I hope the point of my article has not been lost on the less-than-ideal portrayals in the Twilight series. My point is simply to highlight the power and necessity of self-mastery for all of us in marriage — even “nice-guys.”

Some of the comments here do wisely suggest that none of us get caught up in fantasy. I recently read an article about the dangers of “chick flicks” when they promote unrealistic expectations. I do think there can be some value to chick flicks (especially for women who are trying to cultivate their sexuality) but I agree that danger lurks as well.

The real answer, in my mind, is to seek God to help us overcome the natural man in all it’s varieties. That kind of self-discipline and self-mastery is what I hope to encourage readers to consider in their own lives.

Husbands and wifes both need emotional and physical intimacy and sometimes seek for love in the wrong places due to lack of self control of the “natural man,” spousal neglect, and Satan’s temptations. When we seek counterfeit intimacy through “Twilight,” romance novels, or pornography it makes it more difficult to develop genuine intimacy with our spouse.

Pornography is scoffed and scorn, as it should be, for the “unrealistic” and illusionary depiction of being wanted, loved, needed, felt, desired; I believe men seek after pornography as Satan’s counterfeit to experience these divine feelings.

I too believe the “Twilight” series (and other romantic novels) may also be a counterfeit or fantasy for marital intimacy.

I believe husband and wife both want and need physical, emotional, spiritual intimacy, and we all have divine desires to be wanted, needed, desired, appreciated. Sometimes, we seek this love in the wrong places due to our failure to control the “natural man,” negligence by our spouse, and Satan’s temptations.

Husbands and wives both have a responsibility to develop intimacy without the illusion, fantasy, and unrealism of pornography or romance novels; I feel the “Twilight” movie and series may well be detrimental to our marital development.

I saw an interesting breakdown of the Twilight books from a feminist perspective, and it made a number of good points (many about how poorly written the book is with nonexistent characterization), but the ones I took away from it dealt with the abusiveness of the Swan/Cullen relationship, from the second entry dealing with how to write like Stephenie Meyers: “Personally, I recommend using jealousy, lack of intimacy, sexual coercion, broken promises, and controlling behavior because those are all quite easy to justify; all the hero must do is claim that he acts out of his desire to protect the heroine from danger because of his overwhelming love for her. Additionally, if there is another possible romantic interest for the heroine outside of the hero, isolating the heroine from him is a particularly effective method for the hero to use. One example might be siphoning the gasoline from the heroine’s moped to prevent her from leaving her house.

It is especially important to note that the heroine must not find fault in the hero for his abusive actions, as that would make him much less appealing. Instead, she should excuse his behavior by saying ‘he just loves me’ and then continue to submit to his will.”

Both articles can be found here:

http://psa.blastmagazine.com/2008/08/16/twilight-sucks-and-not-in-a-good-way/

http://psa.blastmagazine.com/2008/08/23/twilight-a-follow-up-and-a-promise/

P.S. I as a well adjusted male, respectful of women, and a member of the LDS church found the books to be terrifying in their portrayal of an “ideal” relationship.

P.P.S. The actor who portrayed Edward in the movie was… not impressed… with Mrs. Meyers, and believes she needs some serious therapy.