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RE: Is It Okay to Read Books in Which The Author Uses Swear Words?
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RE: Is It Okay to Read Books in Which The Author Uses S... - 7/1/2009 2:11:11 AM
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IamLibertarian
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wow, you folks must not have any imagination, or you have waaayyy too active of an imagination to the point where it takes over your soul...
Do books really sway your Christian walk that much? I have not found any books that have swayed my walk, except one that I mentioned in an earlier post and it was about the Bible and Jesus' teachings (very misconstrued). If so, then please, by all means do not read them...but I guess I am just different.
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RE: Is It Okay to Read Books in Which The Author Uses S... - 7/1/2009 10:11:35 AM
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SavedByGraceMD
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quote:
ORIGINAL: tuckonline
wow, you folks must not have any imagination, or you have waaayyy too active of an imagination to the point where it takes over your soul...
Do books really sway your Christian walk that much? I have not found any books that have swayed my walk, except one that I mentioned in an earlier post and it was about the Bible and Jesus' teachings (very misconstrued). If so, then please, by all means do not read them...but I guess I am just different.
Hey Tuck,
I understand what you are saying, but you may be surprised at how much of an influence what you read may have on your life. It isn't about having no imagination, or too much of an imagination, but it is about this....
Ephesians 5:3-5 (New International Version)
3But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. 4Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
or from the NKJV
4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
It has to do with what we allow into our minds. I know we have different views on what is acceptable, and what is not. I think the problem is, why aren't we all being told the same thing. How are some of us lead by the Spirit to not read these types of books, and yet some of us are not?
If we are to have no part in obscenity. If we are to have no part in foolish talk and coarse joking. How do we then say it is ok to read it?
Just my observations, and just my opinion. To those who feel it is ok, feel free. To those of us who feel it isn't, keep on.
Just because the world calls some books classics, and just because the world tells us it is ok, does not mean it is. I would rather be at enmity with the world, than at enmity with God and His word.
Again, this is just my take on the matter. If anyone can prove to me with scripture that it is ok to read anything that uses vulgarity, than please offer it here.
_____________________________
Isaiah 41:10
"Fear not for I am with you,
Do not be dismayed for I am your God,
I will strengthen you and help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand"
http://followtheleader-mat1624.blogspot.com/
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RE: Is It Okay to Read Books in Which The Author Uses S... - 7/1/2009 11:52:18 AM
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SuspenseWriter
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I guess the sliding scale is on the word "vulgar". For instance, as a commercially published writer (former CBA, now ABA), I've had interaction with CBA houses for years. One house states it's vulgar if a man and a woman go swimming together (in swimsuits), while another wouldn't even blink at that...but you'd better not have a character mutter, "oh, he**" (even the bad guy). Each house has drawn its own boundaries as to where "vulgaity" lies. In the end we all have to let the Holy Spirit guide us.
_____________________________
John Robinson
suspend your disbelief
www.johnrobinsonbooks.com
http://www.johnrobinsonbooks.com/blog.htm
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RE: Is It Okay to Read Books in Which The Author Uses S... - 7/1/2009 12:03:48 PM
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MrFribbles
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quote:
it is about this....
Ephesians 5:3-5
Ah, so you also don't read books with greedy characters?
quote:
If anyone can prove to me with scripture that it is ok to read anything that uses vulgarity, than please offer it here.
I think the complete lack of commands prohibiting reading literature with vulgarities is pretty good evidence, but that's me.
_____________________________
"To the humble man, and to the humble man alone, the sun is really a sun; to the humble man, and to the humble man alone, the sea is really a sea."
-G. K. Chesterton
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RE: Is It Okay to Read Books in Which The Author Uses S... - 7/1/2009 12:26:44 PM
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SavedByGraceMD
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quote:
ORIGINAL: MrFribbles
quote:
it is about this....
Ephesians 5:3-5
Ah, so you also don't read books with greedy characters?
quote:
If anyone can prove to me with scripture that it is ok to read anything that uses vulgarity, than please offer it here.
I think the complete lack of commands prohibiting reading literature with vulgarities is pretty good evidence, but that's me.
Fribbles....may I just call you fribbles....I see Ephesians 5:4 as a pretty clear indication that we are to have no part in obscenities. No part, which would include reading them.
