Religion in your series?

[kellyzollo]

This question came to me earlier in the week, as I began working on my first film script. I am writing a script for the Christian Film Association next year, hopefully production on the film can start as early as August/September with the product showing during the Sundance Festival here in Park CIty next year in Park City. My good friend who is producing/directing the film reads West Lake and wondered why I don't include religion in it.

It got me thinking that I haven't actually found a place for it yet in the series minus the one wedding I had between Austin/Liz where they were married in a church on the series. While my faith is a huge part of who I am offline and the current script in the works if very heavily handed by ways of my church influences, I don't really include it in West Lake. Could it be that I might find the topic a little taboo for the ins and outs of West Lake and it's residents? Perhaps.

I know that on ID Bex has Brett, as a pastor and a leader at a church and I adore him and her because of it, seeing how I think she does an excellent job with handling the layers that come with being involved in church leadership.

Has anyone else run into the predicament of religion in their series? Do you roll with it and include it? Is it something that you just hint on but isn't really expanded upon in your series? How do you write those deeply religious or strong sense of faith characters if you have them? Is it a different process opposed to the rest of your cast?

Discuss away.

Kelly

[bexeth]

I myself have a very strong Christian upbringing. I admit, I'm far from the model believer, but my core beliefs have guided me through a lot of things. I sort of modeled First Baptist of Haven Park after the church I went to during my youth. Very old and set in its ways...outdated. Brett is sort of like I was in those days - wanting to move into a different direction, wanting to see changes implemented, but fought every step of the way.

The church has always been a centerpiece of the story, even in its earliest incarnation. I find it a very vital part...though like me, the people of Haven Park don't often act out their beliefs in the most becoming of ways. Even Brett is far from perfect, as the next few chapters will prove. We are all human and we all struggle and just because we may wear the label of "Christian" doesn't mean that we are perfect, by any means.

I think all of that may be off topic, though, so back on topic: I pride myself on having a church, religion and a pastor in my story. I am one of few webfiction stories that mention the name of Jesus, and not in a derrogatory or cavalier way. It's a major part of many people's lives, and if I am to convey these people, I must also convey their faith.

[Michael]

I'm actually envious of the way you do it, Bex, because it's an integral part of who the character is and, in not shying away from religion, you add a layer of authenticity to the world of your series. It's something I have done a crappy job of exploring in Footprints, and I would like to improve upon that. What's daunting is that it carries a certain amount of commitment in a long-form serial -- if you introduce religion as a subject or an attribute of someone's character, you really have to stay committed to showing it and depicting it properly. In a screenplay, you delve into the subject for two hours in a controlled environment, but who's to know what will come later in a serial? Not a good reason to shy away from it, but I understand why it feels daunting.

[bexeth]

Thanks, Michael...I agree that it might be a little daunting to incorporate those things into a serial long-term, but it's not been difficult for me at all. I try to handle it just like any other character trait. IE: Jeff always having his hands in his pockets. It's just...there. It's something they do. It's not the entire basis of who they are, but it's still there. When you put it into perspective like that, it becomes easier, I think.

[Ty Junior]

I find the topic of religion to be slightly taboo.  While I may feature the church from time to time in my series during special occasions, I don't typically address the religious affiliation of my characters by any name.  Although considering I'm only partly verse in the religion I affiliate with, it's safe to say they are all indoctrinated under an abridge version of that.  I find getting down into the deep crest of religion, especially when you start putting a name to it, requires a good deal of knowledge and research.  In most religions, there is typically one deity or governing figurehead, so I find it adequate enough to just say they may be praying to a God.  It probably doesn't help in my case that while I try to follow the confines of my religion, I don't hold myself stringently to it's rules.

[Dallas]

I usually don't have much religion on my series either. I just find it a tricky stone to throw. For starters, I would never want to offend someone reading that knows the/a religion very well and I do not do it justice. I think it would be interesting to have an East-Indian character and bring their religion into the mix just because religion is very much apart of their life/culture. I think it's one aspect, however, that would have to be researched very well before bringing it into the webseries, because like I said if it's not done right, it can almost be disrespectful.

neat convo Kelly.

[ChrisColeman]

I don't use much religion in my series but in Adam funeral I established that the Stallworth were Baptist if you look how the funeral was set up. I guess it's a offending thing. You never want to offend your readers. I don't think that any of my characters are hyper religious anyway but Phoebe. I just see her going to church faithfully. LOL!

What I will say is that my gay character I'm introducing in season 3 will have issues with his church. I'm exploring the community homophobia. In the RPG world that was really taboo and nobody wanted to do a church storyline with me. I had a character who was homosexual and I wanted the church to turn him away. I wanted to show what really happens and nobody wanted to do it with me. So I think if you do it correct religious/religion is a great stories.

BTW Duh look at Bex Pastor Brett LOL! He gotta be one of my favorite characters on ID. I mean 7th heaven/Touched By A Angel show religion could be highly entertaining.

[Keelime]

Religion is tricky but also very powerful. I'd say the best way to use it is if it's necessary for the character/story. I think there is a huge lack of it in the fiction world and would love to see it done properly. You just have to be careful with how you use it and why.