Banned Books Week: What Do You Think of Book Banning?

[ProxyMom]

MaggieS posted a link that talked about some groups trying to donate some Christian books to a dozen libraries and those books being turned down by the librarians. Not really the same as parents pushing school districts to ban a book. Plus, these were donated books that supposedly didn't meet the criteria that it takes to get into a library. Not quite the same thing as what happened with Ellen Hopkins' book, for example.

I wonder what the criteria could be? I would think pre-censorship and post-censorship are fairly similar, just different people doing the censoring.

[Jennifer Brown]

Well, not necessarily. I really wish some librarians would comment about this, but I'm guessing that if a book is poor quality (ie: calling itself "non-fiction" but having no real research behind it, or if it's riddled with spelling and grammar errors) or is self-published or published by a tiny independent publisher it will not qualify. I think the article said something about books needing to have had at least two positive reviews or something along those lines. So it could be not about the content or subject matter of the book at all. It just happens that a lot of those books such as those students were trying to donate are either self-pubbed or pubbed by tiny publishers, so it may not meet the criteria of getting on a library's shelves. Again, this is all my best guess, given what I've learned over the past few months about getting into libraries.

Also, if the library doesn't believe that the book is ever going to be checked out (because of lack of interest), they won't want to spend their money on it.

There are lots of reasons why a book might not end up in a school library, would be my guess. But the only one this discussion is concerning is because it was "banned" due to parental pressure.

[Phouka]

As far as Christian books in libraries go, there are already an enormous amount of Christian books and books with Christian themes in the libraries that routinely go unquestioned and unchallenged. Much of reading and literary study is a matter of interpretation, and Biblical themes are rampant in much of modern literature. The Learning Tree, any of the VeggieTales books/videos (which are in the Wyandotte County Libraries, at least), Paradise Lost, Marlowe's Dr. Faustus (or any of the other Faust tales), the early modern American sermons, The Scarlet Letter, The Canterbury Tales, The Crucible, The Divine Comedy, The Chronicles of Narnia--all of these can be found in your library most of them are taught in our classrooms, and all have Christian themes. Check out today's TV shows and movies--the whole last season of Supernatural dealt with the war between heaven and hell; House frequently deals with matters of faith (or lack thereof); and even The Matrix trilogy was a traditional Christ/savior story. You would have to go one heck of a long way to even come close to "banning" Christian books or books with Christian themes in them.

[cnnplus5]

great thread JB!

I don't think books should be banned from society as a whole. But I don 't have a problem with some books being "banned" from school libraries, especially elementary ones. It is very difficult for you to know what your kids are reading all the time - what if they keep the book at school?
I really don't worry about this too much...I'm much more liberal with my kids reading and movie watching then I come across on the board

[hotmomma]

LOL! I was just thinking the Canterbury Tales should have been banned, and now they are being referred to as Christian literature! Just thought that was funny.

My thought is, it's a school library, there should be some scruples on what's put in it.

Public libraries should probably have whatever they want in them.

I'm not entire sure anything should be "banned" from print altogether. But, I'm sure there are some grey areas.

Oh, and the Matrix probably shouldn't be lumped into the "Christian" mix either.

The argument of, "they're hearing it at school anyway, so why not let them read it in books or watch it in movies" is totally lame. If my kids are hearing inappropriate conversation, that's beyond my control. However, I am not going to spoon feed it to them. When I reach the final judgement, I am going to honestly say that I tried to teach my kids Philippians 4:8.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

Allowing my kids to read books with foul language, sex, violence, etc. does not fall into this category.

The biggest issue I have with books, is the required reading in school. As I mentioned before, I was required to read the Canterbury Tales, and I thought they were absolutely vile. Make them available in the library...that's one thing. Force kids to read them...that's another.

And remember...Garbage In, Garbage Out.

[Phouka]

Oh, and the Matrix probably shouldn't be lumped into the "Christian" mix either.

It follows the classic model, especially if you watch the whole series. Neo is the prophesied messiah, "the One," who is foretold to save the humans from the machines. Once found, he performs miracles. At the end, he is sacrificed to save his people--as they drag his body into the machine city, his arms even come up into the classic crucifixion pose. It's absolutely a Christian story, based on the Christian model. Tons and tons and tons of Biblical references, imagery, etc. there.

The Canterbury Tales follows a group of people on a pilgrimage to a Christian martyr site in Canterbury--it's the whole framework for the series of tales. They're telling stories to one another to keep themselves amused while they travel (it's the 1400s, give or take--it takes weeks to get there, if not months). The stories generally revolve around the church in one way or another. Some of them are bawdier than others, though.

[hotmomma]

Oh, and the Matrix probably shouldn't be lumped into the "Christian" mix either.

It follows the classic model, especially if you watch the whole series. Neo is the prophesied messiah, "the One," who is foretold to save the humans from the machines. Once found, he performs miracles. At the end, he is sacrificed to save his people--as they drag his body into the machine city, his arms even come up into the classic crucifixion pose. It's absolutely a Christian story, based on the Christian model. Tons and tons and tons of Biblical references, imagery, etc. there.

The Canterbury Tales follows a group of people on a pilgrimage to a Christian martyr site in Canterbury--it's the whole framework for the series of tales. They're telling stories to one another to keep themselves amused while they travel (it's the 1400s, give or take--it takes weeks to get there, if not months). The stories generally revolve around the church in one way or another. Some of them are bawdier than others, though.

Yes, I am familiar with both.

I'm not going to say you are wrong, because I believe I can see your point. However, as a Christian, I cannot promote either of these as good entertainment for the Christian crowd.

[ProxyMom]

If a lion eats a Christian, is it a Christian lion?

hotmomma -- it was the wife of bath and her rant against virginity, wasn't it?

Phouka -- Joseph Campbell and I respectfully disagree with the assertion that is a 'Christian' model.

[seabiscuit]

I guess I could be talked into banning any literature written in middle freakin' english.

[teenymom]

I guess I could be talked into banning any literature written in middle freakin' english.

I second. I hate that book as much as Hotmamma, although for different reasons. I am having flashbacks to college now, and not the happy drunken kind.