I got alot out of this and I thank you. I've read my whole life and enjoy reading. Being who I am, I rarely (like I can count on one hand) stop reading something I start. Over the years, there have been many phases of what I read. For the past years, I read only Christian books. Since starting on this part of the journey, I have learned to look up the author before I make a purchase. Some have been....odd, in my opinion. I wonder if that is something like what you experienced. I did finish the book but never read it again (I'm a "repeat reader"). I have my favorite Christian authors for sure but I tend to always go back to the source anymore. When I need to "read something different", I pull out a different translation and read that. I think maybe I'm on the safe side doing that.
Thanks for reading, Wanda. Looking up the author before buying is a great strategy that can save a lot of frustration. I actually warn my students to be especially alert when reading anything by a professed Christian. The tendency is to assume they will be truthful and accurate and thus let down one's guard. But Christians are just as human as non-Christians, and of course they can be inadvertently inaccurate or deliberately deceitful or anything between. Because they profess to be Christian, we need to pay especial attention to what they say and evaluate it well and honestly, because they are professing to speak in a voice that honors the Lord. I _expect_ non-Christians to say things that are, well, non-Christian, so I'm aware to watch for it and not overly bothered by it; I expect Christians to speak truth and need to remind myself that we don't always.
I have my students read Sir Francis Bacon's essay "Of Studies." One of his metaphors reminds me of your commentary here: "Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested." We can't know which to digest if we never taste; on the other hand, we can taste and discern the danger in swallowing some of them since digesting them is out of the question. Balance, balance, balance! As always, thank you for your wise analysis.
I got alot out of this and I thank you. I've read my whole life and enjoy reading. Being who I am, I rarely (like I can count on one hand) stop reading something I start. Over the years, there have been many phases of what I read. For the past years, I read only Christian books. Since starting on this part of the journey, I have learned to look up the author before I make a purchase. Some have been....odd, in my opinion. I wonder if that is something like what you experienced. I did finish the book but never read it again (I'm a "repeat reader"). I have my favorite Christian authors for sure but I tend to always go back to the source anymore. When I need to "read something different", I pull out a different translation and read that. I think maybe I'm on the safe side doing that.
Thanks for reading, Wanda. Looking up the author before buying is a great strategy that can save a lot of frustration. I actually warn my students to be especially alert when reading anything by a professed Christian. The tendency is to assume they will be truthful and accurate and thus let down one's guard. But Christians are just as human as non-Christians, and of course they can be inadvertently inaccurate or deliberately deceitful or anything between. Because they profess to be Christian, we need to pay especial attention to what they say and evaluate it well and honestly, because they are professing to speak in a voice that honors the Lord. I _expect_ non-Christians to say things that are, well, non-Christian, so I'm aware to watch for it and not overly bothered by it; I expect Christians to speak truth and need to remind myself that we don't always.
I have my students read Sir Francis Bacon's essay "Of Studies." One of his metaphors reminds me of your commentary here: "Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested." We can't know which to digest if we never taste; on the other hand, we can taste and discern the danger in swallowing some of them since digesting them is out of the question. Balance, balance, balance! As always, thank you for your wise analysis.
Oh. that's a wonderful essay; I used it a number of times in class as well. Thanks for pointing out the connection. Balance: it's the way to live!