Fantastical Truth

293. How is ‘Adventures in Odyssey’ Making an Animated Film?

23 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Earlier this month, and just in time for Christmas, Focus on the Family made a fun announcement: an upcoming theatrical adaptation of Adventures in Od...

292. How Can Christians Confront Fiction Legalists?

16 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

“We do not celebrate Christmas that way.” “We do not read those kinds of books.” “We ‘do not handle, do not taste, do not touch.’” We ...

291. Twenty Years Ago, How Did the First Narnia Theatrical Film Get Made? | with Mark Joseph

09 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Well, we recently talked about the first Chronicle of Narnia … the book! Yet many fans found or rediscovered this series thanks to the Disney-distri...

290. Why Did C. S. Lewis Create a Pre-Political Supernatural Thriller?

02 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Long ago, before the great lion Aslan bounded onto bookshelves, C. S. Lewis wrote a science fiction novel set on mythological Mars. From there, the se...

289. Seventy-Five Years Ago, How Did C. S. Lewis’s Fairy-Stories Change Fantasy Forever?

18 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

“I don’t know where the Lion came from or why He came. But once He was there, He pulled the whole story together.”

288. Did Christians Expect Cultural Engagement to Be Easy?

11 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Some evangelicals may assume winsome talk about stories and songs can promote peaceful conversations with our neighbors—only to face rage, slander, ...

287. How Do Great Stories Help Us Defeat Monsters? | with Geoffrey Reiter

04 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As we wage the greatest battle against sin within, we also wield the weapons of weird fiction to combat evil in the real world.

286. Can Demons Really ‘Possess’ Humans?

28 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Scripture and history indicate these wicked spirits do their worst work in response to human sin, weakness, and invitation.

285. Do Some Fantasy Fans Seriously Identify with Demons?

21 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

“Demons are simply monsters who have learned human speech. … For them, words are just a way of deceiving humans.”

284. How Would Any Real Aliens Actually Invade Earth?

14 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Extraterrestrial devils could pull a classic and drop down from the sky, or rise up from our world's unexplored depths, or else creep into our very th...

283. Why Are Female Fantasy Fans Falling in ‘Love’ With Monsters? | with Parker J. Cole

07 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes romantasy is deeply human and wholesome, and sometimes these tales exchange the glory of God for images resembling bulls, orcs, and aliens.

282. How Can Creative Christians Prepare in Case of Revival? | with Bethel McGrew

30 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Whenever the Holy Spirit acts, ghouls shriek in the dark. Christians feel renewed. And public conversions get messy yet exciting to witness.

281. How Do Books Teach Kids to Value Stories Over Screens? | with Carolyn Leiloglou

23 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Restorationists fantasy author returns to help us recall the biblical purpose of artworks and how we help children learn to love them.

280. What Can Men Do Against Such Reckless Hate?

16 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When we’re attacked by tragedy caused by evil beliefs, heroes must “ride out and meet them, for death and glory ... for your people.”

279. Which Top Three ‘Cage Stages’ Trap Christian Creators?

09 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Without biblical wisdom, we might lock ourselves into imagining that everything is about a particular doctrine, fandom, or political activism.

278. When Christian Heroes Die, How Can We Debate and Honor Their Work?

02 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Although our laments take many forms, we can celebrate how Christ builds His kingdom through “small” and “big” people who serve Him.

277. Isn’t Physical Book Collection a Waste of Resources?

26 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Audiobooks and ebooks have many benefits, but can’t beat the classic practice of gathering and reading real books in real places.

276. How Can Parents Find Books That Aren’t Just ‘Not Woke’ But Are Actually Good?

19 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When we work only to keep poisonous content out of stories, we might miss readers’ greater needs for nutritious truth, goodness, and beauty.

275. Why Do Fans Debate Light Stories vs. Heavy Stories?

12 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This summer’s lackbuster movies left some fans liking fun franchises with simpler morals, while others await mythic tales with challenging ideas.

274. Why Shouldn’t AI-Generated Content Replace Human Stories?

05 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Critics who suppose artificial imaginations will destroy "big Hollywood" ignore inhuman threats against skilled creators and faithful Christians.

