The Visitation and The Visitation
Frank Peretti was somewhat unique when he hit the scene. He is a Christian who writes fantastic stories from a Christian perspective, but that are pure fiction. He didn’t see an obligation to use his creativity to preach. His fiction was not propaganda or theology in story form. (Although many tried to turn his fiction into teaching early on.) He is basically a great storyteller with a very visual flair. One could easily imagine his stories being turned into great movies.
As he developed his craft, he did begin to use his stories to comment on reality. He especially was able to use his stories to turn a questioning eye toward many practices and methods one sees in church today. This was done extremely well in The Visitation, a story many people do not site when listing his books, but one that in many was is his best work.
The Visitation addresses such topics as denominationalism, varying interpretations of scripture, and the largely vacuous spirituality of many church movements today... particularly attractional mega-church models and emotional youth movements.
Imagine the joy of discovering that the Visitation was to be the first of Peretti’s adult books to be adapted to film; then imagine the disappointment experienced by most fans of books that are inevitably ADAPTED for the movie screen. The Visitation in film form is totally defanged. It retains and even accentuates the horror story elements, but all thought provoking portions of the book have been changed or cut out.
If you have not read this book, please give it a try. It is very good. The movie on the other hand is not worthy of a rental.
As he developed his craft, he did begin to use his stories to comment on reality. He especially was able to use his stories to turn a questioning eye toward many practices and methods one sees in church today. This was done extremely well in The Visitation, a story many people do not site when listing his books, but one that in many was is his best work.
The Visitation addresses such topics as denominationalism, varying interpretations of scripture, and the largely vacuous spirituality of many church movements today... particularly attractional mega-church models and emotional youth movements.
Imagine the joy of discovering that the Visitation was to be the first of Peretti’s adult books to be adapted to film; then imagine the disappointment experienced by most fans of books that are inevitably ADAPTED for the movie screen. The Visitation in film form is totally defanged. It retains and even accentuates the horror story elements, but all thought provoking portions of the book have been changed or cut out.
If you have not read this book, please give it a try. It is very good. The movie on the other hand is not worthy of a rental.
I haven't read Christian fiction in so long that I really appreciate any recommendations. I also highly recommend Society Without God for those in your (my) line of work. The author isn't Christian and it makes the book even more valuable... I'd love to hear your thoughts on it after you've read it.
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