Narnia fans had a rough week. After the confirmation that Netflix’s version of “Narnia” will have a female-voiced “Aslan” for a 1950s-set movie with a “rock and roll” vibe, the internet lit up. Fans were upset. Pundits piled on. Non-Christian critics on YouTube cussed at Greta Gerwig. And in response, apparent defenders of the corporate creator began repeating old myths about The Chronicles of Narnia and C. S. Lewis while scoffing at his fans for being so overexcited about a movie. How can we best address these subversions and slanders?

Episode sponsors

 1. Enclave Publishing: Return of the Guardian King by Karen Hancock [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/oasis-family-media]
 2. The Guardian of Ailos by Michael B. Foss [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/michael-b-foss/]
 3. Etania’s Worth by M. H. Elrich [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/m-h-elrich/]

Mission update

 * New at Lorehaven: book quest for The Monster in the Hollows [https://lorehaven.com/book-quests/the-monster-in-the-hollows/]
 * Also, don’t miss our new review of A. M. Daylin’s fantasy Eventide [https://lorehaven.com/reviews/eventide/]
 * Last week’s breaking news [https://lorehaven.com/news/today-official-meryl-streep-voices-aslan-netflix-rock-inspired-perversion-narnia/] and popular audio-livestream on X [https://lorehaven.com/podcast/332-why-do-we-fight-like-narnians-for-the-stories-we-love/]
 * Subscribe free [https://lorehaven.com/subscribe] to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild [https://lorehaven.com/lorehaven-guild/]

Concession stand

 * You may be curious about the movie or skeptical of upset fans.
 * If so, don’t be distracted by extreme examples in the discourse.
 * But we oppose pushback about “outrage culture” or “culture war.”
 * We believe this is a verbal battle worth engaging for Christ’s glory.
 * After all, real Christian cultural engagement isn’t meant to be easy [https://lorehaven.com/podcast/288-did-christians-expect-cultural-engagement-easy/]!
 * At the same time, not everyone will choose to engage identically.
 * God has given His body many different gifts and resulting roles.
 * Pro tip: don’t fault someone for engaging/not engaging as you do.
 * For each of our examples, we’ve seen real parallels from people.
 * However, we find it easier to talk in Narnian terms as comparisons.

Quotes and notes

 * “Our Interview with Greta Gerwig [https://www.crash.fr/our-interview-with-greta-gerwig/],” Crash.fr, Jan. 2028
 * Today It’s Official: Meryl Streep Voices Aslan in Netflix’s ‘Rock Inspired’ Perversion of Narnia [https://lorehaven.com/news/today-official-meryl-streep-voices-aslan-netflix-rock-inspired-perversion-narnia/], E. Stephen Burnett at Lorehaven
 * Alleged ‘Rock and Roll’ Soundtrack Incites Suspicion of Netflix’s Narnia Movie [https://lorehaven.com/alleged-rock-and-roll-soundtrack-incites-suspicion-of-netflix-narnia-movie/], Sierra Simopolous at Lorehaven

Podcast episodes

 * What Are the Best Books by C. S. Lewis? [https://lorehaven.com/podcast/189-what-are-the-best-books-by-c-s-lewis/]
 * Why Does ‘Church Back Home Syndrome’ Distort Christian Imagination? [https://lorehaven.com/podcast/224-why-does-church-back-home-syndrome-distort-christian-imagination/]
 * How Did C. S. Lewis Fight for Living and Learning in Wartime? [https://lorehaven.com/podcast/270-how-did-c-s-lewis-fight-living-and-learning-in-wartime/]
 * Did Christians Expect Cultural Engagement to Be Easy? [https://lorehaven.com/podcast/288-did-christians-expect-cultural-engagement-easy/]

333. How Do Scoffers Subvert C. S. Lewis and Slander His Fans?

At first we tried to be optimistic about Netflix’s new Narnia-inspired movie.

Even when that rumor first dropped in April 2025 that claimed Meryl Streep was “in talks” to voice Aslan [http://lorehaven.com/podcast/257-by-aslans-mane-is-netflix-really-casting-a-lady-as-the-lion/].

