Post Tenebras Lux
I'm a book lover, of course. I don't have unlimited money so I can't go and buy all the books I want, I have to choose wisely as I'm sure is the case for most, if not all, of us. I mostly buy Christian books, but I do have a handful of fiction. My question is do you think it is important for people to read fiction?
And I'm not just talking about classics like War and Peace, Crime and Punishment, The Great Gatsby, etc. I'm talking about any fiction book that interests you.
The happiness of the godly is only begun in this world. - Caspar Olevian
guest
I read constantly - I read instead of watching television. And yes, I think fiction is important. There is nothing like a really well written novel to make you "see" things through another persons eyes, understand a bit better about why their world views and the way they react to things are so different than anything you could imagine yourself doing. Also, really good fiction can take you back to an era about which you would otherwise only know "facts". A gifted novelist can make a period of history come alive.
Good books are a treat, be they fiction or non-fiction.
V
Gods Sidekick
Have you checked out the short story by Ray Bradbury? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Sound_of_Thunder
Very good read.. Type of "butterfly effect"
Get on my horse.
I didn't know that fiction was the opposite of Christian with respect to books? Just kiddingOriginally Posted by BrckBrln
.
I probably mostly read fictional books when I read and I really like science fiction, but enjoy thrillers as well. I don't read that much at home, but when I was working in camps there is not much else to do in so I read a lot.
It is only the cynic who claims “to speak the truth” at all times and in all places to all men in the same way, but who, in fact, displays nothing but a lifeless image of the truth… He dons the halo of the fanatical devotee of truth who can make no allowance for human weaknesses; but, in fact, he is destroying the living truth between men. He wounds shame, desecrates mystery, breaks confidence, betrays the community in which he lives, and laughs arrogantly at the devastation he has wrought and at the human weakness which “cannot bear the truth”. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in Ethics.
Diamondback 2-2
I don't think it's important to read fiction; but I think that anyone who wants to read fiction should do so without anyone else making them feel bad for it.
The minstrel boy to the war is gone,
In the ranks of death ye will find him;
His father's sword he hath girded on,
And his wild harp slung behind him;
"Land of Song!" said the warrior bard,
"Tho' all the world betray thee,
One sword, at least, thy rights shall guard,
One faithful harp shall praise thee!
guest
Are you trying to take away my right to make people feel bad!?!?
Diamondback 2-2
Hehe
15 characters
The minstrel boy to the war is gone,
In the ranks of death ye will find him;
His father's sword he hath girded on,
And his wild harp slung behind him;
"Land of Song!" said the warrior bard,
"Tho' all the world betray thee,
One sword, at least, thy rights shall guard,
One faithful harp shall praise thee!
Senior Member
If you can't afford books, you have several options!
1.) just check 'em out on the library
2.) book club/start a "library" with friends where you have a list of everyone's books and you loan them out to each other - this is what Ben Franklin and others did
3.) Look for a book-sharing website online - there are tons of them
There's really no point in owning a book unless you read it repeatedly
Post Tenebras Lux
I can't stand used books. Ick! And, for me, I do like to re-read books. At least the good ones.
The happiness of the godly is only begun in this world. - Caspar Olevian
Diamondback 2-2
I like filling bookshelves; it makes me feel important. I judge my own personal wealth by the number of books I have and have read.
The minstrel boy to the war is gone,
In the ranks of death ye will find him;
His father's sword he hath girded on,
And his wild harp slung behind him;
"Land of Song!" said the warrior bard,
"Tho' all the world betray thee,
One sword, at least, thy rights shall guard,
One faithful harp shall praise thee!
guest
Weather or not a book "should" be read depends on the merits of the individual work, be it fiction or non.
I can think of many works of fiction that SHOULD be widely read. Animal Farm for instance.
Posting Freak
I'm not against folks reading fiction but I took the view a long time ago that reading trashy or insubstantial novels for entertainment was actually a phenomenal waste of time, given that it took much longer than watching a bit of TV. If the writer idn't a Christian, unless the book is a classic (like Animal Farm or 1984 or Lord of the Flies or Brave New World that really has something thought provoking to say about our world or its belief systems), we are actually opening our minds to be conformed to worldly ways of thinking - that even applies when we read these classics, so we ought to read them discerningly.
I find that I just don't spend nearly enough time in the word of God nor have I read a fraction of the excellent Christian books I own and have been meaning to read for ages - so to me it's a question of priorities - I really struggle to think that God would be happier for us to read a novel rather than His Word - or at least a good, Christian book that helps us understand Him and/or His Word better.
Just my
Formerly moonglow
I used to constantly read fiction....then I got a computer....
Who has time to read a book when they are reading on here all the time!
My reading really has slowed down and part of the reason is cause its hard for me to read then look over the top of my glasses at the TV...yes I multitask...I read few fictional books anymore and if they are fiction many times they have to do with the bible, God, etc...
But sometimes I think I ought get me a good fiction book to read for fun..its like going on vacation without leaving home.
God bless
"People do not drift toward holiness. Apart from grace-driven effort, people do not gravitate toward godliness, prayer, obedience to Scripture, faith, and delight in the Lord. We drift toward compromise and call it tolerance; We drift toward disobedience and call it freedom; We drift toward superstition and call it faith. We cherish the indiscipline of lost self-control and call it relaxation; we slouch toward prayerlessness and delude ourselves into thinking we have escaped legalism; we slide toward godlessness and convince ourselves we have been liberated?" - D A Carson
Grand Master
This question brings up an interesting comparison. Gen. Robert E. Lee the great civil war general was and was considered by all to be a very pious man. Devout in his ways, to this day he is the only person to make it through West Point without getting a single demerit. He thought reading fiction weakened the mind and never read novels. He also counseled others against it.
He opponant, US Grant, was not considered so pious. He hated his time at West Point and found solace only in the library and the stables. He said he read only novels and fiction. He went on to become the greatest pure General this country has ever produced. (IMHO)
I bring it up only to show the conflict on the issue between two so brilliant and accomplished men. I'm sure they were both right.
Formerly moonglow
I would think that what they read probably had nothing to do with their accomplishments though. But more to do with simply what kind of person they were inside.
God bless
"People do not drift toward holiness. Apart from grace-driven effort, people do not gravitate toward godliness, prayer, obedience to Scripture, faith, and delight in the Lord. We drift toward compromise and call it tolerance; We drift toward disobedience and call it freedom; We drift toward superstition and call it faith. We cherish the indiscipline of lost self-control and call it relaxation; we slouch toward prayerlessness and delude ourselves into thinking we have escaped legalism; we slide toward godlessness and convince ourselves we have been liberated?" - D A Carson
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