Theology and Stephen King

In a piece on the faith blog for CNN, John Blake looks at the connections between the work of novelist Stephen King and the Bible. The average person might scoff at such an idea, but there is more to it than you might think.

I've often contended that films are reflections of the values and worldview of their creators, and books are no different. When you hear Stephen King, typically you think of horror novels, stories, and films, and for good reason. He has created some of the most creatively terrifying stories ever. But there is an interesting Spiritual aspect to his work.

One of my favorite mini-series of all time is "The Stand," based on a long novel from Stephen King. The book, and mini-series, focus on the end of the world. It is an ultimate battle between good and evil — and though Jesus and Satan aren't named in the work, it's undeniable that the work leans on the depictions offered in Revelation. There is a serious spiritual aspect to the story. And that's not the only story that incorporates spiritual aspects.

One of my favorite of King's stories is "The Mist," a novella that was turned into a movie. The film deals with the nature of man and false theology. I've often considered looking at it in the Faith in Film class because of its deeper themes and close connection to Scripture. It, correctly I believe, indicates that the biggest challenge to man doesn't come from mythical monsters but rather the monster that looms inside us all.

"Needful Things," a somewhat dark film, is about the idea of how greed can take us down dark paths as people. This, of course, aligns perfectly with what we get from the Bible. It is a more graphic depiction of the potential downfall and what can happen when we give in to our darker nature.

Then there are King's more hopeful stories. Most people don't realize that King wrote the short story that served as the basis for "The Shawshank Redemption." Though there are darker elements in that story, it is a powerful example of what friendship and hope mean in our lives. King also penned the short story that served as the basis for "The Green Mile," which the author of the CNN piece and others have pointed out as having parallels to the Scripture.

King doesn't write Christian fiction, but that doesn't mean that there aren't strong Biblical themes that resonate through his work. Donald Miller says "Narrative has an unbelievable ability to adjust your moral compass." That's true. Sometimes those challenges and opportunities come in the most unexpected of places.