BJU Press Blog

BJU Press Writer

The Dilemma of Fantasy

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As your children pick out books for their summer reading, you may wonder whether fantasy is an appropriate option. Consider these key questions before making up your mind about fantasy.

What is fantasy, and what is its purpose?

Simply put, fantasy is a genre of literature with fanciful or imaginative settings, characters, or plot devices. The purpose, according to C. Hugh Holman, coauthor of A Handbook to Literature, may be “for the whimsical delight of the author or reader, or it may be a means used by the author for serious comment on reality.” Fantasy as a genre is much like a car, a means of getting from one place to another, and whether it’s good or bad depends on how a person uses it.

Why have some had a negative opinion of fantasy?

Some people argue that fantasy (and even fiction in general) is just “a lie” because the events and settings and characters aren’t found in real life. However, at least twice in the Bible, fanciful fiction appears in service of truth (Judges 9:8–15; 2 Kings 14:9). Again, it’s not the genre itself but rather the use it is put to that determines its value. Some Christians reject fantasy because some stories present lurid violence, graphic sensuality, or the triumph of evil over good. However, these characteristics are unacceptable in a work of any genre, not just in fantasy. Rather than judging a novel by its genre, we should determine whether the work has a solid moral tone (i.e., whether it presents good as desirable and evil as offensive). (For a thorough look at this topic, see The GEM Approach.)

How can fantasy benefit your children?

Fantasy offers an opportunity to teach children to think biblically. The whimsical element of fantasy allows young readers to enter a new world with new experiences where good and evil are easily seen and identified. They learn there to be discerning readers and develop literary skills that are key in understanding biblical themes. Reading The Pilgrim’s Progress, for example, which presents a journey as a metaphor for the Christian life, will enrich their appreciation for the beauty and meaning in Psalm 23 since it also speaks of life as a daily walk with dangers and joys.

If you’re looking for good fantasy from a Christian worldview, consider these fanciful fiction books from JourneyForth.

Why Do You Homeschool? Additional Reasons

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Over the last several weeks we’ve shared with you some of the reasons Deborah chose to homeschool her kids. As we wrap up this blog series, consider these additional factors that prompted her decision.

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  • Eliminating negative peer pressure—Although you might think that homeschooling would limit your child’s interaction with other kids his age, in actuality, it limits the amount of negative peer pressure your child receives. Homeschooling has changed drastically in just the last decade, and there are so many opportunities now for parents of homeschool kids to be selective about the kinds of social interaction their children participate in—cutting down on the bullying and the peer pressure to make poor choices.
  • Interacting with people of all ages—Another boon of homeschool education is that, not only do you get to tailor your child’s interaction with other children their age, but you can also choose to expose them to various age groups as well. Bring them along with you when you meet with other adults. Each generation has its own stories and wisdom to share, and the ability to converse with people outside of one’s age group is quickly becoming a lost art that needs to be revived.
  • Teaching a good work ethic and practical life skills—This goes along with other areas already covered in this blog series. When you can supervise what your child is learning and you have the extra time to spend together as a family, you can teach your child that “whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men” (Colossians 3:23)—not just the what but also the why.

There are so many other good reasons why homeschooling is a terrific option! Deborah definitely doesn’t regret it, and many other homeschool parents are thankful that they chose this path for their family.

What reason for homeschooling would you add to this list? Please let us know in a comment below—we want to hear from you!

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A Creative Writing graduate of Bob Jones University, Hannah worked for BJU Press for almost nine years as a writer and proofreader. Currently a coffee barista and freelance writer, she also tutors one student in French. While Hannah herself was not homeschooled, her experience in tutoring and teaching violin have shown her how beneficial one-on-one education can be. She hopes to homeschool her own kids someday.

Why Do You Homeschool? Spending Time with Family

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Over the last few weeks, we have introduced you to Deborah, a homeschool mom of four, and have explored with you some of her reasons for homeschooling her children.

What’s another important reason Deborah chose to homeschool? Spending time with family.

This reason became especially apparent to her through one subject in particular. She says, “Our favorite subject was (and still is) reading. All of us are avid readers to this day over twenty years later.” Being able to read together as a family brought them together and encouraged a passion for the written word in each of them.

When you have that extra time to spend with your family, you also gain the opportunity to be there for all of those special little moments in the lives of your children. You can be there as they read their first book all by themselves. When they have questions or concerns, they can come to you, your spouse, and their siblings. You’ll probably notice your children working together as a team. I’m sure you’ve witnessed already that the younger ones are always watching and learning from the older ones.

Extended family time benefited Deborah’s family, but their homeschool journey took another turn. As Deborah puts it, “The need [for me] to work reared its head, but the Lord showed Himself faithful. I had not worked outside the home in twenty-two years, and He gave me a temp job to assist the homeschool consultant at BJU Press. That later turned into a full-time job in customer service helping other homeschool moms—icing on the cake as far as I was concerned.”

She went on, “There was no Distance Learning back then. If there had been, I might have considered ‘part-time homeschooling’ as the kids got older. [But instead] all the kids went to a Christian school that used BJU Press curriculum—no adjustments needed.”

If you’re considering homeschooling, Deborah hopes these reasons will help you in the decision-making process. And remember, you’re not alone. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or stories of your own. Experienced homeschool moms like Deborah are just a phone call away.

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A Creative Writing graduate of Bob Jones University, Hannah worked for BJU Press for almost nine years as a writer and proofreader. Currently a coffee barista and freelance writer, she also tutors one student in French. While Hannah herself was not homeschooled, her experience in tutoring and teaching violin have shown her how beneficial one-on-one education can be. She hopes to homeschool her own kids someday.

Why Do You Homeschool? Customizing to Fit Your Child

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Why do you homeschool? Part 2Why should you homeschool your child? At the beginning of this blog series, you met Deborah, a homeschool mom of four. Through these posts, we’ve been exploring the five reasons she had for taking charge of her kids’ education. This week we’ll look at her second reason: customizing to fit your child.

Every child learns differently. The learning method that works for one student may not work for another. If you have children, you probably know this. One child might sit and complete his schoolwork without having to be asked twice, while another might be constantly distracted.

As a parent, you know your child’s learning needs better than anyone. You know his favorite subjects, which ones he struggles with, and what teaching style he responds to the best. That’s where homeschooling comes in. Suddenly, there are no longer the fifty- to sixty-minute daily time-slots that bind you to a particular subject.

Deborah sums it up this way: “Homeschooling made more in-depth studies of certain areas much easier.” You have the power to customize the learning to support your child’s strengths and coach him through his weaknesses. If he’s a Civil War buff, spend a little more time on the Civil War. If he wants to take on more subjects, empower him to do that.

Likewise, if he’s having trouble grasping the fundamentals of a subject, you can hone in on problem spots before moving on to more challenging concepts. One of Deborah’s favorite parts of homeschooling was seeing the “light come on” in her kids’ eyes when they finally understood a concept they had struggled with.

Deborah also notes that homeschooling “stretches the parents as well to grow, mature, and be more disciplined.” Even if you’re not a teacher by trade, there are worlds of resources available to you today. You can easily get teaching tips, diagrams, and activities to help you in your quest to enhance your child’s learning.

What are your thoughts on or experiences with homeschooling? Let us know!

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A Creative Writing graduate of Bob Jones University, Hannah worked for BJU Press for almost nine years as a writer and proofreader. Currently a coffee barista and freelance writer, she also tutors one student in French. While Hannah herself was not homeschooled, her experience in tutoring and teaching violin have shown her how beneficial one-on-one education can be. She hopes to homeschool her own kids someday.