Jon's comments

Jon's comments from the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die group.

Note: Jon is no longer a member of this group.

Jenni wrote: "Linda: It is interesting that you peck quote from Phil 2 since that passage is about immitating Christ, not God. I understand the whole trinity thing, but people seem to get confused and think that..."

When I originally started this discussion, I was not looking for a fight, an argument or anything else. I was new to GoodReads and was looking for other Christians who may have asked the same question I asked myself when I starting reviewing the 1001 list.

I'm not going to apologize for my quest. It's a new year, it's a new day. I want to leave the world a better place and I can be part of the solution.

Happy New Year

Samantha wrote: "I notice a lot of people have congratulated the others for being "respectful." There is nothing respectful about humoring someone's close-mindedness and ignorance. It's condescending. The respec..."

And on Christmas day, no less. Perhaps not the historically accurate birthday of Christ the Savior, but He came here for all mankind.

Even secular writers with a penchant for offending.

Grace and Peace, Love and Hope.

Neuromancer by William Gibson and it's also the book club selection for the Science Fiction & Fantasy club here on GoodReads. com

The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells as an ebook on my BlackBerry.

1. The Lord of the Rings
2. The Hobbit
3. Alice in Wonderland
4. A Christmas Carol
5. 1984
6. I, Robot
7. Foundation
8. Slaughterhouse-Five
9. The Time Machine
10. The War of the Worlds

Great article. I've been a BookMooch members since July and I love it.

I just finished Frankenstein.

I usually have 3-4 books I'm perusing at once. Usually one anthology of short stories, a novel (book club selection), an ebook for my bus commute on my BlackBerry and a non-fiction for studying.

Thanks for the link. I'll read through the PDF at lunch.

Do you have a link to a banned book list? or to the ALA list you mentioned? I'm curious to see how many I have read as well.

I was actually intrigued by The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie and was hoping to read it this month. Sadly, my employer keeps interfering with my reading plans by making me work. :)

And that, Jennifer, was the intention of my original post. I was looking for a resource of like-minded people.

I'm glad my post also sparked other debate, as I've enjoyed perusing them.

I don't like censorhip or book banning. I do not want to limit (or force limits) on other people.

I do want to censor myself (and if I still had young children to raise censor them as well).

That's why I love GoodReads so much. I can read reviews of books before I attempt them. I'll even read the ones with spoilers just so I don't thrust myself into something that will truly offend me.

I have avoided The Golden Compass to date. I will eventually read it (perhaps when I've made it through my to-read shelf). I want to familiarize myself with the arguments atheists use in fiction. Since it was written for young readers, if I still had young children, I would have read it before my children did or with them, so I could point out and discuss those areas that seemed to clash with our Christian worldview.

Rod,

Thank you for the link to the Christian Classics Ethereal Library. I look forward to reviewing it.

And thanks to everyone else for your opinions. I will continue to be my own best censor, with God's help, of things that are distasteful, deceptive and pure temptation.

My intent with this thread was just to gather information in the hopes of finding an alternative non-secular listing for my own edification and spiritual growth.

Thanks again, everyone, for a great discussion.

Jon

Need to fix part of a quote:

I'm to be in the world, but not of it (I had it backwards in my previous posting).

Some relevant verses:

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

-- Romans 12:2 (NIV)

They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.

-- John 17:16,18 (NIV)

Christina,

I appreciate your insights and opinion. I used to hold to the "open-minded and exploring" culture when I was college age and didn't have children or much of faith in my "faith."

However, there comes a point when I decided the garbage and filth wasn't worth it. What was I learning about? Was I expanding my horizons or just digging myself deeper into mess of the world. I should aspire to be of this world, but not in it. It's a difficult tightwire to tread.

I still read and watch things I probably shouldn't. As my pastor recently mentioned in a sermon, if you wouldn't let a child watch it, you shouldn't be watching it (or reading it) either.

I also don't want to go around with blinders on in the world. I need to recognize and be cognizant of the suffering of others and be an example and a witness to a better way.

This is just my opinion, and my own struggle on the journey that is my walk with Jesus. I'm not perfect, so I stumble. He helps me back up and provides the light to keep me on the path.

Jon

Just curious. Why aren't we using the polls feature here at GoodReads for this vote?

That's my life verse and I try to live by it as much as possible, including in my reading choices.

I hate to censor others though, but I definitely censor what I take in. "Garbage in, garbage out" I always say.

Sorry to hear you couldn't get a message through to me. I don't have my profile marked as private so it shouldn't have been a problem.

On a different note, a friend of mine started a list at listopia that might help with the thousand books Christian should read in addition to the Bible. Not scientific by any means, but it's a start.

Thanks for the comments.

Jon

http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/946.1...

Thanks very much for the reply. I will keep looking. And reading, of course. :)

Is there a competing list?

And pardon my ignorance, but who (what body or panel) decided on these 1,001 particularly?

I would be interested in the 1,001 books a Christian should read before they die (perhaps just 1,000 since every Christian should at a minimum read the Bible).

I apologize if this is not the appropriate place to post this topic. I'm just curious. I'm not trying to offend anyone.

Thanks for your time,

Jon