Five Simple Things.

No one expects the Spanish Inquisition!

Delivered with the Moral Authority and petty vindictiveness of a Medieval Papal Bull, like a bad penny – or a herpes flare up – the accusation keeps coming back.

“How can you call yourself a Christian and write such trash? Killing, swearing, heathen religions. Your so-called “Christian characters’ are nothing but weak, compromising hypocrites. God can’t use disgusting junk like this! How can you even dream He’d bless something like this?… blah, blah, blah.. repent, blah, blah, seriously doubt your… blah, blah, blah.”

It’s indignation disguised as concern, rancor posing as piety.

Now most of the brethren who are familiar with my book, but disagree with it, treat it like a social faux pas. Like passing gas, it’s there, but unmentioned in polite company. Ah, but then there are the “chosen ones”…

My little self-published action novel isn’t going to shake the spec-fiction literary firmament, but it’s certainly rocked their world. And they need to set things right, by God. Although Holiness doesn’t involve a lobotomy, there are times I wish it did.

Right here, I’ve got five simple things to say.

1. This is a fiction book. Not the Bible. Not a sermon.

2. It is completely delusional to demand that non-Christian characters conduct themselves in a Christian manner.

3. It is equally delusional to demand Christian characters adhere to your expectations of religious perfection and theology.

4. The Bible records multiple instances of God killing people, even ordering His people to do so. What is your problem with fictional violence in the context of a fictional conflict?

5. God invented sex. (There’s no sex in my novel, but as long as we’re here.)

My book is “obscene”? No. This is far more frightening.

Don’t like Running Black? Fair enough. Don’t buy it, read it, or recommend it.

Think you could do better? Have at it and good luck.

Me? I’ve got another book to finish.