Comments on: Reading with Discernment http://julieclawson.com/2009/01/27/reading-with-discernment/ Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:52:33 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: dtbrents http://julieclawson.com/2009/01/27/reading-with-discernment/comment-page-1/#comment-4684 dtbrents Sun, 19 Apr 2009 01:01:27 +0000 http://julieclawson.com/?p=761#comment-4684 I agree with you. I have been troubled by this for years. Thanks, Doylene I agree with you. I have been troubled by this for years. Thanks, Doylene

]]> By: webster http://julieclawson.com/2009/01/27/reading-with-discernment/comment-page-1/#comment-4483 webster Sun, 29 Mar 2009 06:29:31 +0000 http://julieclawson.com/?p=761#comment-4483 Eep-- I see this blog post was written in January-- which would make this comment amazingly late, but just my $0.02 for what it's worth... I was brought up in what I suppose is the equivalent of a US evangelical background and later began trying to understand my own Christianity through different frameworks. I have found myself entirely caught between the conservative and progressive 'camps', the conservative framework being too limited and the progressive camp dismissing or trivialising any serious questions that might be borne out of a conservative framework, rather than engaging with them... anyway my point is, it takes a lot for many in the evangelical viewpoint to be able to come to a place where they can say, look, I disagree with you but I respect that you have a right to be heard and read-- which was my interpretation of those stickers. Many 'traditional' Christians assume that any Christian book they pick up in a Christian bookstore would be 'doctrinally sound'-- i.e. orthodox in the basics of the concept of Christ as both man and God and saviour. Whether this should be the case or not is something else altogether, but to me at least it is true that Brian McLaren's books are far from consistent with historical evangelical theology. I'm not saying if that's good or bad, in the same way as I'm not saying an orange is bad for not being an apple-- i'm just pointing out it isn't an apple. And to me these bookstores are just pointing out to readers thinking that all books sold in the store are X, that no, actually some of them are in fact Y. Eep– I see this blog post was written in January– which would make this comment amazingly late, but just my $0.02 for what it’s worth…
I was brought up in what I suppose is the equivalent of a US evangelical background and later began trying to understand my own Christianity through different frameworks. I have found myself entirely caught between the conservative and progressive ‘camps’, the conservative framework being too limited and the progressive camp dismissing or trivialising any serious questions that might be borne out of a conservative framework, rather than engaging with them… anyway my point is, it takes a lot for many in the evangelical viewpoint to be able to come to a place where they can say, look, I disagree with you but I respect that you have a right to be heard and read– which was my interpretation of those stickers.
Many ‘traditional’ Christians assume that any Christian book they pick up in a Christian bookstore would be ‘doctrinally sound’– i.e. orthodox in the basics of the concept of Christ as both man and God and saviour. Whether this should be the case or not is something else altogether, but to me at least it is true that Brian McLaren’s books are far from consistent with historical evangelical theology. I’m not saying if that’s good or bad, in the same way as I’m not saying an orange is bad for not being an apple– i’m just pointing out it isn’t an apple. And to me these bookstores are just pointing out to readers thinking that all books sold in the store are X, that no, actually some of them are in fact Y.

]]> By: Putting Warning Stickers on Books We Carry « Christian Book Shop Talk http://julieclawson.com/2009/01/27/reading-with-discernment/comment-page-1/#comment-4075 Putting Warning Stickers on Books We Carry « Christian Book Shop Talk Thu, 12 Feb 2009 04:03:18 +0000 http://julieclawson.com/?p=761#comment-4075 [...] Blogger Julie Clawson feels they really want to say “This Book is Dangerous.”  Read her opinion piece here. [...] [...] Blogger Julie Clawson feels they really want to say “This Book is Dangerous.”  Read her opinion piece here. [...]

]]> By: Paul Wilkinson http://julieclawson.com/2009/01/27/reading-with-discernment/comment-page-1/#comment-4074 Paul Wilkinson Thu, 12 Feb 2009 03:52:12 +0000 http://julieclawson.com/?p=761#comment-4074 I like comments #8 and #19 best; but I have tons of experience blasting LifeWay on a book industry blog I publish. Wish I'd seen this post earlier. The bottom line is you can't have it both ways. Well, usually. Maybe LifeWay can. Remember, this is the company that banned the "Female Pastors" issue of a gospel music magazine, but reaps big bucks publishing Beth Moore. This is the company that claims its study guides aren't really books at all but curriculum; thereby short-discounting the product to other stores. I could go on... For most of us, these stickers will represent the equivalent of the "Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval." Or maybe you're too young to know about that. I like comments #8 and #19 best; but I have tons of experience blasting LifeWay on a book industry blog I publish. Wish I’d seen this post earlier.

The bottom line is you can’t have it both ways. Well, usually. Maybe LifeWay can. Remember, this is the company that banned the “Female Pastors” issue of a gospel music magazine, but reaps big bucks publishing Beth Moore. This is the company that claims its study guides aren’t really books at all but curriculum; thereby short-discounting the product to other stores. I could go on…

For most of us, these stickers will represent the equivalent of the “Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval.” Or maybe you’re too young to know about that.

