|
|
Post by tomjsturner on Mar 22, 2005 9:57:58 GMT -5
What are peoples views on reading bookd written by Athiests?
The reason I ask is that over here in the UK we have an author Iain Banks - I believe he is published in the US as well though I am not sure. I started reading him before I found out he was aggressivly athiest, and grew to like him as a writer - I have to say I like his SF books better which though have anti-religion within are not anti-christian. But since learning about his religious beliefs, and reading one of his non-SF books which seemed only purpose was to say religion was wrong. I haven't been quite sure about whether I should carry on reading him.
I know there is a quote somewhere about not spending time withthe devil, but I'm not sure where it is from.
|
|
Skye
Mabinog
[M:261]
Posts: 104
|
Post by Skye on Mar 22, 2005 12:19:38 GMT -5
So far my experience(s) with aetheists have been very interesting and informative ones. I haven't read any books by such, but I personally know a few. And from what I know of them, they are very firm believers, although they aren't conventional in their outlook. People call them aetheists mainly because these folk shun 'religion' as nothing but frills and fancies to cover up the actual meaning of the teachings of the life of a person...in our case, Christ.
Quite frankly, I don't think there is anything wrong in your reading the works of Ian Banks. He sounds pretty much like these people I know...and trust me...they are absolutely genuine. If you actually listen to them with an open mind there is a lot you can learn. Of course there will be things you might find very hard to agree with...but at the end it is your battle...and once you fight it the right way then you've found what 'true religion' is. I, for one, am in the battle...
|
|
|
|
Post by twyrch on Mar 22, 2005 12:21:57 GMT -5
What are peoples views on reading bookd written by Athiests? The reason I ask is that over here in the UK we have an author Iain Banks - I believe he is published in the US as well though I am not sure. I started reading him before I found out he was aggressivly athiest, and grew to like him as a writer - I have to say I like his SF books better which though have anti-religion within are not anti-christian. But since learning about his religious beliefs, and reading one of his non-SF books which seemed only purpose was to say religion was wrong. I haven't been quite sure about whether I should carry on reading him. I know there is a quote somewhere about not spending time withthe devil, but I'm not sure where it is from. It's a personal choice. For me, I could care less about the author's religious background. I enjoy Terry Brooks, RA Salvatore, Lawhead, Lewis, JK Rowling, and Tolkien.... All different religious backgrounds, if any. Reading them doesn't make me less of a Christian, but it all depends on your convictions and beliefs. I enjoyed Star Trek immensely. Still do. But Gene Roddenbury was far from a church goer... and while the series didn't tout Christianity, it didn't knock it either... It took a religious neutral stance. *shrugs* That's just my take on it. |
|
|
|
Post by Lady Bookwyrm on Mar 22, 2005 17:21:03 GMT -5
If the literature is good...I read it. Who gives a *bleep* what the author is? I've read religious texts that are not Christian...I've read things that insult religion...and I've made my choices. Just because you do not agree with something does not mean you should not grant the courtesy of at least hearing the argument.
|
|
|
|
Post by Riothamus on Mar 22, 2005 17:21:42 GMT -5
What they said.  As long as you're pretty set in your own faith it's no biggie. |
|
|
|
Post by calixar on Mar 25, 2005 9:23:04 GMT -5
I agree with the above. I don't think it's a matter of if you should read, but if you can.
If the author isn't just out to flame religion, then I can read it no matter his view.
Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a good example of this. He was a devout atheist. He held and took for granted certain views that I disagree with strongly. I, sadly, believe that his forwarding address after death was... shall we say, at a lower elevation than previously.
However, I love the books he wrote. They're funny. From time to time he even seemed to poke fun at his own beliefs (the zebra crossing joke, for instance).
On the other hand we have Dan Brown's DaVinci Code. The purpose of that book was to make Christianity look bad. And my objections to it are not just as a Christian, but as lover of history. I've read commentaries by atheists about how historically inaccurate and full of poo that book is. He gets so caught up in bashing the church that he starts lying about everything... and even contradicts himself in order to reinforce his stance.
But overall, I'm glad I read it. It was a barely can but defintely should book. I wouldn't recommend it to everyone, but in my line of work I needed to see what he had to say.
So, anyway... Iain Banks... if you enjoy his work and feel you come away from it entertained and not attacked, read him with a clear conscience.
It's like the meat/vegetables arguement in Romans 14. If you can take it, then don't let anyone criticize you for it... not even yourself.
|
|
|
|
Post by Steltek on Mar 26, 2005 2:09:50 GMT -5
Myself, I have read what I believe to be a representative sample of Banks' work (Consider Phlebas and Player of Games, as well as Excession) and I have decided that I am unimpressed with his implausible tales of a society of space-hippies. |
|
Twyrch /|\
As long as you're pretty set in your own faith it's no biggie. 