Then last week brought us this grave news [https://lorehaven.com/news/today-official-meryl-streep-voices-aslan-netflix-rock-inspired-perversion-narnia/] that Netflix and/or director Greta Gerwig did indeed cast Streep, a female actress, to voice the male King of Narnia, Aslan.

They included high-res art of a glammed-up lion with obvious chimera creature textures and colors inspired by 1970s music celebrities.

They boasted about the new movie’s “rock and roll” influence. They showed preview images featuring Jadis in a glittery short-skirt go-go outfit squalling into the streets of 1950s London.

And now Narnia fans are all in uproar over these perversions of The Magician’s Nephew by C. S. Lewis.

With courteous words or else hard knocks as the warrior’s only language, how then can we join the fight like true Narnians?

Join this special edition episode with an abridged version of our Sept. 21, 2026 audio-livestream on X (fka Twitter) [https://x.com/EStephenBurnett/status/2102225785428078862].

Once a King or Queen in Narnia, always a King or Queen …

Queen Bethel [https://www.furtherup.net/] the Valiant

Bethel McGrew is a freelance writer based in Michigan. Her work has appeared in First Things, the Wall Street Journal, the Lamp, and more. Follow her on Substack at Further Up [https://www.furtherup.net/].

King Zackary [https://zackaryrussell.com/] the Just

Zackary Russell is a Fightin’ Texas Aggie and proud member of Generation X-Wing. After conquering the Oregon Trail, he traveled to Hyrule and the Island of Myst. His heart for the nations led him into a ministry for international students, where he works as a videographer. He writes science fiction, and is the producer and co-host of the Fantastical Truth podcast [https://lorehaven.com/podcast]. He lives in Texas with his wife and four children. His digital home base is zackaryrussell.com [https://zackaryrussell.com].

332. Why Do We Fight Like Narnians for the Stories We Love?

The Pendragon Cycle streaming series began with a slower start for its January release on Daily Wire Plus. Well, this month, everything changed. Based on the first two volumes in Stephen R. Lawhead’s series, The Pendragon Cycle worked its new wizardry to reach the top three shows on Prime Video. Let’s go behind the scenes of the Cycle, touching on controversies but staying pre-political and pre-medieval as we explore how Christian creators fight to build the future. Today we’re joined by The Pendragon Cycle series creator Jeremy Boreing.

Episode sponsors

 1. Enclave Publishing: Return of the Guardian King by Karen Hancock [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/oasis-family-media]
 2. The Guardian of Ailos by Michael B. Foss [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/michael-b-foss/]
 3. Etania’s Worth by M. H. Elrich [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/m-h-elrich/]

Mission update

(We didn’t mention these in the show; they broke soon afterward.)

 * ‘The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin’ Honors the Foundational Myths of Western Civilization [https://lorehaven.com/the-pendragon-cycle-rise-of-the-merlin-honors-the-foundational-myths-of-western-civilization/], A. D. Sheehan, Sept. 21, 2026
 * Today It’s Official: Meryl Streep Voices Aslan in Netflix’s ‘Rock Inspired’ Perversion of Narnia [https://lorehaven.com/news/today-official-meryl-streep-voices-aslan-netflix-rock-inspired-perversion-narnia/], E. Stephen Burnett, Sept. 17
 * Review of A.M. Daylin’s fantasy Eventide [https://lorehaven.com/reviews/eventide/], Stephany Araujo
 * Subscribe free [https://lorehaven.com/subscribe] to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild [https://lorehaven.com/lorehaven-guild/]

Backstory: Jeremy Boreing

Jeremy Boreing is a writer, filmmaker, producer, and co-founder of The Daily Wire. He is the host of The Jeremy Boreing Show and the series creator of The Pendragon Cycle. That streaming adaptation of Stephen R. Lawhead’s fantasy epic retells the origins of Merlin and King Arthur. It premiered Jan. 2026 on Daily Wire Plus [https://www.dailywire.com/show/the-pendragon-cycle]. Then in July 2026, Pendragon debuted on Prime Video UK and hit the number 1 fantasy series [https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/tv/articles/epic-king-arthur-series-finds-161338684.html]. By the following month, August 2026, Pendragon debuted on Prime Video in the United States [https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0HFPJ87SR] and reached the number 2 most-viewed show on that platform.

