At the end of September, libraries and bookstores everywhere will be celebrating "Banned Books Week." This got us thinking: why do people ban books (or, in extreme cases, burn them)? Literature is such a fundamental part of human life, and yet time and time again throughout history there have been concerted efforts to suppress or destroy certain books.
These days, when we talk about banned books, titles such as "To Kill a Mockingbird" usually come to mind. However, let's not forget that one of the most commonly banned books worldwide is not some provocative piece of modern literature, it's the Bible. Today, owning a Bible in certain countries is downright dangerous and can lead to arrest, assault, or worse.
Book Burning Throughout History
At the same time, it's worth noting that censorship is nothing new when it comes to political and religious texts. Almost every country or religion has experienced some form of book burning. In 213 B.C, a Chinese Emperor burned philosophy and history books from states other than Qin, because the books did not comply with his dogma. Torah and Talmud scrolls have been burned since the early days of Christianity up until the Holocaust. Catholic priests burned Martin Luther's German translation of the Bible during the Reformation.
Even Harry Potter is Not Safe
Unfortunately, book burning remains in fashion even to this day. Perhaps the most well-known modern example involves the popular "Harry Potter" book. J.K. Rowling's now-famous stories have been frequently criticized by religious figures for romanticizing the occult and promoting devil worship. Some pastors, claiming the books were harmful to children, went as far as to hold public book burnings in an attempt to rid the Earth of the "ungodly" themes of wizardry promoted within.
Then again, book burning is not nearly as common as it once was. These days books deemed too offensive to read in school are put on the "Banned Books" list. Many school libraries throughout the U.S. continue to block students from reading certain supposedly-dangerous texts.
Censorship in Religion
Religious leaders often choose to stifle ideas that don't align with the core teachings of their faith. For example, Charles Darwin's "On the Origin of the Species" is rarely welcome during discussions about creation among people of faith. But isn't there value in understanding ideas that contradict your own? Without reading the evidence behind evolution, how could a Christian successfully defend his/her belief in Creationism?
Great literature is worth reading and discussing, whether we believe with the point-of-view of the author or not. If a person is not strong enough in their own beliefs to stand against an opposing viewpoint, then censorship is the inevitable outcome. But is it the right one?
Why Ban Books?
Supporters of banning books argue that we need to protect people (and children especially) from offensive, inaccurate or obscene printed content. Critics, on the other hand, insist that all readers even younger ones deserve access to the written word, no matter how controversial it might be.
Now, parents may have good reasons to prevent their child from reading a particular book, but that's hardly the point. Parents are well within their rights to make that decision. Issues arise, however, when censorship of ideas come from the top down say, from a church or a school district.
In writing on this topic, we were reminded of a famous quote by Potter Stewart, a former member of the Supreme Court: "Censorship reflects a society's lack of confidence in itself."
**Where do you stand? Does censorship serve to protect, or to harm?
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56 comments
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Willie
The same reasons every time! Ignorance and control!
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Shaun Clark
MY POSTS ARE AWAITING MODERATION? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?? ARE YOU CENSORING ME??
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Vincent
When I was younger telling me a book was banned made me want to read it and I normally did find a way to. Banning books served no purpose than to prove you have little minds and fear growth. I had a cousin who was afraid to read the da Vinci code because she thought it would change her beliefs, but how strong could your beliefs have been if a book might ruin it. Parents have a right to not allow their children to read a certain book, not the rest of the world.
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SHAUN
THE BEST THING IS TO GIVE THEM THE CHANCE TO SEE THE EVIDECEE YOU HAVE IF YOU THINK THE BOOK IS WRONG - WHEN PEOPEL BRING THEIR KNOWLEDGE TO THE TABLE WE ALL BENEFIT...EATHER IN YOU ARE CORRECTD OF A FALSE IDEA, OR YOU LEARN TO SHARPEN YOUR ARGUMENT.....EATHER WAY FOR OPEN MINDS WANTING TRUTH EVERYONE WINS...
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JC Hall
Ignorance is the reason for most book banning. In the case of the Harry Potter books its the religious fanatics who forgot that their religions are based on occultism and pagan religions.
