Here is our take on the controversy among some Christian families over witches, magic, wizards, fantasy and raising children, in 3 parts:

Part 2: The Fantasy Issue

Some object to all uses of fantasy. We believe that creativity is the fruit of God-inspired minds. Fantasy is used for good, and it is used for evil. It is not the fantasy we object to (again, we caution the overdosing of small and impressionable minds who do not yet have a good grasp on what IS real), rather it is the purpose and fruit that comes from the use of fantasy that we watch. Some will always see bad fruit in fantasy. We simply have different eyes for such matters.

On a personal note, we have consistently seen good fruit in our children, from the reading of carefully selected fantasy at appropriate seasons of their lives. Our now grown children tell us today that quality, truth-focused fiction, including fantasies, have helped illuminate to their eyes the character of God, the nature of sin and man's desperate condition without God. They recall so many of these stories as parallel situations in life present themselves, though not, of course, to the exclusion or displacement of the Bible stories or non-fantasy fiction.

Fantasy is a creative tool that can readily open our minds to truth. A person of a certain culture might not have eyes to see the hatred in racism. Yet, a fantasy of cats and their hatred for the inhabitants of Squirreltown, for instance, might open a reader's eyes to the ugly face of race-based hatred.

We love Cinderella stories, to mention a well-known example. Cinderella variations are found in cultures around the world. This tale is based in truth: We are dirty, sinful creatures. Then the Prince who loves us, rescues us to be His bride.

When we grow cold and cynical, glorious truths may become commonplace. Then an author exercises God-given creativity to position truth in a unique context or other world, and that truth comes alive to the reader. We in our family would not trade the creative representations of truth presented through Mr. Lewis, Mr. Tolkien and many, many others. Good fantasy presents general principles consistent with a Biblical worldview. For example, good ultimately triumphs over evil. Godly character qualities are esteemed, like loyalty and truthfulness, rather than the opposites.

While not posing here as a comprehensive defense of fantasy, we can't help but comment on some of the lesser arguments heralded by those who categorically oppose fantasy. It is said, for instance, that "Jesus did not tell fairy tales, fantasy tales, science fiction stories, murder mysteries, or love stories." That statement seems rather presumptuous. Are we to assume that the only words Jesus spoke on earth were those recorded in the Bible? Scripture intimates otherwise (John 21:25). We cannot prove He told such things. Nor can we prove He did not.

In our view, Jesus gave us the original. Artists cannot recreate a tree, but they can help others see a tree in a new light. In the same way, not all writers of fantasy attempt to recreate or supersede the words of Jesus or the Truth that He is; fantasy writers employ God-given talent to help us appreciate Him in new and deeper ways.

It is said, "We could not imagine Jesus reading fantasy," and therefore fantasy is wrong. Well, we cannot imagine Jesus driving a car, either. But that does not make it wrong. Perhaps what we "can imagine" is colored more by our own prejudices than by clear fact. We find such reasoning unconvincing.

We are then warned that the undiscerning reader is not aware of all the false truths slipped into the story, and that fiction can be a dangerous thing. Yes, that is true. The Bible, too, can be a dangerous thing when plundered by the undiscerning mind. Again, we find here no reason to avoid fiction or fantasy.

We do see here yet another call for parents to be parents, helping children interpret and discern, training them up as mature adults, ready to face and impact the world. We believe in sheltering children. We also believe in serving as gatekeepers for our homes. No gatekeeper is needed if we intend to keep the gate forever locked. We must train children beyond a list of "don'ts" handed down from Mom and Dad.