273. Could Jesus Redeem 2D Animated Films? | Light of the World with Tom and Tony Bancroft

29 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

For decades the Bancroft brothers have animated classic characters across many realms, including this fall's new movie about our greatest Hero.

272. Can We Save Cinema from Sloppy Stories?

22 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We need no automatic loyalty for big-budget movies that fall into made-up moralities, flippant franchises, and scandalized or sillified superheroes.

271. How Do Christians Serve in Video Game Mission Fields? | with Brock Henderson

15 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Faithful gamers are finding fertile soil in digital worlds, leading to this year's crossover between Realm Makers and Christian Game Developers.

270. How Did C. S. Lewis Fight for Living and Learning in Wartime?

08 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Let’s heed the Narnia author’s wise warnings against pacifism or violence, and his praise for biblical courage and defense of good causes.

269. How Can Fantasy Fans Dispel Occult Darkness? | On Magic and Miracles with Marian A. Jacobs

01 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Christian fans often hear warnings about fantasy stories' temptations, but Scripture shows differences between real occult and fictional spellcraft.

268. What are Fantastical Parables? | The Road to Kaeluma

24 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Inspired by Jesus's parable of the two sons, Perry Wilson and Landon Hawley have created this new audio adventure from the Christian ministry Cru.

267. What If a Bad Father Fought to Be a Hero? | The Hole-Man with Dan Daetz

17 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Men may defend their families and nations by flying amazing airships, yet struggle with the temptations and tough decisions of earthly callings.

266. How Do You Assemble a New Expo for Christian Fandoms? | with Scott Minor

10 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Hear the backstory of Realm Makers, from its 2013 origin as a fantastical writers conference to the new 2025 Realm Makers Expo coming this July to Gra...

265. How Can We Shine the Gospel at the Realm Makers Expo?

04 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Christian-led conferences attract saints as well as nonbelievers who like wholesome stories, making them fantastic fields for creative missions.

264. Which Stories Will Last Forever in New Earth?

27 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

God likes the physical world He created, and that’s why He will redeem human subcreations for eternity, including fantastical novels we enjoy for Hi...

263. What is Time-Travel Romance? | Every Hour Until Then with Gabrielle Meyer

20 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Some heroines need no machines or solar slingshots to awaken in a romantic past and discover true love or deeper truths about the Lord.

262. How Do Great Stories Train Students to Follow Jesus as Adults? | with Dr. Robert Sloan

13 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Just in time for graduation season, the Houston Christian University president tells of stories that really matter to children and students.

261. Why Do We Love The Magician’s Nephew?

06 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Seventy years after C. S. Lewis’s sixth Chronicle of Narnia released, we recall the reasons we love this tale of magic rings and other worlds.

260. How Do Great Stories Show Both Law and Grace?

29 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Shallow fictions insult the work of Christ by implying we can cheapen the law to make ourselves better, or cheapen grace to save others.

259. What is Biblical Fiction?

22 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Christian critics toss tomatoes at this newly popular genre. But biblical fiction isn't meant to preach, only to illustrate the Scripture we honor.

258. How Would We Restore Disney Film Franchises?

15 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After fractured fairy-stales, flippant super-capers, and “Stalled” Wars, here's how we could rebuild the fallen castles of this media Babylon.

257. By Aslan’s Mane, is Netflix Really Casting a Lady as the Lion?

08 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The headline sounded like an April Fool’s prank. Then others confirmed it and fans raised the uproar. Here’s why it matters that Aslan is male.

256. When Have Newer Christian Authors Explored Mars?

01 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From a wheelchair-wielding robo-pioneer to the Ares 10 mission and other astronauts, many faithful storytellers settled on our sister planet.

255. What Are Space Westerns? | After Moses with Michael F. Kane

25 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After the first age of rocketry, some cowboy heroes traded their six-shooters for rayguns and rode beyond Earth to settle a new genre frontier.

254. Who Would Win in a Fight Between Spaceships and Dragons? | Embergold with Rachelle Nelson

18 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Fantasy has magical beasts while science fiction has fantastical vehicles, and both have their biblical redemptive qualities. Now, let them fight.