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SHAUN
CHRISTIANITY IS NOT BASED ON OCCULTISM OR PAGAN RELIGIONS AS YOU CLAIM. 1/ THERE IS MASSES OF SCIENTIFIC, GEOLOGICAL, HISTORICAL, AND OTHER EVIDENCE SOT PROVE IT IS RELIABLE AND FACTUAL - INCLUDING THE RESURECTION OF JESUS (SEE WWW.JOSH.ORG AND WWW.CHICK.COM). 2/ THE IDEA THAT THE BIBLE IS BASED ON OCCULTISM AND PAGANISM IS A LIE BY SATAN - WHO INVENTED OCCULTISM, PAGANISM AND ALL OTHER FALSE RELIGIONS TO DECIEVE PEOPLE AND TAKE THEM TO HELL. 3/ THIS SEEMS LIKE FICTION DUE TO TEH RELENTLESS NATURE AND THE BRILLIANCE OF SATANS DECEPTIONS - IF YOU CHECK THE SITES I RECOMENDED YOU WILL SEE THE MOUNTAINS OF PROFF TO SHOW WHAT I AM SAYING IS TOTALLY ACURATE. BEST BOOKS 'MORE THAN A CARPENTER' AND 'EVIDENCE THAT DEMANDS A VERDICT' 4/ SATAN COMES AS THE ANGEL OF LIGHT AND IS THE MOST BRILLIANT CON ARTISTS EVER - IT SI ONLY AVAILING YOURSELF OF THE TRUTH - VIA JESUS AND THE EVIDENCE TO BACK THE BIBLE WILL YOU KNOW IN THE DEPTHS OF YOURSELF THE ABSOLUTE FACT OF THE BIBLE. LASTLY - 5/ ONE DOES NOT NEED TO DO ALL KINDS OF RESEARCH ON EVERY RELIGION - AS ONE YOU SEE THE OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE TO PROVE THE BIBLE TO BE TRUE - AND REALISE THAT TWO OPPOSING POSITIONS CANT SIMULTANIOUSLY BE RIGHT - YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THAT ALL OTHER RELIGIONS ARE FALSE. NO MATTER HOW GOOD THEY LOOK IN HTE END THEY LEAD TO HELL - THERE IS IN THESE BOOKS SOME WISDOM (SATAN NEVER DOES 100% FAKE) - BUT ALL THINGS NEED TO BE CROSSFEFERENCED WIT HTE BIBLE...
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Andrew
ferinheight (sp) 451
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Wendy
Books should never be banned because of content. However, some self-published books should absolutely be banned because the authors mangled the English language beyond all recognition and never bothered to attempt to have them edited. However, unbanning should be allowed after a good editing.
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Jim D.
I am glad to see most people posting here are against book banning and burning and censorship of any kind. It doesn't mean we let little Johnny take out "Fifty Shades of Grey." There are children's sections in libraries appropriate for them.
To those of you that indicated some amount of book banning should be done, I have a question: Who decides? You? In your mind the criteria is clear cut. But if you're not the one that gets to decide, are you going to have an issue with the books that are banned? That's why book banning never works out. There is no book that everyone wants to ban universally. Therefore, all books must exist.
Thus endeth the lesson.
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Amber
Ignorance is never a good protective measure. Besides, if you tell a kid don't they automatically want to if for no other reason than to understand why. What's worse is that those who ban certain books don't even read the books to find out what they are banning which only adds to the ignorance. A better choice would be to read it, see if the subject matter is really as offensive as they think and then discuss it like a reasonable person with your child so they understand why you think it so objectionable. The real reason for banning things isn't to protect children but to protect the squeamish from difficult conversations with the children. They will grow up and eventually become adults, often much sooner than we expect. Keeping them ignorant is only going to hand them a much more difficult life with a tragic lack of information to guide them when they really need it. Read it first, let them read it, then discuss what is wrong rather than avoid.
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John Maher
NICELY POSTED AMBER FRY, DUMP the ORANGUtRUMP !!!
