My novel is loosely based on a few concepts. One is from a insurance commercial where someone is inspired by a good deed they have seen and so they do a good deed and this passes along, etc. The other was a commercial a few years ago for a horror flick where a demon possessed people- this demon went from person to person as they were touched.
My story tells the daily life of the character of the Holy Spirit going from person to person. He can sorta "possess" someone to heal their spirit, but generally just touches them to put good deeds in their head or to inspire them to change their life.
He is always in someone, then on to another. He is frustrated with the people in the world and the evil he encounters. He has personality quirks, which I am trying to flesh out. He also sees Jesus (only he can see Jesus) and talks to him about his situations. Jesus gives him advice- they talk like they are brothers.
I am having trouble not making it tooo religious. It is supposed to be somewhat irreverant - I just always (since I was a kid) wondered about the persona of the Holy Spirit so I wanted to make a story of him.
Right now he is in a man that abuses his family but hates himself for it and wants to change. The concept of freewill (and how we continue to sin even after we are saved) is playing into this. He knows the family will continue to be abused after the man is saved and they are only safe while he stays in the man- but he must move on.
So far: kids and animals love him. He hates spiders and ants and other bugs. He hates bad smells and being dirty (kinda OCD like Monk). When he is stressed, he throws up. He is jealous of Jesus because Jesus lives in heaven and he is surrounded by evil on earth. Jesus plays friendly jokes on him (like making snow fall from a tree on him, or a car splash water). He doesn't really know the person until he is in them and then only knows what he either seeks to find or what memories emerge. Since I like romances- he keeps trying to fall in love with his wife. sigh- my main character is not listening to me!
Question: If you could describe the Holy Spirit as a personality (or person) what do you think he would be like? I think of him as a man but am trying to figure out how he might act if he was possessing a woman. Or, if he got stuck in someone who did not want him (but needed him anyway).
Amy
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5,091 / 50,000
nov. 3, 2009 - 14 12
Hi Amy,
I love this concept! This sounds like the makings of a really cool story. Here are a few random thoughts from me, and of course feel free to ignore what's not helpful or what doesn't jive with your theological perspective.
--I know you say you're viewing the Holy Spirit as a male, but I more often than not think of the Holy Spirit as the "feminine" member of the Trinity. There is some Biblical basis for this interpretation, stemming from Sophia, the Wisdom Woman from Proverbs. So for me personally, the Holy Spirit character would make more sense as a "woman" (though I think all sense of human gender is metaphorical when we're talking about the Divine). But whether as a man or a woman, it definitely makes sense to me that your MC would be able to inhabit both genders equally.
--I strongly associate the Holy Spirit with creativity and artistry, so I would imagine those elements coming out in the novel.
--For me, the Holy Spirit is the God who says "Behold, I am doing a new thing; even now it springs forth. Do you not perceive it?" In other words, God the iconoclast, the God who is always smashing boundaries, widening the circle (as in the Pentecost event), erasing our neat little compartments of what's good and what's bad, who's in and who's out. That could make for some exciting scenes! :)
Best of luck with your writing. Keep us posted!
Wintry Mix
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nov. 3, 2009 - 19 14
--I know you say you're viewing the Holy Spirit as a male, but I more often than not think of the Holy Spirit as the "feminine" member of the Trinity. There is some Biblical basis for this interpretation, stemming from Sophia, the Wisdom Woman from Proverbs. So for me personally, the Holy Spirit character would make more sense as a "woman" (though I think all sense of human gender is metaphorical when we're talking about the Divine).
Yes, there is the Hebrew concept of the Shekinah and it is generally considered to be 'feminine' (at least it's gramatically feminine). The Tabernacle was erected in order that the Shekinah might dwell on earth (Num. R. xii.); and it actually entered the Holy of Holies (Sanh. 103b). Where ever the Israelites went in exile the Shekinah accompanied them; and when they were redeemed it likewise was released.
This sounds like a great idea for a novel. Best of luck!
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