Teens taught about sex ... by vampires

As record-shattering numbers of teens flock to the theaters for the third "Twilight" movie, many will be confronted by a notion completely foreign to them: the value of virtue and purity, taught by … a vampire.

Now, last year I made the mistake of reviewing another sequel, the sixth "Harry Potter" film, without reading the books or seeing the previous films. Consequently, I erred in my understanding of the plotline – and many readers let me hear it!

I determined not to make the same mistake with the "Twilight" films, and so – though I didn't pick up the novels – I rented the previous two films in the "Twilight" saga before watching "Eclipse."

As an adult male, I reluctantly have to admit, I thought "Eclipse" was far better than the original "Twilight" (which should have been subtitled "Heroin for Teen Girls," as it presents a misunderstood heroine falling for the perfect guy – athletic, rebellious, dark, mysterious, sensitive, strong, protective, but wounded, needing her to heal him and at the same time worshiping her like a princess, a combination more seductive to girls than any pheromone and more addictive than cocaine) or "New Moon" (more appropriately titled "Jacob's New Abs" or "New Pecs").

"Eclipse" also ventured far more that its predecessors into mature themes on sex, as the film's two iconic characters engage in a movie-long debate about the merits of marriage, virginity and virtue – and, to my surprise, that's not necessarily a bad thing.

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In any worldview discussion of "Twilight" from a Christian perspective, however, it would be neglectful not to explore the occult elements of a movie about vampires, werewolves and their ilk.

The premise of the "Twilight" saga is that vampires exist as cold-fleshed, bloodless immortals that drink blood and occasionally turn humans into vampires with a bite. They have incredible athletic prowess, as well as several varieties of extrasensory powers. Many of them are evil, heartless creatures, but in "Twilight," one coven of vampires attempts to blend in with humans and limit their diet to only animal blood. One member of this "vegetarian" clan, Edward, falls in love with a human teenager, Bella.

There also exists in "Twilight" a Native American tribe with "wolf's blood" flowing in their veins. The sworn enemies of the vampires, the tribe shape-shifts into wolves to battle the bloodsuckers. One of the werewolves, Jacob, also falls for Bella.

To be fair, the film franchise avoids the overt satanic themes of other vampire stories. Pentagrams, crucifixes, coffins, magic spells and blood rituals are absent from the story, though other less identifiable symbols and myths are scattered through the series, particularly in regards to the more wicked covens.

For the most part, "Twilight" portrays vampires not as demons at war with God, but as just another species of humanoids, almost like the mutants of the "X-Men" films.

Notably, however, Edward believes as a vampire he is inherently evil, has no soul and is damned should he be slain. Bella, naturally, believes his reformed, "vegetarian" ways have redeemed him.

But can this film's frank and honest debate on sexual morality redeem the source material itself? I mean, vampires? Really?

I have to argue in the negative, for even though "Harry Potter" is a comparatively innocent warlock and Edward of "Twilight" a comparatively innocent leech, the way these two occult tales have captured the imagination and worship of teenagers is nothing short of disturbing.

Multiple billions of dollars in book and ticket sales between these two franchises – more money than the GDP of many countries – have been shelled out by a swooning teen culture that idolizes what Deuteronomy 18:12 calls "detestable to the LORD," practices that in real life only exist when real teens submit themselves to Satan.

I remember the phrase, "When you play with fire you're sure to be burned," and I cannot but be suspicious of what powers are pushing the tidal wave of affection for occult stories. Are these tales and these characters really the heroes and stories that should linger in the imagination of children?

But that said, the vampires are only the backdrop for the story of "Eclipse," and its main message – on sexuality and purity – deserves to be examined.

Throughout the film, the modern-aged Bella repeatedly begs, manipulates and virtually blackmails her vampire boyfriend to have sex with her. As always, Edward refuses; instead, he asks her to marry him.

After the series' most steamy kissing scene to date, Edward again backs away, causing Bella to plead that he doesn't have to be so worried about protecting her "virtue."

His response is sublime.

"It's not my virtue I want to worry about," he says.

Edward continues, "I know it's not a modern notion –"

"No, it's not," she says. "It's ancient."

Audiences are then reminded that Edward was "frozen" at the age of 17 back in the early 1900s, when societal mores were "ancient," to use Bella's term. Edward then presents a tremendously touching and romantic explanation of how he would have "courted" her, were it still the early 1900s, how he would have protected her and stolen nothing more than perhaps a kiss or two before asking her father's permission to marry her.

More than just a quaint tale, however, Edward's honor wins the day and the argument.

It's fascinating that we finally see the heroine as the immature little emo girl she's been since the first film and the heroin-boy as more of a mature and virtuous man. If this is the heartthrob that teenage girls are going to long after, then I have to agree with Bella's father. When he finds out the guy his daughter is so infatuated with is – to use her words – "old school," he says, "Hm. I'm starting to like this Edward more."

I just wish "this Edward" wasn't a vampire. I wonder what Bella's dad will think when he finds out.

Content advisory

• "Eclipse" contains only a few mild profanities and one violation of the Third Commandment.
• The film is far heavier on violence than any previous "Twilight" movie. As the evil vampires are raising an army of voracious "newborn" vampires, the film shows dozens of vampire attacks and bites. Though the gore is kept to a minimum, bodies are thrown about, broken, snapped and slurped. There are also extended battle scenes between the vampires and werewolves, leading to vampires' limbs being torn from their bodies (though there is no blood, as vampires don't have any, I guess), broken bones, bites, fistfights and so forth.
• Sexuality is also heavier in "Eclipse," including several kissing scenes and one heavy make-out scene, including the discussion on sex mentioned above. There are several innuendos thrown into a scene where one vampire can read a werewolf's mind. "Eclipse" also includes a backstory on a female character who was gang-raped (though nothing more than the leering of her assailants is actually seen).
• Bella has an extended monologue near the end of the film where she talks about "choosing between who I should be and who I am … I've never felt normal because I'm not normal," before insisting that Edward's "world" is where she feels herself, where she "belongs." It's not difficult to see how the entire speech is a parallel to the "value" of a person with homosexual temptations embracing the homosexual "world" and lifestyle.
• Outside of the vampires and werewolves themselves, the film contains several vague symbols, pieces of jewelry and tattoos that may or may not have occult meaning. An Egyptian ankh cross is shown a few times hanging on a wall. None of these are depicted in ritual or overtly occult context. A Native American legend is told that has some vague spiritualism in it, but again, these elements are downplayed. There is no meaningful discussion or reference to religion.