by Bob Sullivan
Lately, there has been some talk about banning books across the country, and some encouragement to read banned books. While propaganda and misinformation can do a lot of damage, and many books and materials out there today are obviously propaganda, there may be a better approach when it comes to places that already have the books on the shelf.
If our goal appears to be removing books from public libraries and public schools, those who disagree with us will simply portray us as hateful bigots or even Nazis. A better way may be to champion truth through good books.
When Justice Harry Blackmun sat down to write his deeply flawed opinion in Roe v. Wade, he had both reliable information and highly flawed propaganda before him, and he chose to use the highly flawed propaganda from Larry Lader, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and other abortion advocates, while ignoring sound science and history from other members the ACOG and other pro-life advocates. In fact, he used the conflicting information from the two groups within the ACOG as support for his impression that science was not settled as to when human life actually began.
Roe v. Wade is a good example of a decision-maker throwing his hands up because the matter is over his head. While this should never be the case for the U.S. Supreme Court, it is a good explanation as to how we ended up with Roe v. Wade in 1973.
The fact is, we all have our limitations, biases, and inclinations, and we are capable of ignoring facts which challenge our biases and inclinations while embracing information which supports our biases and inclinations whether it is truthful and accurate or not. In many cases, “some truth” is good enough and the “whole truth” is inconvenient. This is why false and misleading books, tracts, videos, and talks, are dangerous. In the case of Justice Blackmun and six other members of the U.S. Supreme Court, such misinformation is even extremely deadly.
However, any conservative who calls for the banning of a book is falling into a trap. All an abortion activist, LGBT activist, or Critical Race Theorist needs to do is remind people that the Nazis burned books during their deadly work in the 1930s and 1940s. One picture of a Nazi soldier standing near a burning pile of anything, and the image is seared into young minds. Any idea of restricting access to any book then makes the other person a Nazi by implication.
How then, can a Christian deal with all the misinformation out there today which presents radical feminism, gender ideology and the LGBT lifestyle, atheism, marxism, socialism, euthanasia, and other aspects of the culture of death as good? Especially where these books are targeting young children, keep them out of your own home and out of your Catholic school’s library. However, a lot of these materials are already in public libraries, public school libraries, public school classrooms, bookstores, and coffee shops. Burning all these materials would light up the night sky brighter than New York City, and it would turn some hearts away from the Gospel’s message of love, Christ’s offer of salvation, and the reason for our existence.
Instead, might we be wiser to simply increase the true, good, and beautiful message of the Gospel, Christ’s offer of salvation, and the reason for our existence? Truth always prevails. However, if the truth isn’t known, how can it prevail? How can we make the truth known?
We need to make sure good books and materials are also found in all the places where the dishonest books and materials are found. We also have to produce more of the good materials. This means more picture books and other books parents can read with their children before the child can even read.
This is where the progressive liberals currently have the edge on Christians. While there are a lot of fun and attractive picture books and books parents can read to their children on the market right now, there are a lot more that overtly or covertly promote gender ideology, homosexuality, and other things incompatible with the Gospel, than there are books which begin an honest discussion of these things between parents and their young children.
If you can find some, consider donating good books to your local public library, public grade school library, Catholic grade school library, and to your parish so your pastor can give the books to parents who have their child baptized. These do not need to be deep theological or social discussions. Your goal is to help children see and enjoy books which offer the Christian approach to life.
Your local Catholic bookstore will have some very good books to offer, but given the way the culture is trying to manipulate children, you might look for books which specifically help parents explain authentic love, appropriate ways to deal with confusing thoughts and images, marriage and family, and the basics on human life and development. I actually think it is possible to break the internet by using the following search: “Children’s picture book about marriage between man and woman.”
If you can find them, some potential options to read and consider donating are:
“God Made Us Just Right”
by Allia Zobel Nolan
“A Gift of Myself”
by Carissa Douglas
“God Made All Of Me”
by Justin and Lindsay Holcomb
“A Child’s First Book About Marriage: God’s Way is Always Best”
by Jani Ortlund
“Good News! God Made Me!”
by Glenys Nellist
“God Made You Just Right”
by Jill Roman Lord
Also, start with your own children now. That way, when they are adults and start having children of their own, they will appreciate and understand gifts of books like these instead of being offended and angered by them.
