Not all goths are into vampires. However, for many of today's goths, interest in vampires does seem to be a prominent feature. Modern vampire movies such as Blade, The Lost Boys, Bramstokes Dracula, and Confessions of a Vampire (to name but a few) have been adopted as cult classics by the gothic community. So what attraction do vampires hold for goths? Maybe it is the dark air of mystery, or maybe it is because many modern vampire movies depict vampires as wearing the kind of clothes which goths would wear themselves. There certainly seems to be a connection between goths and vampires in that such things as death, graveyards and darkness (although I don't know of any goths who run from garlic!!) appear to be prominent features. But for whatever the reason, there can be no doubt that many goths are strongly drawn to vampires. Some goths, who are taken up with interest in vampires, will mimic the fictional vampires they see in the following ways:

Not going out in the daylight, only at night. Sleeping in a coffin. Teeth changed, through dentistry, to give the effect of "fangs". Drinking blood. The goths who go for this usually drink animal blood which is kept refrigerated.

Some goths also claim to be "psychic vampires", who although acknowledging that they cannot literally 'suck a persons blood', will nevertheless suck a persons life energy. There appears to be some ambiguity as to how this practice is actually achieved.

Many goths feel that interest in vampires are just a bit of fun, and indeed many do not go to some of the extremes mentioned above. But for some of those who are heavily influenced by vampires, the distinction between fiction and reality can become blurred. This is illustrated by a 1997 survey carried out by 5 News which revealed that 1500 Americans actually believe themselves to be vampires.

From a Christian perspective, the issue of blood, immortality and the after life are interesting themes. The Bible does not condone the drinking of blood (in fact the opposite eg. Leviticus 3:17) but there was one who shed His blood so that we might have a new life. Jesus Christ shed His blood on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this because He loves each one of us. You, as an individual, are precious to God.

Vampires are certainly a dark topic. But for those who are deeply engrossed in such things, God wants you to come out of the darkness and into the light of Christ.

The Bible says: "And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:5-9)

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life...And this is the judgement, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come into the light, lest his deeds should be exposed." (John 3:16, 19-20).

Jesus said: "I am the light of the world; he who follows me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life" (John 8:12)