If Jim Butcher continues to do what he's done to Amara's characterization in the first two pages of her first appearance, I'm going to throw the fucking book against the wall.
(Only at page 35 of Princeps' Fury. No spoilers, please.)
*deep breath* Okay, increasing religious monopoly in the Dresden Files in three, two, one...
It started in Small Favor. I understand it because the Denarians were the primary villain, and Butcher tends to go with whatever mythology's villains are at work. That's fine. However, I didn't like the scene where Nicodemus says "you're doing the work of an organization that has manipulated and controlled humanity for 2000 years" or something along those lines. Harry didn't say anything, and Nicodemus had a good point. Harry took the time to have a philosophical debate with Kumori in Dead Beat, and while I disagreed with the view he took, he at least took the time to listen to what she had to say and he had a REASON for his stance. When someone makes a statement like THAT about the Catholic church, I at least would have wanted Harry to nod to the people who agree with Nicodemus.
Or, you know, maybe it's just my serious beef with the Catholic Church talking.
Then in the novella The Warrior, *SPOILERS* it was basically about a religious extremist trying to get the swords. While this had some VERY strong Christian overtones...it wasn't too bad. I don't really have a PROBLEM with it when the "don't force your will on the world" statement is made. However, it talks about a secret society in the Church and how they've been fighting the forces of darkness. Still not TOO bad, unless we're talking about the albino monk from the Da Vinci Code. What REALLY annoyed me was this statement at the end about how "God came and cast down all of the false gods that had been enslaving humanity".
Jim, you left out the part about how the REASON that those Pagen gods disappeared is because Christian missionaries crushed the people and culture of "savages". That kind of kills the "He doesn't want you to force His will on the world" statements for me.
The short story said some things along the same lines, which is part of the reason I cried. So frustrating.
I guess the thing is that I simply haven't seen many alternatives in the last few things he's written. This has been particularly disappointing because part of the thing I LOVED about the series is that it always seemed to keep everything possible. Things like how ANY article of faith could damage of vampire. The thing is that recently I get the strong feeling of "Well, you STILL can believe whatever you want...but there's only one right way". However, there have been some things that gave me hope:
-The fact that during his interviews, Jim Butcher calls it "Christian Mythology". It reminds me that he's still open minded enough to remember that not everyone hails the White God. I'm also comforted that he's clearly researched different faiths.
-He's refused to talk about his personal religious beliefs, because he says that they shouldn't matter. Usually if people want to force their beliefs on everyone they're vocal about "being on the right path".
-Turn Coat was the first sign of diversity in a while. Especially with Listens to Wind and how he clearly drew from Native American mythology.
Basically, what I see IS kind of vague. It's like how I've become slightly annoyed with Stargate SG-1 (because the ENTIRE PREMISE OF THE SHOW is the American heroes fly in and cast down the false ancient gods...yes, the goa'uld are definitely extra strength crazy, but to me that doesn't change the very basic symbolism. I can't help but see some strong Christian overtones in the show.)
The thing with me is, at one point you mentioned something about how everyone has their Things that they either see or look for in every facet of media. You mentioned that you tend to see feminist issues. Personally, I see religious stuff, even when it's probably not there.
In closing, I'm hoping that within the next book he'll show some more diversity. I think he can salvage it if he demonstrates that HIS BOOKS ARE STILL OPEN MINDED.
Jim, you left out the part about how the REASON that those Pagen gods disappeared is because Christian missionaries crushed the people and culture of "savages". That kind of kills the "He doesn't want you to force His will on the world" statements for me.
*winces* Oh, epic fail Jim. Epic fail.
-He's refused to talk about his personal religious beliefs, because he says that they shouldn't matter. Usually if people want to force their beliefs on everyone they're vocal about "being on the right path".
Very true.
-Turn Coat was the first sign of diversity in a while. Especially with Listens to Wind and how he clearly drew from Native American mythology.
Very true. I don't think I mentioned it in my main post, but I LOVED that fight. I want to get the pov of someone who is Native, but speaking for myself, that seemed like a great example of using a different culture without appropriating it.