253. How Do Classic Sci-Fi Novels Explore the Planet Mars?

11 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Earth’s neighbor is a frozen desert, but it has inspired many fantastical stories—from adventures to big ideas, hard science, and human nature.

252. What if Space Missionaries Fought the Secular State? | Above the Circle of Earth with E. Stephen Burnett

04 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Stephen and Zack explore the Christian heroes, challenging ideas, and speculative science of this possible future when oversheltered believers resist ...

251. Could a Cultural ‘Vibe Shift’ Advance Christian-Made Fiction?

25 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Storytellers who hope for gospel witness to the world must discern today's rising audience of cultural conservatives who like some biblical ideas.

250. How Does Scripture Reveal the God of Story? | with Daniel Schwabauer

18 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When readers treat the Bible as a resource for carving out doctrine-blocks or extracting shiny morals, we miss the Hero and true gospel Story of the S...

249. What is ‘Romantasy’? | with Parker J. Cole

11 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Though all their friends thought them enemies, fantasy and romance have grown into lovers, and now bear the new ship name of "romantasy."

248. What Are Fairy-Tale Retellings? | with Kendra E. Ardnek

04 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

For centuries readers have loved to re-read, retell, or research the classic stories of magical lands where Christlike good defeats evil.

247. How Does Lorehaven Curate Christian Fantastical Fiction?

28 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Since 2018, Lorehaven.com creators have explored fantastical stories for God’s glory, and now we’ve upgraded our Library book search.

246. What is Soft Science Fiction? | Echo Nova with Clint Hall

21 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Some harder sci-fi treats humans as spectators to science, while softer sci-fi may use "handwavium" to explain tech while focusing on heroes.

245. What is Medieval Fantasy? | Squire of Truth with Jill Williamson

14 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Castles with knights and wild lands full of creatures remind us of real-life European history, often with one added fantastical ingredient of magic.

244. How Did Speculative Faith Lead to the Lorehaven Mission?

07 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As we launch our 2025 podcast season, we celebrate legacies of the original website that boosted many authors and Lorehaven itself.

243. What Were Your Favorite 2024 Lorehaven Articles and Podcast Episodes?

31 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

After a Christmas break, we return with our first New Year’s Eve special to review last year’s top features, from fantasy apologetics to false “...

242. Should Christians Read Lewis and Tolkien But No Newer Fantasy?

17 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

These classic authors are fantastic, but they also enjoyed new stories across many genres and would recommend today’s readers do the same.

241. What Are the Best and Worst Fantastical Christmas Stories?

10 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this holiday special about versions of the Nativity, Santa, and more, let’s open the spiced eggnog to celebrate the best and boo the rest.

240. How Could We Adapt C. S. Lewis’s Ransom Trilogy for the Screen?

03 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength would pose unique challenges for even the most Christ-exalting filmmakers.

239. Do You Prefer ‘Literary’ or ‘Genre’ Fantastical Fiction?

19 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Complex tales share layers of language and symbols, while basic stories usually get straight to the point—and both offer benefits to readers.

238. Do Christians Need Dystopian Fiction?

12 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Stories about bad governments and struggling subjects can prepare us to confront real problems, while helping us beware the darkness within.

237. How Has ‘The Chosen’ Become The World’s Top Christian-Made Fandom? | with Ryan Swanson

05 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The cowriter of "The Chosen" and "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!" joins our early Thanksgiving to celebrate the growth of Christian film.

236. How Can Scary Stories Expose Human Sin? | Christian Horror with Mike Duran

29 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Horror fiction may have hazards and sinful subgenres, but frightening fiction can also serve us by exposing the unfruitful works of darkness.

235. What Are the Scariest Stories About Aliens Among Us?

22 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

These fictional space creatures can stalk humans like other horror monsters, but armies of aliens also destroy cities and demon-like beings attack hum...

234. Who Are the Future Voices of Christian Fantastical Storytelling? | with Brett Harris and Kara Swanson

15 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

With popular genres changing every month, The Author Conservatory founders help us dare to speculate on the stories of tomorrow.

233. Should Christian Fans Really ‘Avoid the Appearance of Evil’?

08 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This twisted interpretation of 1 Thessalonians 5:22 isn't biblical, doesn't work, and enables fake holiness or even spiritual abuse.

