Christianity Quote by David Eddings
““Operating by trial and error mostly, we've evolved a tacitly agreed upon list of the elements that make for a good fantasy. The first decision the aspiring fantasist must make is theological. King Arthur and Charlemagne were Christians. Siegfried and Sigurd the Volsung were pagans. My personal view is that pagans write better stories. When a writer is having fun, it shows, and pagans have more fun than Christians. Let's scrape Horace's Dulche et utile off the plate before we even start the banquet. We're writing for fun, not to provide moral instruction. I had much more fun with the Belgariad/Malloreon than you did, because I know where all the jokes are. All right, then, for item number one, I chose paganism. (Note that Papa Tolkien, a devout Anglo-Catholic, took the same route.)””
About This Quote
Source Interview: Q&A with David Eddings, 1995
Choosing a religious framework shapes fantasy tone; pagan settings often allow more playful, less moralizing storytelling than Christian ones.
In simple terms: Pagan themes give writers freedom to be fun and less preachy.
Key Takeaway
Embrace a mythic worldview to boost creativity.
Themes
fantasy writing
worldbuilding
religion
tone
creativity
Mood
playful
reflective
inquisitive
Type
advice
creative
philosophical
When to use this quote
- novel drafting
- role‑playing game design
- creative workshops
- story brainstorming
Key Concepts
mythology
cultural context
authorial intent
Questions to Reflect On
- How does your chosen mythology affect character archetypes?
- Can humor thrive without cultural grounding?
A Different Perspective
Paganism may limit appeal to audiences expecting familiar Christian motifs.