But this is a never ending, circular debate,  that will just go on and on and on. Just because it does not specifically say not to "read" vulgarities and curse words, does not mean it is ok. It isn't like they had printing presses back then. Applied to todays world, reading them is not for us, imho.
So for me, I am bowing out of a very childish conversation. No offense to you MrFribbles, that wasn't directed at your comments, but to those of others. It is sad to know we can't converse and debate a topic without getting naive  and petty about our side.
It is safe to say that I feel I will be missing absolutely nothing, by not reading the classics of the world.
Oh...at the moment, just so you know....I am not reading any character driven books, so no....I am not reading anything that has a greedy character in it. Unless of course you count the author..  ..but that is a whole other topic all together.
I bid you adieu, and have a wonderful day.  
_____________________________
Isaiah 41:10
"Fear not for I am with you,
Do not be dismayed for I am your God,
I will strengthen you and help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand"
http://followtheleader-mat1624.blogspot.com/
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RE: Is It Okay to Read Books in Which The Author Uses S... - 7/1/2009 12:38:15 PM
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MrFribbles
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SavedByGraceMD,
All the best! : )
_____________________________
"To the humble man, and to the humble man alone, the sun is really a sun; to the humble man, and to the humble man alone, the sea is really a sea."
-G. K. Chesterton
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RE: Is It Okay to Read Books in Which The Author Uses S... - 7/1/2009 1:16:50 PM
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Liveloved
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quote:
ORIGINAL: jonfortean6
Is it okay to read books in which the author uses swear words? Regardless of if he/she uses the words to "realinize" the plot, or if that is just the author's style, what are your thoughts?
Feedback Please 
My two cents worth: If one believes that cursing is a sin, then why would they use it to utilize their books? Maybe it would be one thing to write, "Mark cursed," or something like that. But to actually say the words? Isn't that like describing a murder in court by murdering the judge? Maybe a cheap illustration, IDK...
YES, , , it's OK.
_____________________________
Liveloved
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
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RE: Is It Okay to Read Books in Which The Author Uses S... - 7/1/2009 2:11:34 PM
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SavedByGraceMD
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quote:
ORIGINAL: tuckonline
quote:
No offense to you MrFribbles, that wasn't directed at your comments, but to those of others.
 I think I know who this was directed at...
I apologize Tuck, if you took offense at my post.
So you know, I have been guilty of this on occasion. I wasn't excluding myself from my comments. I have had moments like that also.
Maybe I just hope that we brothers and sisters in the Lord can converse and debate without mocking one another.
Then again, I know it does happen in our own families also, and with our own friends. So maybe it is normal behavior. Maybe I expect too much out of myself, and out of all believers.
So my apologies if you or anyone else takes offense to my post.
_____________________________
Isaiah 41:10
"Fear not for I am with you,
Do not be dismayed for I am your God,
I will strengthen you and help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand"
http://followtheleader-mat1624.blogspot.com/
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RE: Is It Okay to Read Books in Which The Author Uses S... - 7/1/2009 4:27:13 PM
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uncabeeil
Posts: 4942
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Joisey. Got a problem wit dat?
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quote:
the Bible says it is WRONG to curse Ooh, another is it bad discussion!!
First off, you need to define cursing. What I consider a curse word doesn't necessarily mean you would. What a person from Afghanistan considers a curse might not be in Italy. So your question should go with all the "secular is bad" debates, and the only real answer to that is it's up to the individual.
_____________________________
"Peace, be still!"
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RE: Is It Okay to Read Books in Which The Author Uses S... - 7/1/2009 6:47:59 PM
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IamLibertarian
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haha, it's okay SavedByGrace. I am (usually) not trying to offend anyone when I make sarcastic-type posts. I just find sometimes they make it easier to get a point across 
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RE: Is It Okay to Read Books in Which The Author Uses S... - 7/1/2009 9:49:10 PM
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ManimalX
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quote:
ORIGINAL: SuspenseWriter
I guess the sliding scale is on the word "vulgar". For instance, as a commercially published writer (former CBA, now ABA), I've had interaction with CBA houses for years. One house states it's vulgar if a man and a woman go swimming together (in swimsuits), while another wouldn't even blink at that...but you'd better not have a character mutter, "oh, he**" (even the bad guy). Each house has drawn its own boundaries as to where "vulgaity" lies. In the end we all have to let the Holy Spirit guide us.
