Book Review: The Gospel According to Twilight

***Warning: This post discusses adult topics and material. It is not suitable for all ages. Although I was careful with my wording, my blog is labeled “G” rated, therefore I wouldn’t suggest this post for anyone younger than teens. Just to be on the safe side.****

 

The Gospel According to Twilight: Women, S*x and God by Elaine A. Heath
ISBN: 978-0664236786
Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press (September 12, 2011)
Retail: $15.00

Elaine A. Heath is the McCreless Associate Professor of Evangelism at Perkins School of Theology, and is an ordained Elder in the United Methodist Chruch. She is the initiator of New Day and the Epworth Project, a growing network of missional, new monastic faith communities in the United Methodist tradition. Among her research interests are the new monasticism, the emerging church, spirituality and evangelism, and gender and evangelism.

I recently read all of the Twilight series just so I would know what was being talked about in this book, The Gospel According to Twilight by Elaine A. Heath. It is a good thing I did read them all. Or I would be totally shocked by reading this book. Before reading, I should have researched the author.

The book starts with a generalized recap of Twilight books. Heath was interested because her daughters read the books- stayed up long hours and were consumed by them. Her daughters, I might add, seem like happy young women. One is an engineer and one a musician. Not depressed, not given to suicidal thoughts, both living productive lives, etc. Just my observations there.

After that Heath starts in on the books. First is the “Good Family” (in reference to the Cullens) and how they are different than Bella’s family (which I would assume is the “not so good family”). They are vegetarian vampires (haha, they drink animal blood- how’s that for oxymoron) who are comprised of Carlisle and Esme- the ‘parents’-, Edward, Emmett and Rosalie, Alice and Jasper. Edward is the only one without a mate, or significant other until Bella arrives on the scene. He is captivated by her, taken by her overwhelming scent and he simply likes (or craves) her.

I was somewhat confused a few times with the comparisons/contrasts Heath made between the Gospel and Twilight. When talking about the “Good Family” (the Cullens) Heath breaks down all their good traits and then definitely points to their very unChristian like traits (not the part about being vampires)- their extreme materialism. They build their money –using Alice’s ability to see the stock market ahead of time- so that they can buy shiny and fast cars, new wardrobes (I guess they never wear anything twice!). They do nothing to help others, the less fortunate, with all their acquired wealth and ‘stuff’. Although Carlisle is quite the self-sacrificing doctor. He works in the hospitals and helps humans live. He trained himself to no longer crave blood from humans and the scent doesn’t affect him any longer.

In reference to Bella’s family being the opposite of the Cullens- her parents divorced shortly after being married, her father never remarried (can’t even cook), and her mother is stuck in a teenage mentality married to a guy that is possibly not very responsible. Heath says that those references portray all divorcees in a poor light and makes it seem that marriage is the only way to happiness. All the characters in the books actually have a significant other- except Leah (who is a female werewolf who has been transformed by more than just shape by becoming the only female in the pack) who is extremely bitter and unhappy because she can’t be with the one she wants.

Heath tries to describe how Edward is like Adam, Bella is like Eve. Later, Bella is comparable to Christ (what?!). There is a very real current throughout the Twilight books about abstaining from premarital s*x (which is good) but Heath finds so much more that is wrong with the books, that that hardly matters and she doesn’t feel they are in line with the Gospel at all. (um, me either, btw)

The first portion of this book does show how the Twilight is and isn’t in line with Gospel teaching, sporadically. But about 25% of the way through, Heath goes off more on independence of women and that they do not need men (or to be married) to be happy. No where in the Gospel does it say that the way to happiness is through marriage. No, no it does not. And as she points out, Jesus was single. So was Paul. Paul even recommended remaining single but he also said (and I didn’t read this in Heath’s book) that if one could not control themselves, it is better to marry. Nothing wrong with being married.

I got the impression that divorce is okay (and I think that she is referring to if you aren’t happy, why stay type divorces not the serious problems, run for your life type of divorces), women should not be doted on and cared for in the lovey-dovey old fashioned way (you know, catching a woman when she faints, carrying her to the couch, opening doors for women, that’d be insinuating that a woman is weak- can’t have that- yes, that is sarcasm there). Women should not be traditional- and be okay with it.

The book does talk about some serious (very serious) problems that I can see teenagers internalizing such as starting into and staying in an abusive relationship. She compares Edward’s behavior to an abusive boyfriend/husband and Bella’s behavior to the girlfriend/wife that is afraid to leave. Also Bella is constantly trying to please Edward with no regard for her own well being.

However, the context of Edward and Bella’s relationship is different than say a relationship that is affected by alcohol or drugs. I do realize that many times Meyers in Twilight makes references to the feelings Bella and Edward (and the other vampires and werewolves) have are like an addiction. Heath sees Edward as simply over controlling and that he is verbally and physically abusive to Bella. I got that he was annoying…but not abusive.

I read the books and I read what Heath had to say and I personally think she’s digging too deep into. Of course, I suppose I could not be digging enough.

Another aspect that I had a problem with when reading the Twilight books and Heath points out is Bella’s extremely low self image. I do not see it quite the same as Heath does but I agree that it is easy for so many teens to grab hold of this story because they feel the same way. Media and culture have ingrained it in teens that they must be a certain size, height and have certain traits and material possessions to be worth much. I wish that were not the case, but it sadly is. Heath feels that the women in Twilight just make it that much more so for teens reading.

In the second half of the book, Heath really starts getting into the comparisons/contrasts of Scripture. What I really don’t understand is- Why? This is a vampire book. What place does it have in Christianity? Heath makes sure to explore the Mormon differences of theology as well since Meyers is a Mormon. I guess that Meyers used some Scripture in her book and that could be a reason that Heath decided to write the book. (I didn’t recall that while reading the series- my bad)

Heath’s book really wasn’t what I thought it was going to be. It is, in parts, a comparison/contrast of the Gospel (well, Scriptures) but a lot of it is psychological analysis. I haven’t looked yet but I am pretty sure that someone else could write a book about the series that is the opposite of Heath’s book.

If you want to know all the things that are wrong, or could even just remotely be a possibility of being wrong, with the Twilight series, this book will definitely spell it out for you. But it also takes it much farther than I think it was ever intended to go. The Twilight series is definitely not my favorite book series but I don’t think I would rank this one high up either. Without knowing overly much about Heath, she seems like a feminist that feels most women are oppressed and need to be let free- even if they seem content, they probably just don’t know they want out. She also seems to have a problem with the man being the head of the household… just sayin’.

If I would follow the advice of “whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there by any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things,” I’d do better. I’m pretty sure this book doesn’t fit those descriptions. It details way more the Twilight series did. It is like comparing a 1950s movie with a 2011 movie- leaves nothing to the imagination- and actual gives you no other option.

I received this book free from NetGalley on behalf of Westminster John Knox Press. All opinions expressed are my own.