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SHAUN
WELL DONE AMBER - COULDNT HAVE PUT IT BETTER MYSELF - IGNORANCE IS NEVER GOOD. IF WE DONT EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN (AND OTHERS WHEN WE CAN - AFTER OBVIOUSLY DOING OUR HOMEWORK) - THEY MAY NOT JUST BE IGNORANT BUT END UP PARROTING OFF UNINFORMED IDIOCY LIKE THE ANTI-TUMP BRICAGE (EG JOHN MAHER) - IF THEY (FOR EXAMPLE) HAD NOT JUST REPEATED THE NONSENCE THEY HEAR ON CNN BUT RESEARCHED THEIR INFORMATION FROM NUMEROUS SOURCES THEY WOULD NO DOUBT HAVE COME ACCROSS THE LIKES OF PAUL JOSEPH WATSON, LAUREN SOUTHERN, REBEL MEDIA AND REKT FEMINISTS - FOR EXAMPLE - THAT WOULD HAVE STOPPED THEM CREATING ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS AND PUBLICLY DISPLAYING THE FACT THEY HAVE NO IDEA OF WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT...
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Bill Fox
I had to read most of these for book reports in public school in the 1960s. I don't remember that much about them. I wouldn't have read them had they not been a school assignment. I'm not going to read them today, to find out what the hoopla is about. I don't think the books should be banned, and I have no problem with parents caring about what their children read. I am really in favor of home schooling and limiting internet time for children who live at home, including the 30 somethings living in the basement. If they don't like the policy, they can move someplace more friendly, like the street. Not really. I didn't allow my children to live in my house past age 18.
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Ed
I think some books should probably be considered "mature" and perhaps should not be read by children, but where does one draw that line? I have known some children that I felt to be more mature than some adults, if one is basing that strictly on age.
I think parents should get back into the habit of RAISING their children and, if the child is reading a book that concerns the parent, then the parent should discuss that book with the child.
I know that when I was a child, if I was told explicitly NOT to read something, it just made me more determined to read it so I could see what all the fuss was about.
If people want badly enough to read a book, they'll find it and read it. Burning/banning books may make that a little more difficult but isn't going to accomplish anything in the long run, in my opinion.
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Johnny Doeseph
No book should ever be censored
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Deraak
Who remembers the movie Footloose when they were sitting and talking about the books they wanted to ban or burn. Keven Bacon who was the lead said that those books were great books his family looked at him thinking what the heck really. I even heard they wanted to ban Winnie the Pooh books. I don't understand y school library would have books that a 5 yr old would even know what it is. I read 1984, it was a book my dad who was a teacher had the senior class read. The books that think should be baned is someone's opion. I also believe parents need to be parents.
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Fr. Omnius et Nihilius
The pic at the top with the books wrapped in chain I have read them all by age 15. I'm still wondering what was so bad about those books, obviously the book burners has read Fahrenheit 451 and the giver. Those two books, along with 1984, showed me that the U.S. was and is like that.
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SHAUN
1984 IS THE HOW TO MANUAL OF THE LIBERAL/LEFT (EG ANTIFA/ P. C.) WHO CONSTANTLY CALL WHITE BLACK ETC - JUST AS JESUS WARNED ...
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CDawson
I believe that this is where parenting must come into play. Books are freedom of speech! Parents must talk to their children about the literature they are reading. For too long, parenting in this country has gotten weaker. Young parents are expecting the schools and government to tell them what to do, read, act, etc. Get back to parenting! Banning and burning books is fascism, aka NAZI scum, and not a part of the America that I love and protect with my own blood, sweat, and tears. God Bless!
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SHAUN
AMEN - AND WE NEED TO TEACH OUR KIDS THE IMPORTANCE OF FREE SPEACH AND HOW THOSE WHO OPPOSE IT (THE LIBERAL/LEFT - ANTIFA/BLM/FEMINITS/ETC) ARE THE ENEMY OF US ALL - HAVE YOU SEEN WHAT THE FACIST ANTIFA HAVE BEEN UP TO AT BERKLEY??.....AND AS ALL TRUELLY SPIRITUAL PEOPLE LOVE THE TRUTH I WOULD LIKE TO RECOMEND SOME YOUTUBE CHANNELS FOR YOU TO INVESTIGATE - AFTER ALL TO PRAY EFFECTIVELY AND STAND FOR TRUTH WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT TRUTH IS AND WHAT IS DECEPTION - SEE PAUL JOSEPH WATSON, LAUREN SOUTHERN, MILO, REKT FEMINIST AND UNDOOMED. I MUST WARN YOU THAT SOME OF THE LANGUAGE IS A BIT STRONG FOR SOME - HOWEVER I BELIEVE THE MESSAGE IS FAR MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE WRAPPING..
