I agree with a bunch of your points and I fully accept your caveat that this is substack and you were being brief so you didn’t go into a ton of detail on this or that but I was still wanting you to explain *why* anything between say ~500-1600 is such a boogie man haha. I think I know why and I think I’d disagree (while still not being a…
I agree with a bunch of your points and I fully accept your caveat that this is substack and you were being brief so you didn’t go into a ton of detail on this or that but I was still wanting you to explain *why* anything between say ~500-1600 is such a boogie man haha. I think I know why and I think I’d disagree (while still not being a Catholic). Essentially I’m 35 but in the stage of life where all the boogie men I was told as a kid to not even consider reading turns out weren’t so bad: patristics, Desert fathers, Eugene Peterson, John Calvin etc. In fact, I’ve come to believe that when we say “stay away from this entire swath or stream of Christianity” we’re coming from a place of fear of the other more than anything else. Instead I wish my parents or youth pastors or Bible college professors had read with me (not for me).
You are right about the brevity! This whole thing was originally a text message to a buddy : )
Now, I wouldn't say anything or everything from that era is suspect. No way! There are some incredibly helpful and edifying works in that era. In my post at the hyperlink "and more" (after I mention Augustine, Luther, etc.), that goes to a list of books that includes Basil, Patrick, Bernard, Aquinas, and Thomas a Kempis. I love those books! My shelves are full of 'em. I think one reason why I'd still recommend folks to start with Augustine, Luther, Calvin, etc.—1) They are recognizable pillars 2) Their mass popularity has generated lots of easy to read translations of their works.
And, man, I totally understand the "boogie men" idea. I grew up in a similar culture—some of it was taught (don't read x, y, z), and some was caught—it was just the culture. I didn't even hear of C. S. Lewis until seminary! I love Lewis now...and I'm still a Baptist lol.
I think there is a good desire to help people who aren't as discerning yet, and it can be tricky. But, yes, more reading together, especially in higher education.
I agree with a bunch of your points and I fully accept your caveat that this is substack and you were being brief so you didn’t go into a ton of detail on this or that but I was still wanting you to explain *why* anything between say ~500-1600 is such a boogie man haha. I think I know why and I think I’d disagree (while still not being a Catholic). Essentially I’m 35 but in the stage of life where all the boogie men I was told as a kid to not even consider reading turns out weren’t so bad: patristics, Desert fathers, Eugene Peterson, John Calvin etc. In fact, I’ve come to believe that when we say “stay away from this entire swath or stream of Christianity” we’re coming from a place of fear of the other more than anything else. Instead I wish my parents or youth pastors or Bible college professors had read with me (not for me).
You are right about the brevity! This whole thing was originally a text message to a buddy : )
Now, I wouldn't say anything or everything from that era is suspect. No way! There are some incredibly helpful and edifying works in that era. In my post at the hyperlink "and more" (after I mention Augustine, Luther, etc.), that goes to a list of books that includes Basil, Patrick, Bernard, Aquinas, and Thomas a Kempis. I love those books! My shelves are full of 'em. I think one reason why I'd still recommend folks to start with Augustine, Luther, Calvin, etc.—1) They are recognizable pillars 2) Their mass popularity has generated lots of easy to read translations of their works.
And, man, I totally understand the "boogie men" idea. I grew up in a similar culture—some of it was taught (don't read x, y, z), and some was caught—it was just the culture. I didn't even hear of C. S. Lewis until seminary! I love Lewis now...and I'm still a Baptist lol.
I think there is a good desire to help people who aren't as discerning yet, and it can be tricky. But, yes, more reading together, especially in higher education.