Reading is Not Your Enemy

Once upon a time, I had this friend.

Let me reprase that:

Once upon a time, I have this friend.  I talk to him sometimes, as is common between friends, and even recommended.  A few days ago I was talking about Socrates and how he didn't like writing, because he thought it made you forgetful and some other reason that I forget.

Oh my.  I didn't even think about that before I typed it.  But I guess it doesn't apply, since I never wrote down the other reason.

Anyhow, my friend made this horrific statement: Thats also why I don't read, cuz if you read then you stop thinking for yourself

Really.

REALLY.

The Danger of Reading

Suppose you're reading along in your little book, and you come across something that isn't true.  And you realize, not only is it not true, but it's false!  It's a lie!  The world shakes beneath your feet.  You swoon onto your Victorian era chaise lounge.

But that's not the fear, is it?  The fear is that you won't realize that the untruth is, indeed, an untruth.  The fear is that it will slip into your mind and take over it like a cancer, and you won't be able to go back to your former correctness.  The fear is that it will change you for the worse, and you won't even know it.

But what I find interesting is that my friend has no problem with movies, video games, the internet, or interaction with other people.  And I think that even he would agree with me that just as much untruth can be found in those things as in a book.  So what makes a book more dangerous?

I find three options for his thinking here.

1.  A book's message is somehow more subtle and subversive.

Of course, saying "a book" is incredibly vague.  But the fact remains that no matter the genre or topic of a book, some authors have an incredible ability to capture the reader's attention and hold it hostage, all by their words.  But at the end of the day, they're just words, and the more we see them, the more we see them for what they are.  It occurs to me that perhaps my friend is intimidated by books.  This is unflattering, but aren't there unflattering possibilities with us all?  Perhaps he sees the written word as something beyond his ability to discern clearly.  But the more reading we do, and the more GOOD reading we do, measuring books against Scripture, and getting advice from trusted individuals, the easier it is to see where the truth is, and where it isn't.

2.  More truth can be found in books in general, and thus, it's harder to tell the truth from the untruth.

Like...what?  Where did I pull this out of?  Unfortunately, though it looks like complete and utter rubbish, it's an option.  People don't think clearly, especially when emotions get involved, and it's possible this is an emotion-linked issue for my friend.  They usually are in some way.  But the response to this one is the same as in the one above.  Good reading, judged by Scripture.  Know the straight line so you can spot the crooked one.

3.  He merely dislikes reading and wants to find a way to justify that dislike.

We're not trying to be logical at this point.  This is a purely emotional response.  People, though they'll do things that they know aren't logical, will always try to convince themselves and others that they have good reason for their thoughts, words, and actions.  Because we're created in God's image, we yearn for things to be logical, and because we have been corrupted, we aren't logical.

Benefits of Reading

1.  Ya learn duff.

What do you learn from reading?  Well, anything that you can put into words.  Language, philosophy, culture, how to tell a story, how it feels to crash a bike into your ex-uncle-in-law's too-fancy-for-life son, different kinds of cats, the works.

2.  Pleasure

Reading stories is fun.  Stretching your imagination is much like stretching your muscles: it feels good.  It also expands the mind, and can increase sympathy for others.  But finding a book that talks about something you've been searching for, reading the ideas of someone who died years ago, but you hold a piece of them in your hands, it's strange and wonderful and enjoyable.  And while watching a movie may give your brain things to feed your imagination, more things to envision and see as reality, it's like eating a ton of junk food and never exercising.  It's not healthy.  Sugar is good if you need energy, but if you don't, it'll only hurt you.  (I don't know if I'm totally correct here, but you get the point.)

The Point

Of course, if you paid attention, you'll notice that I never actually addressed the concern.  My friend didn't say, "You start to believe untruths."  He said "You stop thinking for yourself."

So it's individuality that's at stake?  Freedom of the mind?

Perhaps if you only ever read one author, that would be a problem.  Perhaps.  I'm not convinced.  But if you read many authors, if you keep being influenced by many things, you find out what you want at your core, and what you can push to the peripheral, where it can more easily be traded in and out.  Through reading you may find something you'd like to have; and if you see something you don't like, it's simple enough to set the book down.  

Personally, I look at this, and I think, what is that freedom of the mind really worth if you're afraid to put it up against all that can be found in a book?  And what if in fear of losing individuality you willingly cloak yourself in ignorance?  Is that freedom?

We all need discernment, whether we're reading, watching a movie, or talking with friends.  The point is, there's so much to be gained from reading, and it seems foolish to pass all that up because you are so dedicated to your thinking staying the same.  It's a hopeless, impossible goal, and you hurt yourself if you don't take the advantages of reading.

Well, looking back on that note, he never said anything about books.  Whatever.  It still applies.