Christians and Banned Books - Part 3

Written By: Timothy Fish Published: 10/1/2007

Thus far, we have looked at reason why we should not ban books and the problems that are caused when the majority does not allow a minority viewpoint. Is there ever a time when it is okay to ban books?

The Power of Words

God created the world with words. An author can sway public opinion with words. An author can take a reader from the depths of the ocean to the edge of the Universe with words. Words are very powerful.

Jesus spent most of his time hear on earth doing little more than talking. The writers of the Bible have recorded the word of God for us to read. Given the power of words, it is reasonable to expect that people will be moved by the words we use.

First Amendment Limitations

The First Amendment gives us a lot of freedom, but it does have its limitation. The classic example is that while a man is permitted to say what he chooses, he is not permitted to do something that brings harm, such as yelling fire in a crowded theater. He is also prohibited from slandering another person. The Bible teaches similar principles. We are not to bear a false witness against someone.

When Books Bring Harm

There are some books that bring harm to people. These books may encourage people to do things that will harm other people. Some religious and political books have called for people to kill people who disagree with them. If there are any books that should be banned, is it not right to ban these books?An Issue of Space

When libraries are involved, the issue of banning books may have as much to do with space and money as it does about moral issues. There are millions of books in print, but there are no libraries that are large enough to hold all of the books. There is also the issue of which books to buy with the limited funds that are available. Even if a library does not ban a book, it may not buy it because there are other books that will be of a greater interest to the people who visit the library.

Next Time

For those of you who return for the fourth article in the series, we will be covering the topic of the American Family Association and the books that Christians see as harmful.

www.timothyfish.com