I often hear of many pastors referring to a "War on Sin" or a "War on Immorality" in their Sunday sermons. There are many conservative Christians who may find the material I have written in my two novels to be patently offensive. Today's blog entry is my response to their concerns. In this "War on Sin", I see myself as a Forward Scout operating under deep cover behind enemy lines observing the weapons and ways of the enemy. These novels are my report to my superior officers back at the base, describing what I have seen, heard, and experienced behind enemy lines.
Let me say for the record that there is one book many people read on a regular basis that contains some language even more graphic than the language I use in my novels. That book is the Bible, and I present a few examples from the Old Testament to illustrate my point.
Exhibit A in my argument is Ezekiel 23, which describes two adulterous sisters, Oholah and Oholibah, who engaged in prostitution while in Egypt. The entire chapter describes their increasing depravity and lust for the Assyrians. The most graphic verse here is Ezekiel 23:20 (NIV) which reads, "There she lusted after her lovers, whose genitals were like those of donkeys and whose emissions were like those of horses." Even the most explicit scenes in my novels never used that kind of language.
Exhibit B is the Song of Songs, also known as the Song of Solomon. This book celebrates romantic love between a newlywed couple.
My point is simply this. Read each of my books with an open heart and mind before passing judgement upon them...or passing judgement upon me. Visit each novel's website and read each page in order to put things into context. If you don't find the answers to your questions in the FAQ pages, please be sure to submit your questions in the space provided.
