I posted this in the "Character and Plot realism Q&A" forum, but I'm putting it here too.
I want to write my next novel about Joseph's feelings about being the earthly father of Jesus. I was wondering if this would be considered a sin? I'm going to be as biblically accurate as I can (I will literally have my Bible propped open next to me while I write). This thought popped into my hear a year ago-ish and I really want to write it.
I'm by no means perfect, but I don't want to spend what would be a significant amount of my time knowingly sinning for however long it takes to finish the book.
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"A person who won't read has no advantage over one who can't." -- Mark Twain
9,250 / 50,000
Dic 8, 2007 - 19 43
I answered you over in your other post. I was just going to say, read as much as you can. There isn't a lot known about St. Joseph, but I'm sure you can find enough information to help get you started. You can rely on the gospels to a certain point, but even so, the history they provide is limited and sketchy at best about Jesus' early years. I don't even think there is a mention of Joseph's death in any of them, so you'll have to turn to other sources to help you. It does sound like a great project, I wish you luck.
I still don't believe it's a sin to write about it.
51,142 / 50,000
Dic 8, 2007 - 21 41
And I'd add, don't take anyone else's word about your spirituality. Everyone will have an opinion, and who's to say who's right, if anyone? It's a decision you have to come to between yourself and God. If you ever have doubts and think that it might be detracting from your spiritual life, then you might want to reconsider; but if you feel that you've got the right to do it, then don't hesitate.
If anything, the study and reflection that this project will require might bring you to a better understanding of your own spirituality, and even if it means walking through the darkness for a bit, that in itself could potentially strengthen you.
50,020 / 50,000
Dic 9, 2007 - 12 49
Thank you so much. I didn't think it would be, but I haven't been going to church very long but I know some people who would say that writing this would be sinning. Your opinions helped a lot.
58,836 / 50,000
Dic 12, 2007 - 19 29
I don't think it would be sinning at all. Our church did a play on what it was like for Mary, Joseph and her family to find out she was pregnant. It was great and really told the gospel in a new light. I think it's a great idea!
Good luck!
26,147 / 50,000
Dic 14, 2007 - 12 32
I don't see why anyone would believe it to be a sin. When God chose Mary to be Jesus mother He also chose Joseph to be Jesus earthly father including all that that entails. Joseph was a good and Godly man I'm sure (though not a saint by any means except in the sight of the Catholics). God chose these two humans for a great honor and gift, to raise His Son. God isn't that uptight. I expect He chose Joseph for the specific reason that He knew that Joseph had the wonderful capacity to in fact think of and treat Jesus like his own son, even knowing He wasn't. God always has a plan, I doubt that He just radomly chose some schmuck to raise His son on earth. I expect He was only too delighted for Joseph to think of Jesus as his son and in fact that was most likely God's plan all along.
60,054 / 50,000
Dic 15, 2007 - 18 19
There has never been anything in the Bible, if you believe in Christianity (which I assume, correct me if I'm wrong) about asking questions being a sin.
Sin is violating a commandment, or doing something to hurt someone, that sort of thing. Sin is not wondering, asking questions, and telling tales that speculate about people in the Bible.
51,807 / 50,000
Dic 25, 2007 - 18 24
Not a sin, certainly, although some people are easily offended and call a sin anything they don't like to hear. Don't let that stop you for a moment.
It's not an easy task either, if you want to write it as a historical novel. I hope the following information might be helpful to you in getting started in research.
Biblically, the information you have is in only four chapters: Luke 1-2, and Matthew 1-2.
You'll want to do an internet search on the concept of betrothal=marriage in the Jewish religion of that day to understand how Joseph and Mary's family and her town would respond to her being pregnant. This will help you know what Joseph and Mary were facing, including the possibility that she would be executed by stoning.
(Good websites on Jewish marriage customs:
http://www.jewfaq.org/marriage.htm)
http://www.seedwiki.com/wiki/conj/kiddushin_bethrothal?wpid=337621
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/marriage.html)
The exhaustive scholarly work on the topic - I've not read it it but it should be in your public library - is Brown, Raymond E., "The Birth of the Messiah" Doubleday & Company, 1977. 752 pages, $20. http://www.amazon.com/Birth-Messiah-new-updated-Commentary/dp/0300140088...
The background which this material will supply you with should generate lots of ideas on what Joseph might have felt.
There may also have been some good historical novels written which will give you the same background with less work, but sadly I'm not familiar with them.
Good luck!
Dave Z
1,645 / 50,000
Feb 19, 2008 - 20 15
[There are so many versions of the "Is this Blasphemy?" question that there should be a Stickied Topic for it, in my opinion.]
Joseph was a good egg, so God, not wanting to give him the shaft, said, "Take care of my kid. He'll be a brat, but he needs a physical dad just as much as a Heavenly one to keep him on the right path. Don't worry, you and Mary can join him in Heaven after this whole ordeal's over and we'll have a big party with lots of sorbet. Mmm...sorbet" (Ok, so I made the sorbet part up...count it as poetic license.) You'll write it, include the Heavenly Sorbet Party in the Epilogue, publish it, and sell millions without writing a single sin. (Though you will have to write the word sin, probably...maybe.)