Boreing’s past work in political media includes co-founding the conservative news and commentary website TruthRevolt, serving as executive director of Friends of Abe network, and co-founding Declaration Entertainment with Bill Whittle. He’s also the co-founder and former CEO of The Daily Wire commentary network.

 * The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin on Prime Video (U. [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HFH7J5N3]

331. How Does ‘The Pendragon Cycle’ Fight for Freedom and Build the Future? | with Jeremy Boreing

Last week we remembered the Sept. 11 attacks [https://lorehaven.com/podcast/329-how-did-the-sept-11-terror-attacks-change-the-course-of-fantastical-fiction/]. But some people, shall we say, did not know how to grieve well. That’s for many reasons. One of them is strange yet simple—they can’t fathom that real people could really do something like this. But it’s true that many groups of real bad guys really want to take over the world. So today, author Kerry Nietz, student of futuristic caliphates, returns to the studio to ask which false religions seem the most bent on global domination.

Episode sponsors

 1. Enclave Publishing: Return of the Guardian King by Karen Hancock [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/oasis-family-media]
 2. The Guardian of Ailos by Michael B. Foss [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/michael-b-foss/]
 3. Etania’s Worth by M. H. Elrich [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/m-h-elrich/]

Mission update

 * Lorehaven Mission Survey: help shape this podcast and more [https://forms.gle/3ysva51rxQSwPoBZA]!
 * Subscribe free [https://lorehaven.com/subscribe] to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild [https://lorehaven.com/lorehaven-guild/]
 * We’re still reading through The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers [https://lorehaven.com/book-quests/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-two-towers/]

Backstory: Kerry Nietz

Kerry Nietz is an award-winning science fiction author. He has over a half dozen speculative novels in print, along with a novella, a couple short stories, and a non-fiction book, FoxTales [http://nietz.com/FoxTales.htm].

Kerry’s novel A Star Curiously Singing [https://www.nietz.com/library] won the Readers Favorite Gold Medal Award for Christian Science Fiction and is notable for its dystopian, cyberpunk vibe in a world under sharia law. It  is often mentioned on “Best of” lists.

Among his writings, Kerry’s most talked about is the genre-bending Amish Vampires in Space [https://www.nietz.com/library]. AViS was mentioned on the Tonight Show [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSiTIZW3WEo] and in the Washington Post [https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/2013/11/25/731c76de-5617-11e3-bdbf-097ab2a3dc2b_story.html?utm_term=.cb926fa2f1d6], Library Journal [http://reviews.libraryjournal.com/2013/11/books/genre-fiction/christian-fiction/christian-fiction-sees-the-light/], and Publishers Weekly [https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/pw-select/article/60041-pw-select-november-2013-new-traffic.html]. Newsweek [http://www.newsweek.com/2015/05/08/fifty-shades-amish-strange-genre-romance-novel-324940.html] called it “a welcome departure from the typical Amish fare.” Today his latest release is Start Early, You Might Get Published Before You Die, an honest and humorous look at the long, unpredictable path from aspiring storyteller to published novelist.

1. If militant Islam took over the world …

 * This one’s been much in the news, so we’ll discuss this one first.
 * Kerry and Stephen have both written about Islam in their novels.
 * Kerry’s novels imagine a future literally ru

330. Which False Religions Want to Take Over the World? | with Kerry Nietz

In the last 25 years, whole human beings have been born, grown up, graduated, married, and become parents. They may not remember that day when our world was gripped by events that seemed stolen from dystopian novels. On Sept. 11, 2001, militant religious terrorists hijacked four planes in the United States and plunged them into the sides of large buildings. Thousands died. Millions mourned. And every real person and fantastical fiction was forever changed.

Mission update

 * New at Lorehaven: review of The Talismiths: The Secret Saboteur
 * Lorehaven Mission Survey: help shape this podcast and more [https://forms.gle/3ysva51rxQSwPoBZA]!
 * Subscribe free [https://lorehaven.com/subscribe] to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild [https://lorehaven.com/lorehaven-guild/]

1. Where we were when the towers fell

 * Zack’s memory of discovering the news by himself on a Tuesday
 * Stephen’s memory from just after one class at his own college
 * Initial fears, end-times narratives, and a nation cast into grief
 * Final blame: the militant group al-Qaeda fighting for their jihad
 * This self-destructive and religious evil confused many onlookers.

