It is common to hear (at Intellectuelle and elsewhere) that Christians to be "counter-cultural", and when I hear that phrase I always think of zines.
A zine is a small paper publication that is usually made by a single person or small group of people, which focuses on their own interests, passions, politics, angst, neurosis, etc. People have been self-publishing books, pamphlets, tracts, etc. since the invention of the printing press. Most zines do not make a profit, but are a labor of love. Zines are a combination of words and/or images, put together in some combination on the page, and then copied, usually on a photocopier at a retail store, or on home copiers. The vast majority of zines published today focus on left-wing politics, sexual identity, feminism, punk rock and other such topics. Despite this depressing focus, the contents of many zines are highly creative, touching, funny or thought provoking.
If you read a book like The Zine Scene by Hillary Carlip and Francesca Lia Block, you can't help but be impressed with the kind of creative honesty coming out of the "angry punk angst-ridden self-mutilating homo, bi and transgendered atheist and/or definitely anti-Christian" subcultures. And whenever I get ready to publish another run of my own zines, I always wonder, "Where are all the Christian zinesters?" Even with the help of the internet, I have not been able to find even one other Christian paper zinemaker (If you know one or ARE one, please let me know). At first glance, this may be chalked up to the internet itself and the popularity of blogging, but the non-Christians blog too and they are still making paper zines. Non-Christians are self-publishing up a storm out there, with zines available on every conceivable subject and personal interest.
Are Christians unaware of the zine phenomenon since it is something we don't run into because it is outside our subculture? Honestly, I did not know of the plethora of zines out there myself, even when I began making my own publications many years ago, when I was a non-Christian. Since zines are by their nature outside the mainstream, they are not something you will see very often unless you are looking. But when I finally did start looking, I was surprised that more Christians are not using this medium for self-expression and outreach.
If you do a Google search (and perhaps look back to your own non-Christian past or interactions with non-Christians) you will find that there is a widespread stereotype among unbelievers that Christians are boring and one-dimensional. Of course, we know this is not the case, since we know ourselves and our Christian friends, and we see people who are vibrant conversationalists, musicians, artists of various stripes, voracious readers, scholars of many disciplines, gracious homemakers, craftspeople, and (insert interest, hobby or vocation here). Since zines are something tangible that can be put out in places like laundromats, bus stops, coffee-houses and other public or semi-public places where unbelievers find themselves, more Christian zines would give those unbelievers the opportunity to see that Christians Are People Too, and that we have interests in the same common grace pursuits they find themselves engaged in.
This kind of bridging-the-gap apologetics can help the non-Christian get over what is often their major objection (deserved or no) to Christianity - its adherents (this means us, folks).
Some common objections from those who might be intrigued by the idea of zinemaking could be 1) that you don't know how to do layout and design or desktop publishing, or 2) that you don't know how to express yourself in writing, or 3) that you don't have anything to say and those unbelievers are right about Christians being boring if they are talking about you. The facts are, however, that 1) many zines are put together completely sans computer, and 2) many are mostly drawings or collage or random ways of getting your point across and 3) since you are the only one who has ever lived your life with its unique combination of experiences, thoughts and talents, you do have something to say, and what you say can reach people in ways no one else could. If you would like to try, but just don't know where to begin, there are various online tutorials online about zinemaking, including a very brief workshop I had on my blog here and here.
We know that we are to do all things to the glory of God, and I think zinemaking is a great way for us to bring Him glory, because it shows forth His handiwork in the great diversity of people he has created, as well as being a medium wherein we can promote fellowship between believers, as well as "...give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you..." (1 Peter 3:15). This is not to say that a Christian's zine would necessarily be overtly theological or evangelistic, for God can and does uses the diverse everyday callings and vocations of His people to reach others. Showing and sharing your life and thoughts in this creative way will not fail to be a testimony to His grace, since you are living that life in faith.
If you have any questions or thoughts about zines and/or zinemaking, feel free to comment here or email me personally and I will help you all I can. Perhaps someday we might glimpse a beginning of the Christian Zine Revolution! That would be great reading, and I hope that in the future, I will be able to curl up on the couch with a stack of them to peruse over coffee.
