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

Christian parents often ask whether stories for their kids have bad words and bad language. Today they’re also asking: “Does this story have Agenda?” Often they look for clean stories, that is, stories empty of objectionable elements. But do readers of all ages really need only clean fiction? Instead of stopping at minimalist stories that don’t contain obvious poisons, shouldn’t we also seek stories that are full of nutrients—stories that are wholesome?

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Mission update

• Lorehaven recently reviewed Sea and Soul as well as The Skin Map
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Concession stand

• We love to approach this “clean” topic from many different directions.
• We’ve already asked whether this cleanliness is really next to godliness.
• But this isn’t that episode. Here we ask if we should stop at clean fiction.
• Or do we build on that foundation and seek fiction that’s even better?
• We start by offering an alternative word for what many Christians want.
• We’re talking mainly about casual conversation, not Official Book Policy.
• So if you seek out “clean fiction,” keep at it! But be challenged anyhow.
• Labels help shape our imaginations, giving sound/ideas to assumptions.
• It may seem odd to say “this word, not that,” but we’ll explain why here.

Quotes and notes

• 81. Should Christians Use ‘Clean Fiction’ to Fight a Dirty World?
• 155. How Might Sentimentalism Threaten Christian Fiction?
• 169. Should Christian Stories Feel Free to Show Cussin’ and Fightin’?

1. What do we mean by ‘clean fiction’?

• The word “clean” brings a many images and cultural assumptions.
• For our last “clean” episode 81, we used an image of shiny soap bubbles.
• We may also think about spiritually “clean” foods or natural ingredients.