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Rev Ned
Banning books gives them free, valuable, advertising.
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Rev. T. King
There is no point in banning or censoring literature "to protect the children" if we are not also banning TV and Internet for the same reasons. If protecting young minds from adult thoughts is the reason, they are worse.
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Minister Dave
Right. The point is still disturbing. Ban all or none.
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Tom B
John...agreed...Tom
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John Owens
Book-burning by a society or movement has ALWAYS been an obvious sign of ignorance and intolerance, and usually a precursor to tyranny. It is certainly not a sign of enlightenment.
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John Maher
WELL SAID Mr. OWENS, BRAVO, DUMP the ORANGUtRUMP !!!
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SHAUN
YOUR ATTACK ON TRUMP SHOWS HOW IGNORANT YOU ARE SO LET ME EXPLAIN THE THINGS TAHT PEOPLE WITH FUNCTIONONG MINDS UNDERSTAND - 1/ FOR A COUNTRY TO BE GOVERNABLE - AS OPPOSED TO BEING OVER-RUN AND FALLING INTO CHAOS AND HAVINGTHE BIGGEST BULLIES RUN THE PLACE - YOU NEED STRONG BORDERS. THIS IS NOT RACIST BUR RESPONSIBLE. 2/ A LEADER HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP ITS PEOPEL SAFE AND THAT INCLUDES DEPORTING ILLEGALS, FORIEGN CRIMINALS AND KEEPING ENEMIES OFTHE COUNTRY OUT. 3/ HAVINGAMUSLIM BAN IS PART OF THAT. ANYONE WHO HAS BOTHERED TO READ THE KORAN - INSTEAD OF VERTUE SIGNALLING AND AUTOMATICALLY JUMPING TO THE 'DEFENCE' OF MUSLIMS WILL KNOW THAT THE DEFINING CHARACTERISTIC OF A MUSLIMS IS THEY BELIEVE THE KORAN, THAT THE KORAN TELLS THEM TO LIE, AND (APART FROM TH FACT IT IS FICTION) THE KORAN SUPPORTS RAPE ,CHILD MOLESTATION, DISFIGUEMENT AND MURDER (SEE WWW.RELIGIONOFPEACE.COM AND WWW.CHICK.COM) - YOU WOULD DO BETTER TO DO YOUR RESEARCH THAN PUBLICLY DISPLAY HOW STUPID AND IGNORANT YOU ARE.......APART FROM 700,000,000 DEAD OF ALL OTHER FAITHS, ISLAM IS THE MOST INTOLERATE RELIGION EVER AND IS TEARING UP THE REST OF THE WORLD - N WONDER TUMP HAS THE GOOD SENCE TO TRY TO DEFEND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AGAISNT THEM - I JUST WISH WE HAD SOMEONE THAT GREAT TO DEFEND THE U.K. AND IMMEDIATLY FREE US FROM THE E.U. SO WE CAN STOP THE ISLAMIC INVASION OF THE UK.....HOPE THE REST OF EUROPE GETS THEMSELVES FREE TOO AND DEPORTS THEM BEFORE THEY START A TOTAL CIVIL WAR ALL ACCROSS EUROPE..
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SHAUN
ORANGUtRUMP?? - DONALD TRUMP IS MAKING THE PLACE SAFER BY DEPORTING ILLEGALS AND VETTING THOSE WHO COMES IN - CLEARLY YOU NEED TO SEE WHAT THE KORAN ACTUALLY STATES - SEE WWW.RELIGIONOFPEACE.COM AND WWW.CHICK.COM
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angel
Kids still read books??
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shrek
nah its just a prank bro , they only read spinners
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Tom B
Alicia...i agree...Tom
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Alicia
No book should be banned! We can all learn something from every book...we even learn what NOT to do! Do people not realize that most of these banned books are FICTION???? Even To Kill a Mockingbird sends a message as does its sequel Go Set a Watchman. Instead of finding offense in the language and content, use it to TEACH! Let the new readers know that those were the terms used in that era of history, but that is not how things should be. It saddens me to think that so many people will not be able to enjoy Gone with the Wind (both book and movie) because someone finds it offensive. Are the words pretty? No...not at all, but that's the way it was. We grew from that.
