When Morals and Books Collide

[main-hoon-emily.livejournal.com]

I 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!

Comments

[rosalinegunn.livejournal.com]

I think that irritates me the most is when a book has the overarching agenda of making a mockery of my faith. It is supposed to be a thriller, but it is really another book explaining to everyone why Christianity is for idiots. I absolutely hate that and immediately toss any book that falls into it. I actually find myself reading more and more teen focused literature because they seem to be able to tell a story without having gratuitous sex or resorting to swearing every word. I like good Christian fiction, unfortunately there isn't very much of it. Most of it is a sermon written as fiction. Jesus was a great storyteller, I wonder why most christian writers think it isn't good if it isn't overt. I really love good characters. I don't have a problem reading a book that has fallible human behavior in it. The Bible itself is full of sex, greed, murder, and various sins. It is more in whether that behavior is rewarded or denounced that I look at.