I'm an atheist, and I am writing a novel...?

Question

So yeah, like I said, I am an atheist and I am currently writing a novel. It has no religious themes at all whatsoever in any direction, and there's even a scene where some of the characters are sitting in church singing hymns (cause that's what people did in 1861).

Anyway, if my novel is published someday (Did I mention that it's geared toward teenagers?) and it comes out that I'm a total atheist do you think it would get banned or there would be the outcry that has happened over things like The Golden Compass?

Not of this World... you continue to prove what a sweet and loving christian you are. Sheesh.

It's called "Private Charlie Townsend" and it's about a seventeen year old girl who dresses up like a boy to be a sharpshooter during the Civil War. Sorry, it exists. Hate to disappoint you.

mike - nope, the only things that get killed in it are Yankees and Rebels. ha.

No, I don't want anyone to care because that's not what it's about. It's an adventure romance that is geared toward high school girls (probably, I'm not sure yet). That's all. I just know how some people get, and if they hear an atheist is attached to something they'll sometimes look for something anti-christian when it isn't there.

Thanks to most of you (those first two were just butts) for the answers. : )

Answer 1

Good luck with your novel. I'm a Christian but the outcry about "The Golden Compass" and the "DaVinci Code" is a bunch of knee-jerk reactionaries that have little strength behind their faith.

Having said that, I'm in the the final stages of editing my novel that happens to be a horror story. Here's what I'm going to do and you might want to also:
IF this story ever gets published - and it's a BIG if - I'm going to enlist people from my network of friends throughout the country to write into Christian magazines, blogs, and Amazon reviews talking about how blasphemous and evil it is (it does deal with occult even though it is pro-Christian and has a pro-Christian message). Hopefully, the backlash will get it some notoriety and, well, we'll see what happens after that - there's no such thing as bad publicity, right?

There's no reason the reactionaries can't be used to one's advantage, is there?

I wish you all the best story.

Answer 2

>Anyway, if my novel is published someday

That's a pretty big if.

>and it comes out that I'm a total atheist do you think it would get banned or there would be the outcry that has happened over things like The Golden Compass?

I find it rather unlikely. The Golden Compass was criticized becaues not only is Philip Pullman an atheist, but the whole His Dark Materials series strongly promotes atheism and anti-theism. So long as your story does not have advocacy of atheism as one of its themes, I don't think there'll be any problem with it (outside of the problems that always exist for any novel, of course...it's impossible to please everybody).

Besides, even if there would be a reaction of the sort we've seen with The Golden Compass, who cares? At least it shows you weren't afraid to state your beliefs and stick by them in your writing. The worst thing we atheists can do is to feel that we have to keep silent about what we believe.

Answer 3

I'm sure you'll have groups that will cry for it to be banned. They'll write articles about how your book is trying to deceive our children (of course, they'll never read the book, because even touching a book written by an Atheist means suddenly being transported to Hell). Look at all the ones crying over The Golden Compass, yet obviously have not read the books or seen the movie. One girl on here even talked about how bad it flopped in the theaters a week before it came out!

Answer 4

I'm a Christian, and I would not try and get it banned or protest it.
The way I look at it, if Mark Twain had published his books today, all holy hell would break loose, screams of racism would resound and Christians would be pitching a fit due to the words written in many of the books, not to mention child endangerment. YIKES!
I think it's fine that info on the movie and the books was talked about, just like when Narnia came out with overt Christian themes - better to let people know, however if you don't want your kids to see a movie, don't take them, if you don't want them to read a book, don't let them - pay attention to what they are doing, seeing, reading and writing - be proactive


Sorry - I went off.

Answer 5

Well, to be fair, The Golden Compass series wasn't just written by an atheist, it included scenes in which the characters actively opposed another character known as 'God'.

Also, by definition, the Golden Compass books are NOT atheistic.

By including a God in them, within the premise of these books, God exists. This is exactly the opposite of atheism. It is more akin to anti-theism.

You can't kill a God if God doesn't exist.

But for much more interesting looks at religion, spirituality, and atheism, take a look at the Discworld books written by atheist Terry Pratchett (especially Small Gods and Feet of Clay). He's the second highest selling author in Great Britain, and no one raises a fuss about his books.

UPDATE:

Considering the content of your book, you should also definitely check out Terry Pratchett's Monstrous Regiment. Trust me.

Answer 6

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Answer 7

Ang, in general it simply won't matter. the story is the story is the story, and the content is what matters most. If you, as Philip Pullman did, make a BIG POINT about your attitude toward religion and give some people material to use to attack your book as a promotion of athiesm, then that's what will happen AFTER it's published and you're making the standard author's publicity tour.

However, it seems unlikely to happen - frankly, the topic is entirely off-base according to your precis.

I am an historian who is ALSO completing a children's/young adults' book set in the Civil War period, fictionalizing a real event. I can tell you that it was not at all uncommon to find young soldiers and officers who did not embrace one faith or another - but that it was MUCH more common to find those people deeply involved in religion. Certainly, regular religious observances, including an attempt by Stonewall Jackson to avoid battle on Sundays, was the norm among the armies.

This was the "high romantic era" in the U.S. Sentimentality ruled. Religious expression was sincere, outward, and excessive, by our standards. You may find that the authenticity of your story will improve by recognizing that and other factors. You needn't advocate or criticize anyone's religion by observing how that was expressed at the time. (One of the most famous spots at not just Gettysburg but other battlefields was known as "Seminary Ridge.")

You should work, work, work on your book. Get different people to read your drafts - you don't have to accept EVERY critique, but you'll get overall good advice. don't give up! I LIKE your basic premise, and suggest that you may discover as you unfold the tale there is a moral crisis your young character encounters - that of dealing intentional death to selected targets. This is probably going to shake her up.

Also, look up the stories of women like Mary Bonney, the female pirate, and of a number of women who DID disguise themselves as men and fight in the Civil War. You have, ahem, a few issue of a practical nature that at some point have to be faced, and their real-life stories can help.

Feel free to write me off-list here and we can swap ideas and notes about writing and the history of the time, if you wish.

Good luck!

Answer 8

Sounds like an interesting novel. And whatever christians might do, I would let my teenage child read it (in a few years, when it's published and when I actually have children ^_^)

Knowing the mass, I'm sure you being an atheist coming out means that they are going to shred it to pieces so to speak.

Answer 9

As an atheist almost-author myself, I'd say don't worry. Some of the most popular writers out there are atheists, including my favorite, the late, great Douglas Adams.

Personally, if I ever get anything published, I'd rather they burned my books than ban them. They have to buy them to burn them, after all, and the parts that matter are fireproof ;)

Answer 10

I don't think anyone will care that you're atheist. Do you want them to?

I think people are all worked up over The Golden Compass because his last book is blatantly atheist. So if you're wanting people to care about you being atheist then I suggest you make it obvious in the book. :)