A book to avoid

[firstcorrinthian]

Hi - my name is Geraldine and I'm a primary school teacher from Wales. I am a voracious reader and, although I am a rather conservative Christian, I am prepared to see authors' points of view and tolerate a lot in the name of art. However, I have just read a book that came highly recommended but has got me so mad that I have had to make this post to warn all other moderate Christians against it.

The book is called DANNY by Chancery Stone and is published by someone called Poison Pixie. DANNY is supposed to be a study of the breakdown of the traditional nuclear family and is written by an author who shows obvious talent and has abused his God-given book most horribly. This is an evil, ugly book. And not just because it is wall-to-wall pornography and bad language, or that it shows a disgusting side to family breakdown. We all know that there are bad people out there doing bad things and there is justification for showing this in the proper context, but this family are just not real, they are excessive and unGodly and just plain depraved.

However there are lots of books like this. Steven King, James Herbert etc all wallow in similar excesses. What makes this tome-like novel worthy of our concern and alarm are the obvious parallels to Jesus in its wanton hero. Danny, the aforementioned hero, is a sloth-like tempter posing in the role of victim. He constantly strikes Christ-like poses whilst in the throes of the most disgusting acts, his brothers emulate the disciples and there is a thinly-disguised Judas parody in the odious brother Ian who fawns on him and eventually betrays him.

I am not in favour of banning anything but I think that we must pass the word around about this novel. It is vile. It is disgusting. But worst of all it is dangerous.

 

[Lithium Hobo]

You posted to warn Christians right? So...it's free game for me? Super! This thread makes me want to read it all more the more. Not to offend, but if there's one review that'll make me read a book, it's the review of disgust from a Christian. ^.^ I look forward to reading it.

 

[Abrowne]

Warning noted, thank you. I think it is my responsibility as a Christian not to read things that could be potentially morally harmful to me. I usually have a 'mental filter' on things beyond what I would call acceptable, although I will gladly watch the latest Hollywood film. As long as I remain conservative about the things I see/hear, I enjoy it. Same thing goes for books. Words can be just as bad! However, perhaps the best way to stop people from reading such things would be to remain quiet. After all, any publicity is (good) publicity.
Blessings,

ash

 

[Lessien]

Or just say that it's a terrible book and it sucked. That'd work too.

 

[Mtnmover]

Thank you for the warning. We need to be careful of what we watch, read and listen to because much can be used as a stronghold. And as we know, the mind is the battlefield. Believe me, I was hugh heavy metal fan and it took much to clean out my attic. I still have to resist listening to some of it when I'm in my car and have XM radio.
As for Lithium Hoho, you really need to pray for wisdom because you're still on milk. (Don't mean to offend-right?)

Enjoy the day the Lord has made for you,
Mountainmover

 

[xhristlives]

i completely agree and understand ur perspective firstcorrinthian, the content of so many authors is very depraved and immoral, and often they add it in in the middle of entralling novels, making it hard 2 avoid, and pretty much ENRAGING...

 

[Michael Angelo]

I too am a voracious reader, or perhaps, was. Since I have been saved, nothing seems to satisfy as it once did. I think that much of what I read was my attempt to avoid the emptiness of my life. I am not sure. I do believe this though, that I must take care in what I do choose to read or watch. The things of the world are designed to seduce us and seperate us from GOD, consequently I have kept my reading to the WORD. Again, I am new and I don't know if this feeling will remain, but it seems as though there is some much that I need to learn. At any rate, GOD bless you, sister in Wales.

 

[Illuminite]

its dangerous to let others think for you but you have freedom to say what you want here.i don't believe in shielding myself from things,thats how i discern,learn and evolve.now if its at a middle school lib.or kids under 18 wanna read it,thats another topic.im not interested in reading it anyways,but really i rarely read a book someone hands to me or shys away from.its a personal thing.take it easy.

 

[Lithium Hobo]

As for Lithium Hoho, you really need to pray for wisdom because you're still on milk. (Don't mean to offend-right?)

Enjoy the day the Lord has made for you,
Mountainmover

Hey! Now milk is good for the bones. And I'll pass the message along to Hoho. That guy's a jerk, I know.

 

[Delphin]

The older I get, the more discerning I become. Thanks for the warning. There is more than enough depravity in the world, and those who like such are often drawn to it ...as a moth to a flame.

