoFantastique | A meeting place for myth, imagination, and mystery in pop culture.

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 23:25:38 +0000

[...] “Christians and Vampire Mythology” [...]

By: John W. Morehead

John W. Morehead — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 22:22:14 +0000

Notarius, thank you for sharing this link. Certainly this is how many evangelicals relate to vampires, and in the context of the article, this is an example of it in the UK which would not doubt parallel the U.S. response, but as my blog indicates, it is not the only way Christians relate to vampires.

By: Notarius Clericus

Notarius Clericus — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 21:00:08 +0000

Have a look at this link if you want to know how Christians relate to Vampires.

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/localnews/Author-of-39the-most-terrifying39.6565658.jp

By: John Morehead

John Morehead — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 22:40:48 +0000

Pink Lady, I think you’re on to something in your last paragraph of your comments. I think a balanced examination of the vampire mythos from a Christian perspective might turn out far differently than many conservative Protestants might assume. And I usually don’t share my perspectives on these topics, or this blog, with the “‘normal’ kin” for a variety of reasons.

By: the Pink Lady

the Pink Lady — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 20:07:49 +0000

Tracey Bateman wrote a novel called Thirsty, where the protagonist is an alcoholic struggling with rehab and Christian faith who happens to meet a vampire. This book suffers from the same problem that plagues most Xian fic I’ve encountered: heavy-handed religion. (The few that don’t fall into this category use “faith” as a theme to sell books, like Jason Elam’s Monday Night Jihad.)

Rather than hammer on the hated Twilight (as others have done much better elsewhere) I say it’s high time for a Judeo-Christian themed examination of the vampire mythos. Trouble is, religious practictioners in the subculture are too afraid of what their “normal” kin will think if they come out as religious blooddrinkers. Including me.

By: Justin

Justin — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 19:10:04 +0000

“Thanks for your thoughts, Justin. I needed to express my perspective here since I ran into a brick wall with comments at the CT article site. On this and other issues I am out of step with evangelicals, and increasingly feel like I belong on the Island of Misfit Christians.”

Yeah, I read those comments. It’s kind of hard to argue with people who are so narrow minded they would call The Chronicles of Narnia evil.

By: admin

admin — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 03:39:43 +0000

Thank you as well for your kind comments about my post, and to the vampire community for boosting my blog hits for the day with their interest. I find it amazing that many vampires, esotericists, and Wiccans find value in my analysis of such phenomena, and yet those who share my religious commitments take issue with me. In this as in many other areas I am something of a misfit in my own religious community. Thanks again.

By: Mystere de la Nuit

Mystere de la Nuit — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 03:23:30 +0000

Mr. Morehead, I’d like to echo Corvis’ applause for your levelheadedness and thank you for doing so. I find that refreshing coming from a Christian writer addressing a topic in the occult realm. I appreciate this especially as a member of the real vampyre community. I was greatly offended by the article you mentioned, especially as they left the impression that Wicca and those who practice vampyrecraft are all mockers of Christianity. I was raised Catholic and am still protective of my former faith, especially since most of my family are Catholic. I’m a big fan of having all the facts straight, and of not presenting one’s opinion as fact. You seem to be of the same persuasion.

The comment about evangelicals associating vampires with witchcraft and the occult, I’ve run across remarks along those lines often, usually from skeptics about real vampyrism. They make the remark that only occultists are vampyres, and that one must know about real vampyrism to be a vampyre, making the whole thing sound like an illusion and some psychological problem, like we’ve convinced ourselves of it because we want to be like the vampires of fiction. This is not the case, especially as I know vampyres who are Jews, Catholic, various kinds of Protestant Christian, Hindu, Wiccan, and countless other faiths.

It’s refreshing to see such an open mind with such grounded roots. It’s good to know that someone who knows where he stands so thoroughly can be open-minded about other paths.

By: John W. Morehead

John W. Morehead — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 22:38:19 +0000

Corvis, thank you for your comments which count for a lot coming from someone in the vampire community.

By: Corvis Nocturnum

Corvis Nocturnum — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 20:35:38 +0000

I especially enjoyed your thoughts “many evangelicals and fundamentalists equate vampires with witchcraft and “the occult,” not by building a solid case and connecting the dots from folklore, literature, and cinema to esotericism or today’s expressions of vampirism, but by mere assumption and bold assertion. This demonstrates a serious misunderstanding of Western esotericism, not to mention vampire mythology and horror. An apology is owed to esotericists and members of the vampire subculture for such misrepresentations, and I renew my previous call for evangelicals and other Christians to move beyond their knee-jerk revulsion of horror to more critical and cautious forms of engagement.” as I am very well versed in those subjects, having family and friends who are of almost every faith or religious path on the planet!

I applaud you sir for being so detailed and levelheaded in your critique. It is too bad others are not so open to similar depth of self awarness in connection to the bigger picture that encompasses us all.

Well done!

Corvis nocturnum, author of Allure of the Vampire, Our Sexual Attraction to the Undead.