Ebook: Christian Horror: On the Compatibility of a Biblical Worldview and the Horror Genre

To most, the term “Christian horror” probably seems like an oxymoron. Nevertheless, there are very good arguments to be made that “horror” is an eminently biblical genre and that Christian artists should be at the forefront of reclaiming it. In this work, novelist Mike Duran explores the Judeo-Christian roots of contemporary horror, the religious themes that frame much of the horror art, and how evangelical culture has come to distance itself from such a potentially rich and powerful medium. Duran looks at Christian artists and authors whose works employ the macabre and grotesque. From surrealist Hieronymus Bosch to Southern Gothicist Flannery O'Connor to the master of horror Stephen King, we can trace a distinctly biblical worldview that frames their visions of terror. Along the way, Duran answers objections while developing an apologetic, not for a new sub-genre, but for a rethinking of the reasons that "Christian horror" has come to be viewed as such an oxymoron.