Amazing Catechists

Teaching and learning the faith together

5 Reasons We Need Dystopian Fiction

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Do you find dystopian fiction exciting or depressing? Or maybe a bit of both? I am always inspired by a lead character who recognizes something is wrong with the world–with the culture–and who is willing to do something about it despite the personal costs. We do not live in a perfect world, and we each have a responsibility to do something about it. This is how dystopian fiction can help:

Reason #1: Dystopian fiction can inspire.

It can motivate a person to take a hard look at the world around them and encourage them to make a difference. I was working on another manuscript when the inspiration for a dystopian story struck. A variety of stories in the news bothered me:

  • Scientists experimenting on human embryos

  • Special interest groups insisting tiny fish rate higher than farming families

  • Other groups radically pushing the population-control agenda

  • All the tracking through our phones, cars, and online activity

  • And the shocking moral decline in our culture

I love our country and don’t want to see her fall. But if we lose focus on the things that matter—faith, family, and freedom—we’ll go the way of Rome and every other once-glorious nation.

Reason #2: Dystopian fiction can help us realize what we have, what we value, and what we stand to lose.

Love of my fellow man and my country prompted me to throw myself into research about those troubling stories in the news. And I discovered special-interest groups that are extremely influential in our country and the world. All the warped ideologies in my dystopian story come from this research. Yes, there are actual groups that think humans are the scourge of the earth. The more I learned, the more I realized I needed to write this dystopian story about a possible future for America.

Reason #3: Dystopian fiction can help us to visualize, draw conclusions, and consider where we are headed if we continue down the same path.

I only meant to write one book and return to my other stories. I wanted to end Chasing Liberty by showing a seed of change being planted. But I couldn’t stop thinking about it. What exactly is this freedom we should be fighting for? Can one person possibly make a difference? The other two stories in this trilogy came to life very quickly.

The Liberty trilogy is set in the near future. The technology, science, and ideologies are real. The main character, Liberty, has grown up in a society that has done away with faith, family, and freedom. Needless to say, the average citizen’s concept of right and wrong is sorely lacking.

And while the sense of right and wrong has diminished considerably in our world, even compared to ten years ago, God is not dead. God does not sleep or hide. He continues to offer His gifts, His truth, and holiness to those who long for it.

Raised in this godless society that has elevated the earth above man, Liberty never learned about God and moral truth. Yet she has a moral compass that guides her.

We all have this moral compass, even though many ignore it. Liberty doesn’t ignore it. Her choices make life harder for her at times, and she definitely stands out among her peers, but she wants to be faithful to the inner voice. And this makes a huge difference in her life.

Reason #4: Dystopian fiction shows that no matter how dark the world around us becomes, we each still have that inner voice, and it’s important to follow it–not just important for our own life, but for the world around us.

Teens and adults have responded to the characters in this book and to the story themes. It’s been called “an action-packed thrill ride, phenomenal, and a must-read.”

Chasing Liberty by Theresa Linden is a futuristic look at what our culture might become if we keep on the same trajectory as we are presently heading… Such authors speak to us through fiction and remind us of an important truth about ourselves.       —Ann Frailey, novelist and screenwriter

I just finished the book, it was excellent. It is a hypothetical of what could happen to this country and the world when government controls you from cradle to grave and how a young woman by the name of Liberty is chasing just that liberty and freedom. It is a must read…   —Joe Goldner, co-host at The Truth Is Out There-Voice of the People Radio Show!

Reason #5: A good dystopian fiction brings home the message that you are responsible for the culture, and you can make a difference in your own unique way.

This trilogy starts off pretty gloomy, I admit, but it ends on a note of hope and encouragement. Like Frodo in the Lord of the Rings and Mother Teresa on the streets of Calcutta, one person can truly make a difference in the world.

But how do you change a dark culture that has allowed science and technology to advance without comparable developments in ethics, that has allowed a government to grow too big and controlling, that has allowed morals to fall so low that faith is no longer welcome in many situations?

I challenge you to do something.

Pray and trust that God is in control, grow in holiness, speak up for truth and values, be a responsible citizen, and stay informed. And don’t underestimate the power of fiction in helping to inspire and motivate others.

Once I’d started reading this book, I literally couldn’t put it down.  Theresa Linden has cleverly created a dystopian world that uncomfortably resembles our own world here and now. —Melinda Herrington, Catholic Children’s Stories blog

Healing the Wounds of a “Create-Yourself” Culture: Part II- Bringing Our Hearts to the Lord

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The first step in helping others is always taking a look at our own lives to see where we need healing. To be a trusted catechist, minister, parent, friend, etc. we all must make sure that we are pursuing our own healing, especially in the areas that we wish to focus on in our ministry. In my case, I learned that a significant amount of healing needed to happen before I was able to authentically reach out to others.

In this first step, we place ourselves before the Lord and ask Him to shed light on our own woundedness to see where we can heal, regardless of whether it “feels” related to our area of ministry.

The fact of the matter is that we are all broken, and the process of healing is the same. I may not be able to understand completely the pornography addiction of another but I can feel a similar shame that comes from my body image/eating disorder. I can see many similarities in the behaviors and symptoms. Although the object of my addiction is different the core wound is the same. All of us are wounded by that first sin in the Garden of Eden, and we all struggle at some point to believe that we are really lovable the way we are.The_Incredulity_of_Saint_Thomas-Caravaggio_1601-2-300x222

When we grapple with our own wounds, bring them to the Lord, and unite them to His own Wounds, we find mercy and healing and thus prepare ourselves to help others. We are also able to be in solidarity with those who suffer and can be more patient in their healing process.

The advantage of this is two-fold. First, we will be more other-focused, since we have dealt with our own wounds. At the same time we will be able to draw from our own experience and come from a place of understanding. Since we have experienced the healing power of Christ, the example of our life- which is lived with greater joy and freedom- will strike a chord in the hearts of those who know they are not free.

I pray that each of us will place ourselves under the Gaze of the Divine Physician in order to deepen our intimacy with Christ who desires to free us from all fear, all pain, and all sin.

 

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