Stop trying to erase history. Stop banning books. There are books I don't like, so I don't read them. Is that so difficult a concept?
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angel
If it's at school, then YES, there needs to be banned books, 5 year olds have no business reading inappropriate books like 50 shades of grey! Public places such as libraries should use desecration and should ban books that promote terrorism, how to build bombs and such extreme material that promotes violence against other people. I also believe if the material is questionable, libraries should have a section designated for adults only and this should NOT include porn! Porn should not be allowed at all! Freedom of speech is important, but we also must live together as a society and some things simply have no buissness being in public buildings that are being paid for by the local taxpayer!
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Julianna Okike
This is exactly why I had said criteria. It is understood that by age 13 one or most individuals know right from wrong here in the United States. If for some reason one does not practice or have an understanding could it be a cultural differences or religious views that impacts decision making with regard to behaviorisms children tend to mirror their parental units in their environment. Then we also have to take accountability for people who have been deemed with lower intelligences they too are child like because they do not understand at the rate average individuals do. This doesn't mean they are not capable it means they may have bloomed a little later than most others. Across the board because some folks bloomed later in other areas of life. Then as time permits you see change from environment to environment. If there is no structure/balance in the home how does one learn to be orderly and disciplined. How does one recognize the role of their own self? Most people in my era grew up in single parent homes. This is why it is important a strong foundation from the start.
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Guairdean
No, there should be no banned books, there should be responsible parents. If a child is found reading a book that is felt to be inappropriate, the parents should be consulted and their opinion should be final. The child should never be punished for reading.
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Tom B
Agreed...
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John Maher
YES ANGEL722 EXACTLY, the SEPERATION of PERVERTS and PEOPLE, DUMP the ORANGUtRUMP SPEAKING of PORNMOUTHING.................
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Julianna Okike
Good morning: After having read this I began to think back to a time when I had the same question. I was on a quest for knowledge about the things that were unknown to me only to discover that if I look more closely the answers were right in front of my own face. Nothing is really hidden and nothing should be banned. I believe with a wealth of information comes great responsibility. I believe that there should be limited access instead of banning and burning things maybe it should be reserved for special use. An example could be if someone has a question about a subject matter and wanted tangible evidence or a valid reason some form of justification of a lifes event or story. I bought a banned book once just to see what all the big deal was about. To my surprise it was very interesting to start. I found it in a local thrift shop for about 2 dollars. The odessy I read some I didn't get to finish since I books I was supposed to read for class. If one is choosing to ban something maybe their should be a set criteria almost like how they rate movie content. Ie. Pg, pg13 etc.
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Tom B
Potter Stewart was right...as i have commented before, there should be no censorship...
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SHAUN
In general I agree - But we do need some censorship - for instance banning child porn or other rape films - Censorship has its place but needs to be done with wisdom...
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Minister Dave
You can burn ? the mind of the author?
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Guairdean
It has long been the policy of dictators to "Burn the books and bury the scholars". Chairman Mao was quite proud of his accomplishments in this area. http://www.chinafile.com/reporting-opinion/viewpoint/burn-books-bury-scholars
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drrgrivera
A TOTALLY IGNORANT DECISION WHOSE ACTION REVEALS THE VERY IGNORANCE GIVING RISE TO IT. THEIR GOD OR POLITICAL IS A FOOL. EMBARRASSINGLY DUMB.
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Guairdean
Remember, some of the most vocal book (and music) burners were the evangelists in America's past. Any book that didn't conform to the proper Christian viewpoint was subject to a bonfire. There are nations where Christianity is a dangerous belief, and those nations must advance before their viewpoint will change. Sadly, while America has made a small advance, we haven't advance far enough. There are still powerful groups that want to control what we can read, and even think. http://airshipdaily.com/blog/03032014-modern-day-book-burning
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Doug Barron
I wonder.. Do Islamists burn books? The Romans destroyed the great library at Alexandria. Book burning is definitely not limited to horn rimmed bible thumping preachers! Ask any devout athiest what he would use the bible for if he owned an outhouse.
