Another great column, Doug. I, too, was raised in a very conservative and large Methodist Church. My mother, like my beloved wife, didn’t have curiosity. But I inherited from my Dad and my beloved school district (now ranked as the 8th best in the entire country) an incredible curiosity about EVERYTHING. I know that you have this same curiosity, too. It showed in your great sermons. Thanks again.
Thank you for sharing from your experiences, Doug. A parallel world in so many respects to my experience there in SE GR. The Ottawa Hills library for one. OH - that summer reading club!
Now, I have moved to a little town in Southern California & find myself quite stunned - living in an even more conservative community of religious extremism where talk of banning books is rampant even as many citizens are so proud of their carry & conceal gun possession. I could despair for my grandchildren who are growing up in this culture. Save for the opportunity to invite these Littles to ask questions, & invite them to curiosity and wonder.
Please also consider that a lot of the banned books are directed at minors in a context where parents are kept in the dark what their children are reading whilst they are being pushed to adopt a particular worldview.
Thanks for the response, Sander. Wanted you to know that I've started the Carl B. Trueman book you gave me, and I very much appreciated the kind note inside.
As for children today, I recognize that the context has changed for them. I grew up in a world where a largely Christian culture was giving way to a largely secular culture - the end of Christendom. Trueman, as you know, cites the helpful work of Charles Taylor on this issue. So, yes, it's very important to pay attention the cultural context, and as a matter of fact I watch as my own daughters navigate this new world with their own children. I will still need to be convinced, however, that banning books is the best way to accomplish this purpose.
Hope all is well Doug and thanks for your reply. I am not necessarily advocating for book banning, but there is more to this story. The book banning you are referring to is, of course, for the most part not an isolated act, but a reaction against an ideological movement that doesn’t seem to value any intellectual curiosity nor debate, but rather considers dissenting views morally reprehensible and cause for cancellation. Even without the book banning one will likely be labeled a religious extremist when in disagreement. Times have changed.
I offered it for sale about a month before I left (on the Dutch version of eBay), and it sold within 24 hours, meaning that I had to walk most places that last month. Bicycles are apparently a hot market (or I should have priced it higher).
Another great column, Doug. I, too, was raised in a very conservative and large Methodist Church. My mother, like my beloved wife, didn’t have curiosity. But I inherited from my Dad and my beloved school district (now ranked as the 8th best in the entire country) an incredible curiosity about EVERYTHING. I know that you have this same curiosity, too. It showed in your great sermons. Thanks again.
Thank you for sharing from your experiences, Doug. A parallel world in so many respects to my experience there in SE GR. The Ottawa Hills library for one. OH - that summer reading club!
Now, I have moved to a little town in Southern California & find myself quite stunned - living in an even more conservative community of religious extremism where talk of banning books is rampant even as many citizens are so proud of their carry & conceal gun possession. I could despair for my grandchildren who are growing up in this culture. Save for the opportunity to invite these Littles to ask questions, & invite them to curiosity and wonder.
At first I thought this was my sister "Linda." Eventually I caught on. Thanks for reading. Sad that you're experiencing extremism of a different kind.
Please also consider that a lot of the banned books are directed at minors in a context where parents are kept in the dark what their children are reading whilst they are being pushed to adopt a particular worldview.
Thanks for the response, Sander. Wanted you to know that I've started the Carl B. Trueman book you gave me, and I very much appreciated the kind note inside.
As for children today, I recognize that the context has changed for them. I grew up in a world where a largely Christian culture was giving way to a largely secular culture - the end of Christendom. Trueman, as you know, cites the helpful work of Charles Taylor on this issue. So, yes, it's very important to pay attention the cultural context, and as a matter of fact I watch as my own daughters navigate this new world with their own children. I will still need to be convinced, however, that banning books is the best way to accomplish this purpose.
Hope all is well Doug and thanks for your reply. I am not necessarily advocating for book banning, but there is more to this story. The book banning you are referring to is, of course, for the most part not an isolated act, but a reaction against an ideological movement that doesn’t seem to value any intellectual curiosity nor debate, but rather considers dissenting views morally reprehensible and cause for cancellation. Even without the book banning one will likely be labeled a religious extremist when in disagreement. Times have changed.
I have always been a religious extremist. Welcome to the club, Sander. A weighty responsibility!
I am glad that your bike found a good home. Even though it meant a lot to you, hopefully it will mean a lot to the next owner!
I offered it for sale about a month before I left (on the Dutch version of eBay), and it sold within 24 hours, meaning that I had to walk most places that last month. Bicycles are apparently a hot market (or I should have priced it higher).