232. What If You Fought a Forest that Cursed Your Family? | The Burning Tree with Helen Dent

01 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

One girl in rural Georgia must confront the ancient tree that cursed two families, and her whole community, in this deep-rooted rural fantasy.

231. Should Readers Look for ‘Clean’ or ‘Wholesome’ Stories?

24 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If we look for books without obvious “poisons,” we may overlook our imaginations' need for stories of good taste and nutritional value.

230. Why Do Modern Stories Keep Reversing Heroes and Villains?

17 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Cynics often envy real-life heroes like national leaders and astronauts, which drives the self-righteous subversions of heroic virtue in fiction.

229. What If Christians Joined Civil War Against Immortal Elites? | The Wall by Brian Penn

10 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Soldier-spy Asher must wrestle with faith and life behind enemy lines, just as Christians engage the challenges of fictional dystopian worlds.

228. Why Don’t Christian-Made Arts Top Secular Charts?

03 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Many Christians ask why “the world” tends to make the most popular stories, but we have real answers for why secular culture stays no. 1.

227. Is Christianity Preventing a ‘Star Trek’ Future? | with Dr. Sarah Salviander

27 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Christian scholars helped create modern science, yet many sci-fi speculators assume believers should have no place in their visions of progress.

226. Does the Holy Spirit ‘Inspire’ Fantastical Stories?

20 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When wonderful stories or songs make us feel "inspirational," we can thank God for His gifts of human talent, despite our sins and struggles.

225. Why Do Modern Fans Love Middle-Earth Mixing? | with Evan Cooney

13 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Fans across generations have learned to love The Lord of the Rings books, films, and memes for reasons deeper than simplistic morals.

224. Why Does ‘Church Back Home Syndrome’ Distort Christian Imagination?

06 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Victims of bad experiences with Christians cannot help but see most stories in light of their desires to avoid hurt or punish the perpetrators.

223. Why Celebrate Stories #MadeByHumans?

30 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Generative AI might help fill creative gaps, but God calls his people to reflect His image with natural humanity in the stories we create.

222. What If You Had to Fight Your Own Dreams? | The Nightmare Virus with Nadine Brandes

24 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When dream-worlds turn into humankind's next pandemic, we must ask big questions about how best to defeat the darkness.

221. How Did The Left Behind Series Enrapture Millions of Fans? | with Jerry Jenkins

16 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Left Behind series author Jerry Jenkins looks back on the series' legacy over sixteen thriller novels, forty teen spinoff books, and beyond.

220. How Did the ‘Left Behind’ Kids Audio Drama Speed-Run the Tribulation? | with Darby Kern

09 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Twenty years after Judd, Vicki, Lionel, and Ryan fought the Antichrist, writer Darby Kern shares how GAP Digital stewarded the audio series.

219. How Did GAP Digital Turn Left Behind Into Cinematic Audio Drama? | with Todd Busteed

02 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Based on the best-selling novels, here's how GAP Digital and Tyndale House Publishers presented the dramatic audio edition of Left Behind.

218. How Did The Kids Get Left Behind? | with Chris Fabry

25 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

From school resistance to global plagues, Chris Fabry wrote the Young Trib Force's adventures for the bestselling Left Behind: The Kids series.

217. How Did Publishers Steward the Blockbuster Left Behind Series? | with Dan Balow

18 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Twenty years ago, one end-times fiction series thrilled millions of souls, and Tyndale House marketing chief Dan Balow helped make it happen.

216. Why Do Christians Fight Over End-Times Prophecies? | E. Stephen Burnett vs Zackary Russell

11 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Christians love to wield charts, create thrillers, and debate our doom, so naturally that’s how we will start our new series: Left Behind Legacy.

215. What if Heroes Made Robots to Save Jews? | Breath of Bones with Tricia and Nathan Goyer

04 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This new author team shares how homeschool families learn to love fantasy fiction, plus the clockwork challenges of alt-history wartime.

214. What if a False Christ Started a Cult in Your Town? | The Visitation

28 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Twenty-five years after release, Frank Peretti’s supernatural thriller still boldly shows a struggling ex-pastor fighting foes scarier than demons.

