When Morals and Books Collide
Jan. 7th, 2010 02:23 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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christianreaderI was going to just post this on my journal, but then I thought it might be better received here.
When it comes to what you read, how do you respond to characters or themes or plots that go against what you consider to be morally or religiously right?
Generally, I won't put down a book that has morally questionable content unless I dislike the writing style or the plot. But then, I'm not talking about truly repugnant subjects but things like, do the characters sleep together even though they aren't married? Does someone keep taking the Lord's name in vain or using the f-word every time they talk? Are the unpleasant activities described because they're necessary to the plot, or is this just a chance to wallow in filth?
There are a lot of books I wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole, though, because of what I know them to contain (either I started reading them and came across something distasteful, or I've heard about it from someone who did read them), and I've just been curious how others approach this. I don't want to give specific examples because I don't want to turn this into a debate about whether such-and-such a book was bad or good, but just in general. And, if you want to go a step beyond that, are you satisfied with the lines you have or haven't drawn, or do you feel that you're too permissive or too conservative?
Bleh, I hope this all makes sense!
When it comes to what you read, how do you respond to characters or themes or plots that go against what you consider to be morally or religiously right?
Generally, I won't put down a book that has morally questionable content unless I dislike the writing style or the plot. But then, I'm not talking about truly repugnant subjects but things like, do the characters sleep together even though they aren't married? Does someone keep taking the Lord's name in vain or using the f-word every time they talk? Are the unpleasant activities described because they're necessary to the plot, or is this just a chance to wallow in filth?
There are a lot of books I wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole, though, because of what I know them to contain (either I started reading them and came across something distasteful, or I've heard about it from someone who did read them), and I've just been curious how others approach this. I don't want to give specific examples because I don't want to turn this into a debate about whether such-and-such a book was bad or good, but just in general. And, if you want to go a step beyond that, are you satisfied with the lines you have or haven't drawn, or do you feel that you're too permissive or too conservative?
Bleh, I hope this all makes sense!
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Date: 2010-01-07 08:35 pm (UTC)I think I can be too permissive at times, because there are some really good stories that have a few risque scenes, but otherwise they are very enjoyable. Since most nonChristian books will involve the society norms (swearing, heavy drinking and premarital sex), it's very hard to avoid. I do avoid books that are gratuitous in those areas, but it's not always black and white.
I remember one book that started off really ungreat, and I was about to put it down, but I remembered several friends enjoyed it. I gave it a chance, and later I could see how that scene was somewhat necessary to the plot. Perhaps it could've been toned down a bit, but the author was trying to make a point about what sort of person this girl was, and the point definitely came across by having such a scene. It's really hard to say...but like I said, I generally feel I'm a bit too permissive when something comes up, but I don't seek out such books, of course. Often the scene will not show up until so far into the book that I'm already hooked on the story, so it seems silly to quit reading. But I should probably be more protective over my mind.