 

[Lithium Hobo]

I think people are forgetting something. When something is immoral in a book, particularly fiction, it's not telling you to be immoral. The same goes with TV, movies, and games. Things "immoral" in the story are there for a reason. It's not a plot to "gross you out". I can understand that some people will insist on removing themselves from it to avoid the immorality, yet alot of people's morals are based on the bible's, and that's sad cause they've lost their own morals.

Despite what I think, I know that the "immorality" will not affect you in anyway, especially your faith, unless you have a very weak mind and weak faith. And if that's the case, then I'd like you to join my religion of people who believe Harrison Ford went back in time and created the universe in his image.

 

[Jeshu]

Thanks for the warning.

 

[Westvleteren]

So, firstcorrinthian [sic], did you finish the book? (In the interest of being able to fully expound upon its depravity, of course.)

Read what you like, don't read what you don't like; but my take on warnings like yours is: Anyone who is afraid of other people's thoughts doesn't have enough of their own to defend against them.

 

[mark62774]

Thanks for the warning firstcorrinthian. Here's a few proverbs that only half of you will likely understand.

Proverbs 13:20 "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed."

Proverbs 14:15 "The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going."

Proverbs 15:14 "The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouths of fools feed on foolishness."

Proverbs 17:10 "A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool."

And my personal favorite (mostly because it speaks volumes about my past).

Proverbs 26:11 "As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly."
(All taken from KJV)

 

[Westvleteren]

Thanks for the warning firstcorrinthian. Here's a few proverbs that only half of you will likely understand.

Proverbs 13:20 "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed."

Proverbs 14:15 "The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going."

Proverbs 15:14 "The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouths of fools feed on foolishness."

Proverbs 17:10 "A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool."

And my personal favorite (mostly because it speaks volumes about my past).

Proverbs 26:11 "As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly."
(All taken from KJV)

Oooh, I read that book! Didn't like that one much, either. Pretty perverted in places, and enough violence to keep you awake at night.

 

[InspiredHome]

I like that last verse about the dog returning to his vomit...that describes me always returning to the general apologetics forums I read mostly of the Christian genre especially Randy Alcorn who I cannot say enough good things about.

 

[Abrowne]

So, firstcorrinthian [sic], did you finish the book? (In the interest of being able to fully expound upon its depravity, of course.)

Read what you like, don't read what you don't like; but my take on warnings like yours is: Anyone who is afraid of other people's thoughts doesn't have enough of their own to defend against them.

Understandable. I on the contrary think that any sort of extreme depravity/immorality in all forms of media can permeate even the strongest of us. I am not afraid of other peoples thoughts, but rather the effect they have. I learnt my lesson the hard way. If you choose to indulge yourself in such materials, I hope you don't go ahead, but be warned that it does and will have an effect on your character, even if the effect is not immediate.
Blessings,

ab

 

[heron]

It doesn't need to be such a conservative Christian issue...the brain takes in whatever you feed it, and files it away. If you want productive things in there, then you put them in. If you want to meet your goals in life, you don't want progress-sabotaging things to slip out accidentally.

 

[Westvleteren]

It doesn't need to be such a conservative Christian issue...the brain takes in whatever you feed it, and files it away. If you want productive things in there, then you put them in. If you want to meet your goals in life, you don't want progress-sabotaging things to slip out accidentally.

I agree it doesn't have to be a Christian issue, or even a moral issue at all--it can be presented solely in terms of intellectual integrity, if we like.

And I agree that a person can only be helped by knowing a little about what he is about to read. It's helpful for someone to get on a forum and say, "in case you didn't know, this-and-this book is pretty depraved." That way, you can either prepare yourself for it and read it anyway, or leave it alone.

I only get indignant when someone says, "Reading this book could make you an immoral person; don't read it." And I felt that way even back when I was being a good Christian. I think that an intelligent person can learn from anything, even if it's to get nauseated at the contents of a book and say "not for me." It's only when some empty skull thinks every word they read is a moral mandate that trouble starts.

 

[heron]

When you start to get the feeling that you're part of the audience in the Roman Colosseum, remind yourself that someone is making money on it. The more people buy it, the more demand for similar future products and the less on something you might want to write/perform/present (in your purest attempts).