Bloodsuckers

Dracula is still causing a scene in Romania.

Centuries after his undeath, Dracula is still upsetting Christians around Europe. Orthodox, Protestant, and Catholic churches in Romania have joined together to oppose Dracula Park, which the Romania Tourism Minister says will “propel Romania to stardom.” “Christian and humane values are being imperiled by this attempt to promote entertainment and games based on cruelty, horror, occultism and vampirism,” said a Lutheran statement. Meanwhile, British Christians are opposing plans to make Dracula a major part of a tourism center at Whitby Abbey. Though ruins of the abbey supposedly inspired Bram Stoker to write his book, it is more important as the place where Celtic and Roman Christians fought out their disagreements in 664. “I am angry at the way the town is exploited—and exploits its links with Dracula and the dark spirituality associated with it,” says vicar Graham Taylor.

Related Elsewhere

Christianity Today’s previous coverage includes:

Churches Want to Drive a Stake in Transylvania’s Dracula ParkTourist attraction gives a false image of the country and could fuel interest in the occult, Christian leaders say. (Nov. 30, 2001)

The project plans for Dracula Land are online with computer-generated images of the proposed park’s look. The park already has an official site as well. There are not many features on it except for a map of planned attractions.

Christian Science Monitor writer Lucian Kim and BusinessWeek Online’s Mark Andress have written extensive reports on the controversies cursing Translyvania’s Dracula Land.

Historical accuracy and appropriateness are not the only controversial elements in the plan to launch Dracula Land. The government in Bucharest has found that it does not own the rights to the image of the legendary vampire—Universal Studios does.