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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
H.P. Lovecraft	John A	Saturday, May 12, 2007
Question: Just wondering if you have read H.P. Lovecraft at all. He was a depressed man who suffered but was able to write fiction that gave you a peak into the insane. Do you think writers like him and Edgar Allen Poe are useful to your Catholic path? Or are they writers to stay away from in your opinion?
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear John: I have not read Lovecraft, but I have seen the derivative works inspired by his books (e.g., movies, games, etc.) The movies and games inspired by Lovecraft's work I do not think are healthy. The role-play games are certainly not healthy. As for his actually original writing, I really do not know since I have not read him. But I have read about his invention of the Necronomican (a grimoire of magical rites and forbidden lore). This is something that no Christian should be putting into his imagination. I understand that he was highly criticized by various people of the stature of Mark Twain and other writers. He is considered at least by some to be a pulp fiction writer. If all that is true, then while he may have been inspired by Edgar Allen Poe he certainly cannot match Poe has a writer. There are many writers of horror stories who were inspired by Poe. Well, inspiration does not mean art :) Most of the horror story writers of today, including Steven King, et al, cannot hold a candle to Edgar Allen Poe. They are hacks in comparison who write horror stories for the sake of horror stories. Poe, on the other hand, is an important contribution to literature. His examination into human nature, including the dark side of human nature, is not pulp fiction, or horror just for the sake of it, but a profound work of depth and insight. Reading Poe as part of literary history I think is needed. Being a fan of Poe and immersing oneself in his darker stories with the kind of obsession we today invest in horror and darkness is a real problem. To be a particular fan of horror in general, especially the kind of horror stories that pass for the pretense of literature today, is not healthy at all and can hardly meet the test of St. Paul to "think upon things that are pure and excellent." God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

H.P. Lovecraft

John A

Saturday, May 12, 2007

Question:

Just wondering if you have read H.P. Lovecraft at all. He was a depressed man who suffered but was able to write fiction that gave you a peak into the insane.
Do you think writers like him and Edgar Allen Poe are useful to your Catholic path? Or are they writers to stay away from in your opinion?

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear John:

I have not read Lovecraft, but I have seen the derivative works inspired by his books (e.g., movies, games, etc.) The movies and games inspired by Lovecraft's work I do not think are healthy. The role-play games are certainly not healthy.

As for his actually original writing, I really do not know since I have not read him. But I have read about his invention of the Necronomican (a grimoire of magical rites and forbidden lore). This is something that no Christian should be putting into his imagination.

I understand that he was highly criticized by various people of the stature of Mark Twain and other writers. He is considered at least by some to be a pulp fiction writer.

If all that is true, then while he may have been inspired by Edgar Allen Poe he certainly cannot match Poe has a writer.

There are many writers of horror stories who were inspired by Poe. Well, inspiration does not mean art :)

Most of the horror story writers of today, including Steven King, et al, cannot hold a candle to Edgar Allen Poe. They are hacks in comparison who write horror stories for the sake of horror stories.

Poe, on the other hand, is an important contribution to literature. His examination into human nature, including the dark side of human nature, is not pulp fiction, or horror just for the sake of it, but a profound work of depth and insight.

Reading Poe as part of literary history I think is needed. Being a fan of Poe and immersing oneself in his darker stories with the kind of obsession we today invest in horror and darkness is a real problem. To be a particular fan of horror in general, especially the kind of horror stories that pass for the pretense of literature today, is not healthy at all and can hardly meet the test of St. Paul to "think upon things that are pure and excellent."

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.