2. Aftershocks in the world of pop culture

 * That December: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
 * The next May, Spider-Man (2002). And later The Two Towers.
 * These three films and more drew on viewers’ need for heroic tales.
 * Stories like The Dark Knight (2008) explored counter-terrorism.
 * Christian publishers released many end-times or terrorism books.

3. 25 years later, some truth is under threat

 * We’ve talked about conspiracy theories. Many focus on this event.
 * But we must rely on testimony from people who lived the reality.
 * Today we may not have fantasy/superhero films if not for Sept. 11.
 * And the U.S. prevented more mass-casualty terrorism … so far.
 * Other stories explore the pre-political realities of justice and war.

Com station

Top question for listeners

 * Where were you (or a loved one) on Sept. 11, 2001?

Tiffany Lamb in the RealmSphere [https://realm-makers.mn.co/] recalled the 1980s:

There are so many shows that had an effect on me that I am not sure I can pick just one. However, I find when I go back and rewatch them, I usually am unable to sit through them. The teenage me and the senior me are very different people, thank God! Still, the very first thing that popped into my head was the only cartoon I used to watch, Dungeons & Dragons. I loved that show. I didn’t watch a ton of tv, but on the weekends I watched Tarzan, Batman & Robin (KaPow!), and Superman. I still remember when I learned the original Superman [actor George Reeves] committed suicide. I think that was when I realized that the lives people lived on the outside were very different from what they were living in private. Basically, I came to understand that actors are not really much different than the rest of us. Because of this insight, I never did fall into the hero worship that so many actors and rock stars get from their audience.

… I always thought of it as the age of innocence. However, going back and rewatching certain shows, like the Golden Girls, I can see where that was naive and due to my youth. Still, I miss the innocence of that era, and the hope everyone had for the future. We seem to be lacking that hope in our younger generation now. I wish kids nowadays could experience what we did growing up back then. It seemed like anything was possible.

Next on Fantastical Truth

We identified the villains behind the Sept. 11 attacks. Some doubt this could be true. W

329. How Did the Sept. 11 Terror Attacks Change the Course of Fantastical Fiction?

Last summer the new He-Man movie kind of failed at theaters. Stephen enjoyed the film! Others did not care so much, especially if they didn’t grow up in the 1980s. But last week, after the death of voice actor Peter Cullen, fans celebrated the legacy of Transformers. And last month, the Masters of the Universe remake film wielded the power of Grayskull to rule streaming media. No matter your age, big franchises from forty years ago have shaped the fantasy worlds we know today. How can Christians look back on this era with discernment and appreciation for good nostalgia?

Episode sponsors

 1. Enclave Publishing: Winter’s Dawn by Morgan L. Busse [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/oasis-family-media]
 2. The Guardian of Ailos by Michael B. Foss [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/michael-b-foss/]
 3. Etania’s Worth by M. H. Elrich [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/m-h-elrich/]

Mission update

 * September 2026 book quest for The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers [https://lorehaven.com/book-quests/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-two-towers/]
 * Subscribe free [https://lorehaven.com/subscribe] to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild [https://lorehaven.com/lorehaven-guild/]

1. Of note: some fans truly did miss the ’80s

 * For many of you, the 1980s came and went before you were born!
 * Stephen and Zack lived through most of the 1980s decade.
 * And yet both of them only remember portions of the time.
 * For his part, Stephen knew only the 1980s homeschool culture.
 * It was the neighbor kids who had He-Man and Rainbow Brite
 * Alas, Stephen never knew that fandom or any of the others, really.
 * And he only vaguely recalls some of these obscure/old franchises.
 * So if he sounds like a distant anthropologist, that is the reason!