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Guairdean
The first burning of the library was when Romans set fire to their fleet to keep it from being captured, the fire spread to the city and to the library. It wasn't an intentional book burning. Jews, Muslims, and Christians all had a hand in the destruction of the library, just at different times in history. The library was a focal point of warring factions for many years. So much was lost, and rewritten by the victors, that little consensus can be found on even the simplest parts of the story. One story says that the library was burned by Muslims, but that wasn't written down for a couple of hundred years after the fact. Another story says that Christians dragged Hypatia (a librarian and scholar) through the streets and stripped her skin off with seashells when they burned the library. She was, after all, a Pagan.
As for a devout atheist (an odd oxymoron, actually) using the Bible in his outhouse. Think about it for a minute. The book has no significance in the eyes of an atheist. It's no more or less that a Sears catalog. I personally would advise against that use, but not because it's some kind of sacred text. It's because most Bibles have the same paper feel as the shiny pages in the old Sears catalogs, and anyone who's used an outhouse and a catalog will tell you to avoid the shiny pages.
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SHAUN
It is true and one can be too zealous in trying to protect people from evil lies - personally I find their are ultimately two types of people - ones who want to know the truth will do their research and change in relation to the facts- and others who will ignore the facts no matter how clearly and logically they re laid out. further more as one great man stated that the burning of books is often followed by he burning of bodies. Of course their are worse things to do than burn books - not to mention the burning of bodies their have been the extermination of people who don't agree with a certain belief structure - EG Nazis, communists and Muslims - of course the reason with these is the only way to protect a lie is to silence anyone who disagrees with you.....that is why I always say show me the facts - and then when I have been wrong I adjust to the facts.....For example, there was a time when I believed in reincarnation and evolution - it was coming into a relationship with God and finding much evidence over the years that has bought me to where I am now. And as the Bible has masses of scientific, historical, geological and other evidences to prove it is true and reliable (see the books 'more than a carpenter' and 'evidence that demands a verdict') - evil books like the Koran (that supports rape, child abuse, disfigurement, slavery and murder - www.religionofpeace.com. - all of these things were done by the demon worshipper Muhammad (see the Hadith) - which is hardly surprising when you realise that Allah is an ancient moon God identified by scholars as Satan - and Satan is incapable of telling the truth so obviously his followers under any guise wont either (see the best book on the subject 'Islamic Invasion').
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Jeri
By banning books, the "authorities" who do this are saying the people in their community are not worthy of independent thinking and decision making. That is very dangerous, not to mention scary.
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SHAUN
Too true - Our job is to do our research and then point the way to the misinformed - they then have the responsibility to check it out and its their loss if they don't - like www.josh.org
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authorities
its scary to ban a book LMAO ok
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James
Simply enough. Weak foundations, ignorance, fear. The same reason small groups of people get together and tear down historical things. They firmly believe their ideas are the only ideas.
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Rev paul
There is enough censorship already I agree it's out of this type of people's ignorance that this happens
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Pat Williams
What group are you talking about, why do they have to be small, who's historical things are they, did it ( the historical thing) benefit all of Gods people? We all are children of God and when we start trying to eliminate them it shows that we a fearful of Gods work. I know I'm a child of God says I, now who are you is the question I ask others when they hang, beat, shoot or destroy Gods child Who Are You? That's not a part of my Father, God protects and loves.
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SHAUN
TO TRUE - THE ONLY THING IS TO RESEARCH AND CROSS REFERENCE -AND TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO YOUR BELIEFS AND THINKING BASED ON THIS AS WELL S PERSONAL EXPERIENCE - ALL TRUTH IS COMPEMENTRY AND NEVER CONTRADICTORY....APART FROM THAT I HAVE FOUND OUT THERE IS A NUMBER OF CORE BOOKS AND WEB SITES RELATING TO ERTAIN ISSUES I PASS ON WHENEVER I HAVE THE OPPERTUNITY - HERE I RECOMEND - WWW.JOSH.ORG, WWW.DAYONE.CO.UK AND WWW.CHICK.COM - HAPPY HUNTING..
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Christian
You see this website Censorship of ideas, removing of truths, 'burning' ideas that are part of the Bible, Koran, or others.
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In today's world of instant communications through the web even the idea a book could be band is ludicrous.