For whatever reason, I've been drawn into recent discussions on the Interwebs about Christianity and horror. (Okay, some of the conversations aren't all that recent--only my awareness of them.)

Most of the discussions point out an awkward tension between revulsive subject matter and redemptive storytelling. Many, it would seem, think "Christian Horror" is the oxyest of all morons.

Maybe it is. Certainly, CBA publishers want to stay away from using such a term--possibly because the word "horror" connotes a celebration of gratuitious gore and violence, as Mike Duran ably pointed out recently.

On the other side, the mainstream public obviously shies away from the same label because...well, because they expect it to be preachy. As The Horror Geek's recent review of the film House says:

This is part of the reason why people don’t seem to enjoy religious based entertainment. It’s like if you slap “this is church approved” on something, religious folk will rush out to see it even if it insults their intelligence in the process.

Well, hey, I've thought the same thing myself. To be honest, most of the "bad" reviews I've received are from people who feel I've done a poor job of telling a "Christian" tale. I've been chided for not having a character quote an entire verse of a Psalm, for instance. And recently, a person scheduling radio interviews said he didn't "see anything of Jesus" in one of my books based on the cover and flap copy.

Go ahead and laugh. Those things are funny on some level. But in another way, they're not funny at all, because, as The Horror Geek suggests, many Christians actually want art that isn't particularly artistic.

Just Christian.

And that's just one side of the equation. Because as a guy who writes "Christian Horror," I can tell you mainstream acceptance is spotty at best. I'd love to support more independent bookstores, but many of them don't seem to feel the same way about "religious" fiction. I'd love to go to more conferences, talk to more writing groups, all that kind of stuff...but I can tell you many people are scared I'm going to come in and preach a sermon (especially frustrating because, after all, I'm the guy who doesn't seem to write "Christian enough" stories for some).

Well. Talk about an awkward tension between revulsion and redemption.

Am I complaining? Sure. But I won't complain too much. I've found a good audience; my first two books have gone into multiple printings in multiple formats, and I think the new book is going to attract even more readers. I get a lot of reader comments and email from people all over the map, both ideologically and physically. And I'm getting great publisher interaction and support across the board. In short, I've found a niche, and I'm thankful for the opportunity.

I'm fine with the Christian Horror label...I just wish it didn't sometimes describe my world outside of the stories themselves.