2. From Star Wars to He-Man and beyond

 * Recap: George Lucas and Kenner created modern toy franchises.
 * Mass factories, network TV, and cable made a kids’ merch boom.
 * Aside note: some Christians had some legit/silly concerns about it [https://lorehaven.com/podcast/43-how-did-a-1980s-evangelical-book-warn-about-turmoil-in-the-toy-box/].
 * Mattel lost on Star Wars, but made its own franchise: He-Man.
 * This blended John Carter, DnD, mysticism, and superheroes.
 * Meanwhile, other boys’ and girls’ brands took over toy stores.
 * Zack’s notes about growing up in the 1980s and any toys he had.
 * Last week beloved voice actor Peter Cullen (Transformers) died.
 * Fans love his sincere voice for “gentle, powerful” Optimus Prime.
 * That plus GI Joe, despite flaws, did seem to honor real heroism.

328. How Did 1980s Franchises Forge the World of Modern Fantasy?

As students return to school, some can’t help dreading their assigned books. Even good readers in good schools will feel burdened by reading classic novels. So how can we remind ourselves and others that we’re not made to read as a duty to adults, but made for reading as part of our joy in Christ? Katherine Briggs, author of The Threshold Duology and part of the upcoming Classics Rebooted series, will teach us how fantasy fans can learn to love timeless classic fiction.[1. Photo by Iñaki del Olmo [https://unsplash.com/@inakihxz?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText] on Unsplash [https://unsplash.com/photos/assorted-title-of-books-piled-in-the-shelves-NIJuEQw0RKg?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText].]

Episode sponsors

 1. Enclave Publishing: Winter’s Dawn by Morgan L. Busse [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/oasis-family-media]
 2. Realm Makers fundraiser for ongoing defamation lawsuit [https://www.givesendgo.com/realmmakersdefamation]
 3. The Talismiths: The Secret Saboteur by M. L. Hodder [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/m-l-hodder/]
 4. King Justice: The Legend Begins by Evelyn M. Exley [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/evelyn-m-exley]

Mission update

 * New at Lorehaven: new review of Winter’s Dawn [https://lorehaven.com/reviews/winters-dawn/]
 * Subscribe free [https://lorehaven.com/subscribe] to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild [https://lorehaven.com/lorehaven-guild/]

Backstory: Katherine Briggs

Katherine Briggs crafted her first monster story at age three. Since graduating from crayons to laptop, she continues to devour and weave fantasy tales while enjoying oolong or chai tea. She, her coadventurer husband, and rescue dog reside outside Houston, where she classically educates amazing middle school students, teaches ESL to adults, and studies other languages. Katherine is the author of The Eternity Gate and The Immortal Abyss from Enclave Publishing as well as Hunting the Forgotten Planet in Volume II of the upcoming Classics Rebooted collection.

1. How to learn the dutiful joy of reading

 * How Katherine found biblical truth and fantastical imagination.
 * Career choice to become a classical educator and a novelist.
 * Reviewing any differences between “literary” and “genre” fiction [https://lorehaven.com/podcast/239-do-you-prefer-literary-or-genre-fantastical-fiction/].
 * Discerning definitions of “dutiful” versus “joyful” reading of books.
 * This dutiful joy is unique to reading, starting with Scripture itself.

2. Tips to help anyone read more deeply

 * We can say that yes, reading books gives greater joy than screens.
 * A

327. Why Should Fantasy Fans Learn to Love Classic Fiction? | with Katherine Briggs

Once upon a time, a homeschool father dreamed of helping his children grow their love for writing. So while he worked for 20 years as a computer geek, he also trained to create fantastical fiction. Then, after hundreds of rejections, he broke through with his tale of two young teens who discover their secret ancestries: Dragons in Our Midst. Since then, Bryan Davis has won the trust of thousands of fans with more tales in this world, plus supernatural thrillers and superhero stories. Today we invite Bryan into our own cozy cave to explore how families can teach truth in fantasy this school year and beyond.

Episode sponsors

 1. Enclave Publishing: Winter’s Dawn by Morgan L. Busse [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/oasis-family-media]
 2. Realm Makers fundraiser for ongoing defamation lawsuit [https://www.givesendgo.com/realmmakersdefamation]
 3. The Talismiths: The Secret Saboteur by M. L. Hodder [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/m-l-hodder/]
 4. King Justice: The Legend Begins by Evelyn M. Exley [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/evelyn-m-exley]

Mission update

 * New at Lorehaven: new review coming this Friday [https://lorehaven.com/reviews]
 * Subscribe free [https://lorehaven.com/subscribe] to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild [https://lorehaven.com/lorehaven-guild/]

Backstory: Bryan Davis

After working as a computer geek for 20 years, Bryan followed a dream to become an author. He began by writing a story to motivate his seven children to gain some excitement about writing, and that story grew into a novel. After spending the next eight years learning the craft and enduring more than 200 rejections from publishers and agents, he broke through with his best-selling series Dragons in our Midst. He is now a full-time author and lives with his wife, Susie, and their children.

