One common element is the misuse of power. Evangelical leaders or groups might use their religious authority to manipulate people. For example, they could make decisions for members without their consent, all in the name of God.
Another element is the creation of a culture of fear. They make members believe that there are all sorts of threats outside the group or if they don't abide by every rule. This fear keeps people in line and stops them from questioning the status quo, which is quite a horror when you think about how it restricts people's freedom and rational thinking.
False teachings often play a role. They might spread ideas that are not based on the true essence of the evangelical faith but are more about controlling people. Such as the idea that only by following a certain person or group blindly can one be saved.
Another theme is the exploration of the unknown in a religious context. There could be elements like the existence of demons or other dark entities that were not fully understood or acknowledged in evangelical beliefs. These novels often take those unknowns and turn them into sources of horror, making the readers question what they thought they knew about their religious worldviews.
One evangelical horror story could be about a cult - like evangelical group that isolates its members from their families. They use fear - mongering and false prophecies to control people. For example, they might tell members that if they leave the group, they will be doomed to eternal damnation.
One well - known Evangelical Christian Christmas story is the story of the Nativity from the Bible. It tells of Mary, a virgin, being visited by the angel Gabriel and told she would bear the Son of God. Joseph, her betrothed, was also visited in a dream. They traveled to Bethlehem where Jesus was born in a manger. This story is central to Evangelical Christmas celebrations as it represents the birth of the Savior.
One well - known 'ex evangelical horror novel' could be 'The Exorcist'. It delves into the horror of demonic possession which has strong religious undertones that can be related to the ex - evangelical theme. The sense of good and evil, and the battle against a powerful demonic force, all within a religious context, makes it a great example.
Isolation. Often, in IT horror stories, the characters are isolated. For example, a lone system administrator might be the only one in the server room when something strange starts to happen with the servers. Another common element is the loss of control. The technology that is supposed to be under human control suddenly starts acting on its own, like a self - driving car going berserk in an IT - related horror scenario.
Horror stories often feature a protagonist who is in over their head. They might start out as an ordinary person, like in 'Rosemary's Baby' where Rosemary is just a normal woman, but then they are thrust into a terrifying situation. Settings also play a big role. Abandoned asylums, cemeteries, and old mansions are common settings in horror stories as they have an air of mystery and danger already associated with them.
Fear of death is a big element in horror stories. The threat of death, whether it's from a serial killer or a supernatural force, is always present. Also, there's often a sense of helplessness. The characters find themselves in situations where they seem to have little control over what's happening to them. For instance, in 'The Blair Witch Project', the characters are lost in the woods and being hunted by an unknown entity. There's also the use of suspense. Writers build up the tension by delaying the reveal of the horror, making the readers or viewers more and more anxious as the story progresses.
Another is the discovery of strange or disturbing behavior during the date. Like the person having extreme mood swings or being overly possessive. For example, suddenly getting angry for no reason or acting like they own the other person right away.
Food quality issues are common. For example, finding bugs or foreign objects in the food.
Common elements in diet horror stories include unrealistic goals. Many people aim to lose a huge amount of weight in a very short time. This leads them to choose very harsh diets. Also, ignoring the body's signals is a big part. They keep on with the diet even when they feel really unwell, like being constantly tired or having headaches, thinking it's just a phase.