BellaOnline Forums Books and Music Christian Literature "Safe" publishers

Ian -

I can't answer for anyone else of course, but I think there is a place for challenging and thought provoking reading and for reading that is simply enjoyable or in a faith content "faith affirming". I read a lot of stuff that other people in this forum probably wouldn't, but I also object to false advertising. There is very little that I think is actually inappropriate, but context is very important. For instance, I love romance novels and I don't have a problem with reading books with sexual content, but if I pick up a romance that claims to be a soft or Christian romance on the cover and ends up having explicit sexual content, I'm upset about the false advertising and would not feel comfortable giving to the thrift store with my other used books because I know that many soft romance readers would be upset or offended by the content. I also will not send out books for reuse that promote violence or hatred. One of the things that I find disturbing in so-called Christian books is condemnation of others who do not share the writers beliefs, sometimes to the point of hatred or promoting violence.

Julie

Ian,

I don't think "safe" = "unchallenging".

The premise of the question was more about discernment. This is especially important in the life of a person who is a new believer or whose grasp of the foundations of Christianity is not yet solid.

When you pick up a book on Christianity, often, it strays from true Christian principles and foundation into a synthesized blend of Christianity, Buddhism, New Age, etc. How do you discern, prior to purchasing, that the book is true to biblical Christianity and not a synthesized blend? The person who lacks a solid foundation and who wants to follow traditional, biblical christianity would then be led astray with bad theology.

You're the Pagan Editor. Paganism originally was a term applied to polytheistic religion. In modern times, it has encompassed Wicca, etc. This is a stretch and may not be the best example, but let me try and relate it to that. If, as a pagan, you believed that the only true form of paganism centered around Greco-Roman polytheism, you wouldn't want a book that you purchased to learn more about it to be all about wiccan rites. Likewise, books on christianity are expected to be foundational and not a mixture of the new rhetoric coming out of the emergent church and other cirlces.

I am not against "challenging" books provided you know what you believe and why you believe it (have a foundation). I read books that express views in opposition to christianity. Going in, though, you know that is what you are reading.