Steve’s Blog

These four books are some of my all time favorites.  They have challenged my ideas, shaped how I think and have given me a different lens to see the world.  They have also been banned by schools or governments at some point in their history for various reasons (The American Library Association  says that books are usually banned “with the best intentions—to protect others, frequently children, from difficult ideas and information.”)   I found out that this past week was national banned books week which celebrates the freedom to read as well as challenges the censorship of the books.  The web site is worth looking at because it give a little bit of history about banned books as well as offers an interactive map of where books have been challenged.  I think it’s incredible that books (along with other forms of expression and story) are still being challenged and eventually forbidden for people to experience themselves.  I am never a fan of someone limiting my choices and telling me what is appropriate and edifying for my life.  This goes specifically for church and spirituality.  I have had numerous instances where people (especially church leaders) have told me not to embrace or experience certain forms of expression only for them to open my mind and allow me to grow in my spiritual journey.  Sure “Fight Club” is violent and they use a lot of profanity, but it’s an incredible commentary on the numbness of our lives and the desire to feel.  As someone who works in a church and is blessed to help others on their spiritual journey I feel it is best to train people to look at all things with spiritual eyes and let them decide whether or not something is redeeming.  Just because I might not like something doesn’t mean that God cannot speak to someone else through it.  I don’t like mega-churches but I’m not going to bad mouth them and discredit all the good work they do.  I guess my point is that instead of telling people what they can and can’t do we should be involved in the guiding and processing of what is personally significant.