Excellent real life example. A long while back in a thread about what makes "bad" words "bad", I and others made the point that "profanity" is really in the eye of the beholder, and is a very transitory and fickle thing. Some words are "bad" in some places while being very benign in other places. What makes a word "bad" varies from society to society, so it is basically petty to insist on a rigid definition.
If we all want to be honest here, we will admit that a lot of what constitutes "bad" words is mired in religious tradition, and yes legalism. The TOS of this very site are testament to that fact. Restrictions are placed on some completely normal words such as a very benign substitution for the word "dung". Why? Because there are a lot of sheltered bubble Christians who have been conditioned to be offended.
I guess to me it is all about communication, and sometimes there are certain words that are just much more suited to communicating thoughts and emotions. One of my favorite examples is from the recent Star Trek movie, the scene where Kirk meets old Spock in the ice cave. Kirk could have said "No way" or "I don't believe you", but what he actually said was much more appropriate.
_____________________________
"And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth." - 2nd Timothy 2:24,25
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RE: Is It Okay to Read Books in Which The Author Uses S... - 7/2/2009 1:36:53 AM
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MyCatSmokey2006
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I remember Captain Kirk calling a taxi driver a "double dumb (something) on you", in Star Trek IV, The Voyage Home. It was certainly appropriate, since the taxi driver was a jerk.
But since this thread is not about Star Trek movies, but about books with swear words in them, I still hold to my position that if the Bible and the Holy Spirit tells me not to read those kind of books, then I shouldn't read them.
_____________________________
Melissa (with the cat) :)
My Blog
If the American Flag is offensive to you, then choose any flag, buy a one-way plane ticket to that country and STAY THERE!
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RE: Is It Okay to Read Books in Which The Author Uses S... - 7/2/2009 1:51:41 AM
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MrFribbles
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quote:
I still hold to my position that if the Bible and the Holy Spirit tells me not to read those kind of books, then I shouldn't read them.
Amen to that. : )
_____________________________
"To the humble man, and to the humble man alone, the sun is really a sun; to the humble man, and to the humble man alone, the sea is really a sea."
-G. K. Chesterton
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RE: Is It Okay to Read Books in Which The Author Uses S... - 7/2/2009 2:06:16 AM
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ManimalX
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quote:
ORIGINAL: MyCatSmokey2006
I remember Captain Kirk calling a taxi driver a "double dumb (something) on you", in Star Trek IV, The Voyage Home. It was certainly appropriate, since the taxi driver was a jerk.
But since this thread is not about Star Trek movies, but about books with swear words in them, I still hold to my position that if the Bible and the Holy Spirit tells me not to read those kind of books, then I shouldn't read them.
My assumption was that the same general premise of communication translates into any medium. I hardly think the HS would tell you that you are forbidden from reading "swear" words, but that it is fine for you to watch them being spoken...
Don't misunderstand: I am completely behind your admonition to heed the HS in all aspects of life, not just this one :) But I also know that He sometimes prompts folks differently, based upon their mental, emotional, and spiritual make-up. Some folks have a proclivity to mimicking what they see or read, others don't.
And my other point still stands as well: there is no consensus on what constitutes a "bad" word, because that depends upon a lot of societal factors and changes over time. For example, I can write: "I rode a {happy} {donkey} into town and nearly knocked over a man walking a {female dog} when I dropped my {cigarette}". However, if I filled in the blanks with other certain words that mean the exact same thing, my post would be deleted and I would probably get banned.
_____________________________
"And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth." - 2nd Timothy 2:24,25
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RE: Is It Okay to Read Books in Which The Author Uses S... - 7/2/2009 2:41:51 AM
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IamLibertarian
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quote:
Why? Because there are a lot of sheltered bubble Christians who have been conditioned to be offended.
Amen to that.
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RE: Is It Okay to Read Books in Which The Author Uses S... - 7/2/2009 12:40:27 PM
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uncabeeil
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quote:
I still hold to my position that if the Bible and the Holy Spirit tells me not to read those kind of books, then I shouldn't read them. And that's the only correct answer to the question. If the Holy Spirit tells you. It's different for everybody.
_____________________________
"Peace, be still!"