]]> By: Guy http://julieclawson.com/2009/01/27/reading-with-discernment/comment-page-1/#comment-4016 Guy Wed, 04 Feb 2009 05:23:47 +0000 http://julieclawson.com/?p=761#comment-4016 What's ironic to me about this, mirele pointed it out above, is that the ONLY reason these books are even available for sale in LifeWay stores is the sticker. Yet, they're getting raked over the coals (lots of people seem to be talking about this) about having them. Without the sticker the book never even goes on the shelf. This bookstore is part of a company, that is run by a board that is BOUND to the Southern Baptist Convention. Mirele was exactly right, they probably have an obnoxiously loud group of pastors berating them about these books and threatening to call them on it at the next convention. What do you do when you're trying to make resources available to the greater Christian community, but are bound by the conservative beliefs of southern Baptists? What’s ironic to me about this, mirele pointed it out above, is that the ONLY reason these books are even available for sale in LifeWay stores is the sticker. Yet, they’re getting raked over the coals (lots of people seem to be talking about this) about having them. Without the sticker the book never even goes on the shelf.

This bookstore is part of a company, that is run by a board that is BOUND to the Southern Baptist Convention. Mirele was exactly right, they probably have an obnoxiously loud group of pastors berating them about these books and threatening to call them on it at the next convention.

What do you do when you’re trying to make resources available to the greater Christian community, but are bound by the conservative beliefs of southern Baptists?

]]> By: carl http://julieclawson.com/2009/01/27/reading-with-discernment/comment-page-1/#comment-4015 carl Mon, 02 Feb 2009 23:46:29 +0000 http://julieclawson.com/?p=761#comment-4015 I wish the label said, "We don't subscribe to the theology in this book, but we'll take your money." I wish the label said, “We don’t subscribe to the theology in this book, but we’ll take your money.”

]]> By: dianne p http://julieclawson.com/2009/01/27/reading-with-discernment/comment-page-1/#comment-4014 dianne p Mon, 02 Feb 2009 17:22:54 +0000 http://julieclawson.com/?p=761#comment-4014 We used to live down the road from TEDS - Trinity Seminary - and I so so so miss their bookstore. My few trips to the local "Christian" bookstore were painfully disappointing. Now it's amazon for me. Would appreciate more comments on the Beth Moore bible studies. While I've started 3 of them, I've never been able to get past the first couple of weeks. When I've imprudently said aloud "I'm not a huge fan of Beth Moore", the gasps and reproving looks were audible. I guess I haven't spent enough time in one of her studies to put my finger on exactly what bugs me (aside from her hyper-cute bouncy blonde style), so appreciate some of your comments here Julie. Is there any other place that you've discussed this? And have you read Frederica's piece about evangelical church's need for "women's" bible studies? (Unnecessary and inappropriate in her opinion.) We used to live down the road from TEDS – Trinity Seminary – and I so so so miss their bookstore. My few trips to the local “Christian” bookstore were painfully disappointing. Now it’s amazon for me.

Would appreciate more comments on the Beth Moore bible studies. While I’ve started 3 of them, I’ve never been able to get past the first couple of weeks. When I’ve imprudently said aloud “I’m not a huge fan of Beth Moore”, the gasps and reproving looks were audible. I guess I haven’t spent enough time in one of her studies to put my finger on exactly what bugs me (aside from her hyper-cute bouncy blonde style), so appreciate some of your comments here Julie. Is there any other place that you’ve discussed this? And have you read Frederica’s piece about evangelical church’s need for “women’s” bible studies? (Unnecessary and inappropriate in her opinion.)

]]> By: Teresa http://julieclawson.com/2009/01/27/reading-with-discernment/comment-page-1/#comment-4013 Teresa Sun, 01 Feb 2009 22:18:11 +0000 http://julieclawson.com/?p=761#comment-4013 This seems to me like an excellent service. If, on the unlikely chance I ever find myself shopping at a Lifeway Store. I'll know exactly which books to buy! I am, after all, a discerning reader, so they must be trying to tell me which books are the best reads for me. :) This seems to me like an excellent service. If, on the unlikely chance I ever find myself shopping at a Lifeway Store. I’ll know exactly which books to buy! I am, after all, a discerning reader, so they must be trying to tell me which books are the best reads for me. :)

]]> By: Todd http://julieclawson.com/2009/01/27/reading-with-discernment/comment-page-1/#comment-4009 Todd Fri, 30 Jan 2009 21:17:38 +0000 http://julieclawson.com/?p=761#comment-4009 You may also want to investigate how Lifeway had to explain what the "Discerning Reader" label meant after establishing the project. In other words, I think they had to put a discerning reader label on the discerning reader project label. Go figure. You may also want to investigate how Lifeway had to explain what the “Discerning Reader” label meant after establishing the project. In other words, I think they had to put a discerning reader label on the discerning reader project label. Go figure.

]]> By: Julie Clawson http://julieclawson.com/2009/01/27/reading-with-discernment/comment-page-1/#comment-4005 Julie Clawson Fri, 30 Jan 2009 15:50:16 +0000 http://julieclawson.com/?p=761#comment-4005 John - seriously :) John – seriously :)

]]>