What you see is vague, but it's definitely a pattern - and it's one Butcher would have to really work against, given that he has two characters who are both characters of the (broadly) same faith being asked to fight even for The One True God Thou Shall Have No Other Gods Before Me (Murphey and Molly's dad).
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It started in Small Favor. I understand it because the Denarians were the primary villain, and Butcher tends to go with whatever mythology's villains are at work. That's fine. However, I didn't like the scene where Nicodemus says "you're doing the work of an organization that has manipulated and controlled humanity for 2000 years" or something along those lines. Harry didn't say anything, and Nicodemus had a good point. Harry took the time to have a philosophical debate with Kumori in Dead Beat, and while I disagreed with the view he took, he at least took the time to listen to what she had to say and he had a REASON for his stance. When someone makes a statement like THAT about the Catholic church, I at least would have wanted Harry to nod to the people who agree with Nicodemus.
Or, you know, maybe it's just my serious beef with the Catholic Church talking.
Then in the novella The Warrior, *SPOILERS* it was basically about a religious extremist trying to get the swords. While this had some VERY strong Christian overtones...it wasn't too bad. I don't really have a PROBLEM with it when the "don't force your will on the world" statement is made. However, it talks about a secret society in the Church and how they've been fighting the forces of darkness. Still not TOO bad, unless we're talking about the albino monk from the Da Vinci Code. What REALLY annoyed me was this statement at the end about how "God came and cast down all of the false gods that had been enslaving humanity".
Jim, you left out the part about how the REASON that those Pagen gods disappeared is because Christian missionaries crushed the people and culture of "savages". That kind of kills the "He doesn't want you to force His will on the world" statements for me.
The short story said some things along the same lines, which is part of the reason I cried. So frustrating.
I guess the thing is that I simply haven't seen many alternatives in the last few things he's written. This has been particularly disappointing because part of the thing I LOVED about the series is that it always seemed to keep everything possible. Things like how ANY article of faith could damage of vampire. The thing is that recently I get the strong feeling of "Well, you STILL can believe whatever you want...but there's only one right way". However, there have been some things that gave me hope:
-The fact that during his interviews, Jim Butcher calls it "Christian Mythology". It reminds me that he's still open minded enough to remember that not everyone hails the White God. I'm also comforted that he's clearly researched different faiths.
-He's refused to talk about his personal religious beliefs, because he says that they shouldn't matter. Usually if people want to force their beliefs on everyone they're vocal about "being on the right path".
-Turn Coat was the first sign of diversity in a while. Especially with Listens to Wind and how he clearly drew from Native American mythology.
Basically, what I see IS kind of vague. It's like how I've become slightly annoyed with Stargate SG-1 (because the ENTIRE PREMISE OF THE SHOW is the American heroes fly in and cast down the false ancient gods...yes, the goa'uld are definitely extra strength crazy, but to me that doesn't change the very basic symbolism. I can't help but see some strong Christian overtones in the show.)
The thing with me is, at one point you mentioned something about how everyone has their Things that they either see or look for in every facet of media. You mentioned that you tend to see feminist issues. Personally, I see religious stuff, even when it's probably not there.
In closing, I'm hoping that within the next book he'll show some more diversity. I think he can salvage it if he demonstrates that HIS BOOKS ARE STILL OPEN MINDED.
And that's a wrap.
no subject
*winces* Oh, epic fail Jim. Epic fail.
-He's refused to talk about his personal religious beliefs, because he says that they shouldn't matter. Usually if people want to force their beliefs on everyone they're vocal about "being on the right path".
Very true.
-Turn Coat was the first sign of diversity in a while. Especially with Listens to Wind and how he clearly drew from Native American mythology.
Very true. I don't think I mentioned it in my main post, but I LOVED that fight. I want to get the pov of someone who is Native, but speaking for myself, that seemed like a great example of using a different culture without appropriating it.
What you see is vague, but it's definitely a pattern - and it's one Butcher would have to really work against, given that he has two characters who are both characters of the (broadly) same faith being asked to fight even for The One True God Thou Shall Have No Other Gods Before Me (Murphey and Molly's dad).