Stephen King: Believer in Hell and Heaven

From King's, The Shining, ''All work and no play make Jack a dull boy.
All work an...''

Written by Michael Corthell

It's Halloween and you know what that means...our local guy, the King of Horror is front and center. But does he believe in God? Apparently so...

''I choose to believe that God exists, and therefore I can say, ‘God, I can’t do this by myself. Help me not to take a drink today. Help me not to take a drug today.’ And that works fine for me.'' 

Stephen King

I've always thought that anyone that doesn't have a higher power makes himself a lower creature.

King does believe, he has a higher power and it's kept him sober. He couldn't do it himself but that isn't why I'm writing this short commentary. Stephen King also believes, because he believes in his talent - it is God given.

''Why would God give a man the talent to scare the world's collective pants off?'' (Shawshank Redemption excepted - that was one fine story lesson in patience, perseverance and an object lesson in Karma).

There are insights into the human condition that just aren't taught in Psychology 101 or 102.

In Misery,  Paul Sheldon's number one fan is his number one threat. It also reveals King's fear. King also reveals in this book the superstition of a writer and the ritual when he completes his work. (Stephen King is a character, both major and minor in all his stories - like Alfred Hitchcock)

As the short story, Silent Snow, Secret Snow by Conrad Aiken illustrates the descent into autism so The Shining showcases alcoholic psychosis.

King's talent is indeed God given and evidently God wants us all to know that 'there is a little bit of evil in the best of us and a little bit of good in the worst of us.'

Stephen King is not only a great story teller, he is a very fine educator. He not only teaches us who we are as human beings, but where we're going as a civilization.

For more on King's higher power go HERE (don't worry, it's not Hell)