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RE: Is It Okay to Read Books in Which The Author Uses S... - 7/2/2009 1:14:50 PM
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slushie
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Personally, I don't like to read books that have a lot of cursing. When I'm reading something and the character is effing this and effing that, then it really bothers me. I have read really good books which do have the curse word now and then and I'm not offended by that.
I think cursing can be desensitizing TO SOME PEOPLE after a while. Not to all. However my Christian friends who curse don't curse because of the books they read or the movies they watch, but rather because they have friends who curse a lot. I think friends and family have more influence rather than books a lot of times.
_____________________________
Testify to Love
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RE: Is It Okay to Read Books in Which The Author Uses S... - 7/2/2009 1:32:27 PM
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RogerBennett_Fan
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quote:
ORIGINAL: MrFribbles
quote:
Can I ask you something?
Well, I asked first, but sure.
But please answer my question, too.
quote:
If the Bible says it is WRONG to curse . . . why do you think it's OKAY to read it?
Because reading something and saying something yourself are not the same thing.
Okay, here's my answer to your question : why? . . . . I believe it is wrong to read books that uses curse/swear words because the Bible says in Colosians 3:7,"Put off all of these things; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth." You made a good point that reading something isn't the same thing as saying it. However, it is true that whatever you let in your heart (and reading can let a lot of things in your heart) will come back out of you, i.e through your mouth.
As Christians we have to be very careful as to what we let influence our lives. Satan will first come and say, "It's okay to read swear words just as long as you don't say them" . . . then we he gets you doing that he will come back again and say, "Its okay to swear, just as long as you don't use the really bad words". . . and so Satan will go on and on until he gets you saying words you never thought would come out of your mouth. So reading them may not be a problem at first, but it can very easily turn into one very quickly!
_____________________________
"Let's be known for what we do believe in rather than what we don't." - Roger Bennett
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RE: Is It Okay to Read Books in Which The Author Uses S... - 7/2/2009 1:51:52 PM
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RogerBennett_Fan
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quote:
ORIGINAL: PinkCarnations
Other than taking the Lord's name in vain, the Bible doesn't tell us what words we can't say.
PinkCarnations, you are right. The Bible doesn't tell us what words we can't say because what is cursing in one country will change as you go into others. Many on this thread have already stated, and I agree, that the actual words people use to curse, change. In Colosians 3:8 it says to put off these things, one of them is "let no filthy communication come out of your mouth". God knew that throughout history and cultures, curse words would change, so He told us not to curse, cause when you curse, no matter what word you use . . .you know you did it.
_____________________________
"Let's be known for what we do believe in rather than what we don't." - Roger Bennett
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RE: Is It Okay to Read Books in Which The Author Uses S... - 7/2/2009 2:00:12 PM
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freeholder
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Teche: You're speaking of showing restraint in language and quoting Mark Twain, who, aside from being my distant cousin, was an avowed agnosticand died quite angry with the whole religious community. His hjilosophy inhabits his work even if swear words don't
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RE: Is It Okay to Read Books in Which The Author Uses S... - 7/2/2009 2:04:57 PM
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MrFribbles
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quote:
it is true that whatever you let in your heart (and reading can let a lot of things in your heart) will come back out of you, i.e through your mouth.
I have been reading the works of Stephen King for the past decade. Almost all of his books are filled with a large quantity of vulgarities. My mouth is not.
So, I disagree. For some people, yes, the scenario you describe may be true. But to claim that it will happen universally is simply false.
_____________________________
"To the humble man, and to the humble man alone, the sun is really a sun; to the humble man, and to the humble man alone, the sea is really a sea."
-G. K. Chesterton
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RE: Is It Okay to Read Books in Which The Author Uses S... - 7/2/2009 2:13:06 PM
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freeholder
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fan-which says nothing about READING those words. Maybe a better slant is to point out how we are not to "dwell on impure things" and to think about what is good and true.
Also, tuck, if you are saved, why do you wish to read words that may in fact remind you of those old things you were? I ask this because I've been there, too. I enjoy the twisted psychology of the Prey novels and yet find myself swearing very easily in the midst of reading them. So I will stay away from them for a long time and discover that heals some of my "slippage". I've stopped, but there's always the temptation. So don't start.
We live in an imperfect world, true, but there's no need to cling to the imperfections. If we are to be wise as serpents, we must be aware of how the world is, but we are also to be innocent as lamb, clothed in the purity He gives us. Just don't go there.
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