Murdering Ideas- Why Banning Books Is Never The Answer

In late October, a Texas House Representative sent a letter to school districts across the state, asking them to review a 16-page list of books that may contain some “objectionable content.” On top of this over 800 book list, the school districts were asked to identify an other books that had the following topics:

“human sexuality, sexually transmitted diseases, or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), sexually explicit images, graphic presentations of sexual behavior that is in violation of the law, or contain material that might make students feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress because of their race or sex or convey that a student, by virtue of their race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously.”

Christians Should be Alarmed

Regardless of your personal opinions on issues surrounding the LGBTQ community, Critical Race Theory, AIDS epidemic or sexual behavior this move should be alarming. Christians should be alarmed because of the dangerous precedent singling out types or genres of books based on political or cultural stances creates. Not standing up to books being band is very close to not standing up during segregation or the Holocaust, let me explain.

The issue occurs because Christians, especially in the west, have a very bad habit of “not getting involved”. This attitude of “Not my Pig, Not my Farm” has been the catalyst from which Adolf Hitler killed millions, with Christian endorsement in silence. It was the catalyst by which Southern Baptist Preachers convinced the south of the biblicalness of slavery. And it is the catalyst through which the free exchange of ideas is now being challenged in Texas. And we are quiet, why?

We are quiet because it isn’t effecting us. But that is the problem… Issues like this, when out of control, will absolutely effect us. And by that time its far too late. Just ask the Lutheran Church in Germany or the Eastern Orthodox Church in Russia. They have both seen the dire consequences of “too late”.

What If?

I consider myself a fairly Conservative Christian, although many Conservatives would not. My litmus test for these issues is quite simple. And it is the answer to the question “What if?”. What if a Texas representative requested districts or libraries to remove any reference to Jesus Christ because the name makes people uncomfortable? What if the Bible were on the list. If I would respond with alarm, than I should respond with alarm when any book is being banned.

What if speaking of Jesus were banned because it made atheists feel a certain way. I would likely be up in arms, so this instance of banning books because of how they make people feel is no different and I must stand against it.

Celtic Christianity and Spirituality Could Be Next

If Critical Race Theory and books about culture are banned because of how they make people feel, Christian books could very well end up on the chopping block. Specifically, Celtic Spirituality as discussed by Ray Simpson and many Celtic communities specifically describes healing wounded peoples as a waymark. Does that mean that if Simpson or myself support this waymark, we are supporting CRT? And if so, should we now be banned? My warning to Christians, specifically those who practice Celtic Spirituality is this: Allowing this to stand and saying nothing, means later down the road you cant say anything when Celtic Spirituality books are banned in the same manner. Silence is compliance, and I for one will stand in direct opposition to this attempt at banning books.

Banning Books “UnChristian”

I will never agree with the banning of books. Not because I agree or disagree with the authors, but because I never want what I believe in banned. If you support book banning, you look more like a Nazi than you think you do. Free thought is not only a fundamental right in the United States but also very biblical. Christ doesn’t want one sided robots and neither should we. Maybe instead of silencing other views we should improve our arguments.

Banning Books is WRONG…PERIOD.