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The Use of Religious Icons as Vampiric Symbols- Conclusion
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According to Gordon Melton, author of The Vampire Book, the vampire is a universal figure of human culture which emerged in the natural course of life. That is to say that the vampire probably emerged independently at many points in history to fulfill many needs of society. (Melton J. , 1999) However, the overall idea of the vampire is unchristian because it deals with demons and damnation. According to Van Helsing in Dracula, once a vampire bites and converts you then you are the vampire and are one of the damned, no matter your circumstances. (Stoker, 1897) However, in the last decade this view has changed drastically due to the huge pop culture towards vampires in literature, movies, and role playing games.
From the beginning of the search for empowerment with Lilith, acceptance with Cain, redemption with Judas, and of eternal life with Jesus, the use of the vampire in popular culture has allowed society to reach the fulfillment that Durkheim said only religion could fulfill. This lure of the vampire and the search of society for their specific needs have brought about a strong connection that not only allows society to escape the mundane world around them but to transcend to a level of the fulfillment of needs that each religious icon provides.
This increase of the combination of vampires and religious icons has brought about a new genre that is trying to break into the mainstream of literature called Christian Vampire Romance. In the past vampires may have either smirked at religion or brooded at their damnation, but the newest writers have taken an entirely new spin on this story. For example, the Christian woman falls for a vampire and wants to be his redeemer and provide him not with eternal life on earth but in heaven with her. Another story tells of the Christian woman as a vampire who falls in love with an agnostic mortal man and after an eternal struggle they both save each other spiritually because overall the power of the cross is restored and Christianity triumphed. According to new Christian Romance Writer, Rose Fox, she has received negative feedback from various Christian fiction publishers because vampires are too associated with eroticism and occultism. But when she posted an article on her website she received immediate fan feedback with links to numerous websites dealing with upcoming releases of vampires in Christian fiction. (Fox, 2008) If this trend continues the top vampire literature genre may have to explore how vampires made a jump to Christian fiction.
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