Catcher in the Rye

[shondrea]

I hated it to, but on a purely taste level. I just thought it was boring. I didn’t find anything offensive or sinful about reading the book. Just that it was boooring

 

[Coder]

I understand what you are saying, but I don’t think this is the case in fiction, or at least not always the case.

It is more like if you were discussing a hypothetical situation with someone. Say I asked you, "Why does John always say (blasphemous phrase X)? “What does phase Y mean?” In discussing such a subject there would be no sin in speaking frankly.

I appreciate your thoughtful post. However take a step back and consider why use of the name of God in vain is a sin. We are to use His name in prayer and to give him glory and praise either directly or indirectly. An example of indirectly honoring Him would be a prayer of petition which still gives God glory because it recognizes Him as the source of all good things.

In light of this consider a work such as Catcher in the Rye. Even if one were to indicate that misusing the name of God is a wrong thing that a character does, it should still do it in a way that least associates the name of God to immoral language and thinking. For example, the Catechism in teaching about respect for the name of God does not give specific literal examples of misuse of His name and for good reason. These examples do not glorify God. Not only that but I don’t see that the Catcher in the Rye specifically indicates that the character’s misuse of the name of God is wrong. I don’t recall getting that message (at least not strongly but it could be that I don’t remember).

Even discussional use of His name for teaching purposes should be done with loving care and respect.

usccb.org/catechism/text/pt3sect2chpt1art2.shtml

Note 2158 also.

Consider a book with bad “examples” of use of our personal names and how we would view that as an offense to us.

 

[itrytofight]

So how would an author portay someone cursing God’s name?

As for the book itself, I think I was the only one in my entire class to actually enjoy the book. It’'s probably cause I can relate to the main character despite his constant whining.

 

[Coder]

So how would an author portay someone cursing God’s name?

“Thy will be done.” I don’t think such a depiction fits in God’s plan. It’s not a worthy work of art and is not a needed part of a culture that gives glory to God.

 

[itrytofight]

“Thy will be done.” I don’t think such a depiction fits in God’s plan. It’s not a worthy work of art and is not a needed part of a culture that gives glory to God.

You know there are real life people out there who take God’s name in vain, do we just pretend they don’t exist when writing plays or stories (I’m not saying that it’s right…)? Do we just write that they took God’s name in vain without writing the exact words he said?

Forgive me if my response comes across as rude.

 

[JadeStarr]

When I was a teen I loved that book, as an adult I find Holden very narcissistic and spoiled.

However, I can honestly say that Catcher did not shock me as much as the story in the bible where the girls get their father drunk and have their evil way with him.

 

[Moscati]

I haven’t read Catcher In The Rye (and I don’t intend to), but the discussion on profanity reminded me of a seminal I attended on Catholic novelist Flannery O’Connor. She’s famous for writing deeply disturbing stories–murder, child abuse, assault, etc were common occurrences in her fiction. She explained why:

“The novelist with Christian concerns will find in modern life distortions which are repugnant to him, and his problem will be to make these appear as distortions to an audience which is used to seeing them as natural; and he may well be forced to take ever more violent means to get his vision across to this hostile audience. . . . [Y]ou have to make your vision apparent by shock - to the hard of hearing you shout, and for the almost-blind you draw large and startling figures.”

Rather than desensitizing readers to violence, blasphemy, or any other multitude of sins, a good piece of literature will make their true nature apparent–it will challenge us, jolt us out of our normal way of seeing and hopefully draw us closer to God’s grace. Bowdlerized stories just can’t do that. The Scriptures definitely haven’t had all the sinners cut out . . . there wouldn’t be much left!

 

[benny_f]

I’m a 16-year-old guy, and attend a Catholic High School in Vancouver, Canada. This year we were, yes, required to read The Catcher in the Rye. All things aside, it is an amazing piece of literature. Look, I’m one of the most theologically conservative Catholics I know (you can check my posts for confirmation of this), but I still think Catcher has an immense amount of value and is, really, an exploration of human nature and of what it means to be a teenager. Holden Caulfield, in his three days in New York, searches for meaning—or for what I called in one of my essays as a “former innocence.” He’s a good guy at heart, and I think that schools, whether Catholic or not, should continue to teach this book.

I completely agree with you, I loved The Catcher in the Rye and never fail to cry when Holden watches Phoebe on the merry go round. I think it is an excellent book, regardless of it’s profanity. You can’t fault the writer for achieving what few members of the Church have done: understanding and perfectly expressing how lost you feel when you are a teenager. I’ve read dozens of books on understanding teenagers by Catholics, and I roll my eyes at every single one. None of them understood, but Salinger did. He doesn’t condescend, or tell you bluntly “I know how you feel”, he just writes about this messed up kid and you feel the connection deep within. God gave him a gift, and I can safely say Salinger saved me as a teenager. I never committed suicide because I knew I wasn’t alone.

I know some members will say: you should not have relied on Salinger as a support but Our Lord. At the time however, Salinger was my only support, I did not believe in God and that was the reality of it. In some ways I think God helped me by opening my heart up to that book, and I see it as my own Divine miracle.

 

[itrytofight]

I completely agree with you, I loved The Catcher in the Rye and never fail to cry when Holden watches Phoebe on the merry go round. I think it is an excellent book, regardless of it’s profanity. You can’t fault the writer for achieving what few members of the Church have done: understanding and perfectly expressing how lost you feel when you are a teenager. I’ve read dozens of books on understanding teenagers by Catholics, and I roll my eyes at every single one. None of them understood, but Salinger did. He doesn’t condescend, or tell you bluntly “I know how you feel”, he just writes about this messed up kid and you feel the connection deep within. God gave him a gift, and I can safely say Salinger saved me as a teenager. I never committed suicide because I knew I wasn’t alone.

I know some members will say: you should not have relied on Salinger as a support but Our Lord. At the time however, Salinger was my only support, I did not believe in God and that was the reality of it. In some ways I think God helped me by opening my heart up to that book, and I see it as my own Divine miracle.

You’re not the only one who connected with Holden .