forum Question about Dark Religious Imagery

Started August 04, 2018 by @IShotAnArrowInTheAir

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My somewhat guilty pleasure in books and cinema has always been dark religious imagery, the spiderwebs forming on the face of the stone angle in the forgotten cemetery, shaking hands folding into prayer, a rosary knotted between shivering bloody fingers, a character pounding their fist on the looming black church door as the rain tries to drown the world around them, a plea to God uttered desperately from split lips on an empty night.
I cannot get enough. I love reading it and writing it, something about alluding in that southern Gothic-esk way to the powers of hell death and a helplessness in front of a supreme being just makes stories feel more existential and terrifying. Anyway that leads me a question I have for all of you: is that offensive?
I know that bringing up religion in this day and age is almost always met with disapproval and surely isn't politically correct but what do you think? Do you think having a character, especially one who was proudly atheistic, realizing that whatever tragedy or trial is too much to bare alone and then calling out to whatever god will listen is alright for story telling purposes or do you think it'll be viewed as some sort of propaganda? When I write it I'm not actually trying to advocate for anything, I just think that type of total surrender is a charter turning moment and it's an incredibly dramatic and powerful image, by what do you think, okay or not okay?
I'd love to hear everyone thoughts especially from those of you you who do believe in God as to weather or not you think such dark imagery is sacrilegious and unfair to you.
But seriously, not trying to make a stand, just trying to get a frame of reference, Religious imagery yay or nay? Thanks

Oh also, That thing they do a lot now when the have a religious leader give a character some of that sweet sweet biblical ambiguous advice in their hour of need (You know the kind that's all therapy-like but also not canonical and written intentionally to not be offensive or specific ) what do you think about that?

Uh, yes! I would say go for it. As someone who's religious, I definitely turn to God in my darkest hour, as do lots of other Christians, and I think it only makes sense that a religious character in a hard situation turns to God.
And like…. IDK I don't think this would be offensive at all? As long as you're not blaspheming anything.

Oh god, I love dark religious imagery. I wasn't raised in any religion, and I am agnostic for now, but I love that stuff. I love learning about religion and I've dreamed of angels in blues and greys and how their soulless empty stone eyes cry out horrifying messages. I'm a sucker for lore. I take bits and pieces from many places, but I cant make myself believe in a specific religion fully. I'm not one to talk, but I don't find any of that offensive.