213. Are ‘Memes’ and Viral Content Ruining Fantastical Franchises?

21 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Many movies and shows seem designed to “go viral” and provoke free promotion based on flippant references instead of sincere story value.

212. Should Video Games Star Sensual Heroines? | with Paeter Frandsen and Cap Stewart

14 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Just as bad religious rules can barely restrain our visual sins, secular legalism can't make us respect game heroines as human beings.

211. Why Do Failed Heroes Feel So Frustrating?

07 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Fans want to cheer our heroes despite their bad choices, including King David in history, King Arthur in mythology, and Paul Atreides in fiction.

210. What Can First-Time Guests Expect at a Christian Writers’ Conference? | with J. J. Johnson

30 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Christian authors make amazing stories while conferences like Realm Makers help make the authors—and are poised to grow even bigger.

209. How Can We Avoid Clichéd Criticism of Christian Fiction?

23 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If you still think Christian-made stories have shallow heroes and cheap evangelism, you may be surprised how much these stories have grown.

208: How Does The Logos Theatre Adapt Narnia for the Stage? | with Noah Stratton

16 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Logos Theatre producer and actor arrives from a magical train station to explore stage performance and puppetry for Christ’s glory.

207. Should We Get Mad When Christians Scorn Fantastical Fiction?

09 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When mechanistic critics accuse you of valuing “entertainment” over holiness, we can graciously challenge their mechanical beliefs.

206. Can Pictures of Jesus Fool People Into Worshiping Idols? | with Jenneth Dyck

02 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Some critics claim that Easter pageants, streaming dramas, or Christ-figures in fantastical novels are “graven images” that lead to idolatry.

205. How Will Jesus Save Us From Suffering and Death? | with J. J. Fischer

26 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Nightingale Trilogy and Soul Mark Duology author joins us to celebrate how Christ will destroy humankind’s last enemy.

204. How Does Jesus Save Us From Our Own Wicked Villainy?

19 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jesus doesn’t only save people from Satan and suffering, but from the worst plot-twist enemy all along—the darkness of our human hearts.

203. How Did Jesus Save Us from That Dragon the Devil? | with Laurie Christine

12 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This season we celebrate our ultimate Hero, Jesus Christ, who defeats not just sin and suffering but our ancient serpentine enemy.

202. Four Years Later, How Did Pandemic Lockdowns Change Our Reading Experience?

05 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Hand-washing. Social distancing. Fired employees. Air transmission. Four long years ago, everything changed when COVID-19 attacked.

201. How Do Some Stories Fail to Help Us Love Our Neighbors?

27 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Despite many creators' good intentions, stories that undervalue God-given beauty, goodness, or truth can harm people we’re called to love.

200. Why Should We Love to Explore Fantastical Stories for God’s Glory?

20 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Let’s consider not just how to find the best Christian-made fantasy, but why God commands us to explore His creation and manmade culture.

199. How Should Christians Fight to Love a Declining Disney? | with Josh Shepherd

13 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

After fired actors and many flopped franchises, we can discern Disney’s real problems yet appreciate its legacy of stories.

198. How Can Christian Fantasy Fans Love and Respect Sports Fans?

06 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When friends prefer players and points over dragons and spaceships, let’s find in Scripture the purposes of both games and stories.

197. How Do Christian Creators Make Video Adventures? | Soma Games with Chris Skaggs

30 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Unlike old gaming stereotypes, video games are blending the best of multiple creative fields into playable adventures that can glorify God.

196. How Do Fantastical Books Get Made? | with Jamie Foley

23 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We go behind the scenes at Enclave Publishing to follow the creation of a new fantastical novel: from draft to page design to final publication.

195. Should Stories Minimize Morality to Advance Personal Liberation? | with Thomas Umstattd Jr.

17 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Traditional literary heroes pursue virtue, but some modern stories prefer a novel notion of “empowerment.”

194. Which Villains Beat the Superheroes in 2023 Flopbuster Films?

09 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

For many reasons, last year's corporate fantasies like Disney, Marvel, DC Comics, Star Wars, and Doctor Who haven't fared well with fans.