Differences Between Religious And Spiritual Romance Novels


By Christa Jarvis


When it comes to religion and spirituality, it is often a fine line that separates the two. Spiritual Romance Novels often blend aspects of different religions into various titles. Whereas, in Christian based novels, the characters are generally Christian and the church often plays a rather active role in the storyline.

Although related at times, religious and spirituality are two distinct and different entities. Religion often represents individuals who have a belief in a specific area like Creationism. Whereas, spirituality is often used to define a number of different spiritual pathways which are other than Christian. These can include Buddhism, Paganism and others.

While most titles related to seeking a spiritual path of enlightenment are non-fiction, a great number of Christian based writings by Christian authors are fictional though some attempt to spread a message of peace, love, understanding and God. Unfortunately, it is not always clear this is where some stories are headed until well into the storyline.

Books like The Way of The Peaceful Warrior, Awakening to Your Life's Purpose, Busting Loose From The Money Game, The Celestine Prophecy are good examples of these type books. The Secret, is an interesting take on success in life through spirituality. Clearly, none of these are entirely fiction, or non-fiction yet most are quite popular in spiritual discussion groups and other realms.

All of these and other titles look into different religious beliefs and pathways while taking the reader on a journey of the soul. In some cases, its as if the book is a time machine which can be set to past, present or future. Depending on the individual's past experience, some titles may be more inviting than others.

Just one more reason why having an open mind when reading publications in any genre is a good idea. For the most part, readers do not try and find out personal information related to an author, readers just read and enjoy the story regardless of differences between the story and real life. While this is the case, should a title try to force an individual into any belief system, then it is often good to stop reading and start soul searching before following suit.

Books have been a great escape since the first hit the market many moons ago. While some may have religious tones, others are focused on the sensual and spiritual aspects of marriage and relationship. Others still focus on issues within the nuclear family and can often hold a lot of drama depending on the age of the children included in the storyline.

Whether interested in getting lost in a great romance tale, or looking to gain information on a number of belief systems and pathways, books are often a great place to start. For those who have issues with regards to Christianity, or other religions, it can often be good to read a variety of reviews on sites like Goodreads and others before embarking upon the journey.




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