Bryan Davis is the author of the following series: Dragons in our Midst, Oracles of Fire, Children of the Bard, Astral Alliance, Wanted: Superheroes, The Oculus Gate, Reapers, Time Echoes, Tales of Starlight, Dragons of Starlight, Falcon’s Quest, Save the Multiverse, Not-So-Famous Dog Tales, and Not-So-Famous Dragon Tales. His standalone novels are Let the Ghosts Speak and I Know Why the Angels Dance.

For more information, see his website at DavisCrossing.com [http://www.daviscrossing.com].

1. How a ‘geek’ learned to make new worlds

 * Surveying Bryan’s journey to biblical truth and fantastical stories.
 * Recalling the early 2000s era for Christian-made fantasy fiction.
 * His series Dragons in Our Midst broke through to new realities.
 * These portal fantasy tales show wholesome yet human heroes.

2. Winning the hearts of homeschool fans

 * Bryan and his wife Susie h

326. How Can Families Learn Biblical Truth in Fantastical Fiction? | with Bryan Davis

Christian kids, do you recall all those old warnings against fantasy fiction?[1. Photo by Volodymyr Hryshchenko [https://unsplash.com/@lunarts?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText] on Unsplash [https://unsplash.com/photos/shallow-focus-photo-of-white-paper-sheet-mounted-on-cork-board-ZT9gjcJog6U?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText].] Some people implied that if you made up too much stuff, you’d lose track of reality. Alas. For some cases, they’re absolutely right. Too many people are abusing God’s gift of imagination. They cast people they do not know as villains in a fantasy world in which they are the big moral heroes. This habit is taking over social platforms and podcasts. How can Christian fans respond with wisdom?

Episode sponsors

 1. Enclave Publishing: Winter’s Dawn by Morgan L. Busse [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/oasis-family-media]
 2. Realm Makers fundraiser for ongoing defamation lawsuit [https://www.givesendgo.com/realmmakersdefamation]
 3. The Talismiths: The Secret Saboteur by M. L. Hodder [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/m-l-hodder/]
 4. King Justice: The Legend Begins by Evelyn M. Exley [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/evelyn-m-exley]

Mission update

 * New at Lorehaven: Conqueror of Shadow and Light [https://lorehaven.com/reviews/conqueror-of-shadow-and-light/]review [https://lorehaven.com/reviews/conqueror-of-shadow-and-light/]
 * Subscribe free [https://lorehaven.com/subscribe] to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild [https://lorehaven.com/lorehaven-guild/]

Concession stand

 * Some “conspiracy theories” are issues of wisdom, not sin.
 * And in fact, some ideas labeled “conspiracies” turn out to be true!
 * For more, listen to our episode How Can Christians Engage Wisely With Conspiracy Theories? | with Mike Duran [https://lorehaven.com/podcast/162-how-can-christians-engage-wisely-with-conspiracy-theories-with-mike-duran/]
 * Or read Mike’s article: Christians Who Engage Conspiracy Theories Must First Believe God’s Sovereign Rule [https://lorehaven.com/christians-who-engage-conspiracy-theories-must-first-believe-gods-sovereign-rule/]
 * Yet we’ve always had seen conspiracy theories based on fiction.
 * And today more people are building bigger and worse idols.
 * This makes the problem more than foolishness. It’s actual sin.
 * And this false accusation hurts true people we know and respect.
 * It also hurts people who still struggle after real abuse and lies.
 * Maybe you’ve been hurt by a real offense by a trusted someone.
 * In that case, you don’t need people weaponizing your empathy.
 * We’ll give you strong Bible tools to defend your calling and time.

1. False accusers are hurting true people.

 * By now you may know about the Realm Makers defamation suit.
 * Our friends and allies, Scott and Becky Minor, are suing a defamer.
 * Two weeks ago, they released their need for legal cost support [https://www.givesendgo.com/realmmakersdefamation].
 * So far, they’ve reached nearlry $20,000 of a $50,000 funding goal.
 * We support them with 20 percent of new Lorehaven sponsors.
 * But first, about the opponent, don’t just speculate. Donate!

Scott and Becky’s open letter with the fundraiser [https://www.givesendgo.com/realmmakersdefamation]:

Defamation Against Realm Makers & the Minors Standing Together for Truth: Protect the Realm Mak

325. How Can Christian Fans Respond to False Accusations?

Spider-Man! Spider-Man! Does whatever other heroes can’t. And these days, that means make a good movie. Other super-movies, even in the Marvel world, take on the fake responsibilities of social activism, then are forced to fight the sinister criticism of fans. Meanwhile, Spidey and his amazing friends just keep uniting people in his friendly cinematic neighborhood. How does one hero keep wielding such great power?

Episode sponsors

 1. Enclave Publishing: Winter’s Dawn by Morgan L. Busse [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/oasis-family-media]
 2. Realm Makers fundraiser for ongoing defamation lawsuit [https://www.givesendgo.com/realmmakersdefamation]
 3. The Talismiths: The Secret Saboteur by M. L. Hodder [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/m-l-hodder/]
 4. King Justice: The Legend Begins by Evelyn M. Exley [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/evelyn-m-exley]

Mission update

 * New at Lorehaven: The Shattered Ones book quest has begun [https://lorehaven.com/book-quests/the-shattered-ones/].
 * Subscribe free [https://lorehaven.com/subscribe] to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild [https://lorehaven.com/lorehaven-guild/].

1. Superhero movies are fighting off villains.

 * Just last week we heard of more cancelled Marvel movie projects.
 * With some exceptions, the MCU has flopped on streaming screens.
 * Apart from quality, fans discerned a stench of Agenda moments.
 * Perfect-storm also struck with Jonathan Majors cast controversies.
 * Unlike older movies, fans follow every detail, leak, and rumor.
 * And like Spider-Man’s powers, internet is our gift and is our curse.
 * Meanwhile, DC’s latest reboot can’t even get off the ground.
 * DC is cancelling and delaying projects as a buyout draws nigh.
 * In the past, DC has proven actively hostile to particular fans.
 * Official statements and books isolate and mock certain versions.
 * For instance, The LEGO Movie mocked Green Lantern the hero.
 * In another case, an official Superman book criticized Zack Snyder.
 * In both universes, fanbases are divided, politicized, anti-heroic.
 * It feels like they’re pitting fan “denominations” against each other.
 * As a late famous comic creator famously uttered, “ ‘Nough said.”

2. But everybody loves one friendly hero.

 * Meanwhile, over in the Spiderverse corner of the Marvel world …
 * Corporate heads, marketeers, and actors alike are unifying for this.
 * Consider one recent GQ stunt with Brand New Day actors at trivia [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__vLZslytN0].
 * (‘Ware language.) Actors were asked about many Spidey versions.
 * In this universe, every story gets canonized and respected equally.
 * This follows No Way Home’s blend of previous film characters.
 * But for DC, they’ve tried to purge all previous versions except one.
 * This unifying approach helps fans love all Spider-Man versions.
 * Whether you like Tobey, Andrew, or Tom, you can celebrate Spidey!
 * So it’s not political. Now fans can have fun doing compare/contrast.
 * This ends up more like denominations who unify in essential faith.
 * (And yet that only goes so far. Holland won’t meet Madame Webb.)

3. The rise of self-aware yet sincere stories.

 * This year we’ve seen a wonderful increase of truly good films.
 * Three come from Amazon/MGM: Project Hail Mary, The Sheep Detectives, and even Masters of the Universe

324. Why Does Spider-Man Keep Saving the Day for Superhero Cinema?

Zack Russell (@ztrussell) · Zencastr

Zack Russell (@ztrussell)

Explore the best Christian-made fantasy, sci-fi, and beyond, and apply these stories’ meanings in the real world Jesus calls us to serve.