Reading impure book for English class

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McatholicN said:
For English class we were assigned to read a book called “The Awakening” which I didn’t read after looking at some of the reviews on the back cover and what my classmates were saying about it. Would reading this book be sinful matter due to its impure content? I’ve already flunked a quiz and assignment about it (probably an essay, too) and now I have to write a big paper on it that would surely sink my grade if I flunk that as well. What should I do?
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You are never justified to place yourself in a proximate occasion of sin and no one is justified in trying to force you into that kind of situation. I would simply tell the teacher/instructor that you think the book might be troublesome to you and ask him/her if you could read another book and do a report on it for her. For example, ask instead if you could read Lord of the Rings, Lord of the World ( which is on line ), Clowns of God, or the C.S. Lewis space trilogy ( That Hedious Strength, etc ), Count of Monte Cristo, A Man Called Thursday, Journey to the Center of the Earth, etc. And then offer to do a report before the class with questions from the class and teacher. You know, something like that.

But no, you cannot read the book assigned, given the circumstances. 🙂

That is my personal opinion only, you can talk it over with your parents or your parish priest. And I would do that first.
 
Fine, I will cease my line of argument. I was simply using hypothetical examples for a wider discussion of the broad subject of “reading impure books for English class”. Since the OP is likely afflicted with scrupulosity, the only appropriate advice to offer is “see your confessor or spiritual director” and nothing more.
 
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Elizium23 said:
Fine, I will cease my line of argument. I was simply using hypothetical examples for a wider discussion of the broad subject of “reading impure books for English class”. Since** the OP is likely afflicted with scrupulosity**, the only appropriate advice to offer is “see your confessor or spiritual director” and nothing more.
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That is a possible hypothesis but the other one that teachers on this thread (and I being one) have also hypothesized that we have a student who also wants an easy “out” for not having done an assignment. As I posted before, the student makes no mention of speaking with the teacher and/or parents. In my experience I would be suspicious of a student who has a complaint or issue with an assignment almost after the assignment is due.

I am sorry for sounding harsh, but here is a “newsflash” some students will say, do, or use any reason to get out of an assignment …

and sometimes those students are students who are Catholics:eek:
 
I agree with Coach Dennis. Besides, talking to other students and reading the reviews on the back of the book do not constitute academic research into this matter. No discussion with parents or teacher or principal (I’m thinking this is high school, not college) or priest but now comes running to an anonymous board for support in a decision already made? Bleh. Reading about sin isn’t going to make you run out and sin. Its not porn - its English literature.

You blew it. Take your failed grade and move on.
 
Elizium23 said:
This has turned into a hypothetical discussion due to the doubtful nature of the book’s content and the possible scrupulosity of the OP. .
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It’s not a hypothetical at all. The answer to my question was “No, I don’t.” If you want to discuss something other than what’s in the op, perhaps you should start a thread on your hypothetical and the implications of personal sin that stem from reading.
 
mt_gooseberry said:
Oh, please. :rolleyes: If “The Awakening” is too sinful for good Catholics to read we are in BIG trouble. The best of literature deals with the great conflicts of humanity, especially moral conflicts. If you do not allow yourself to read the Classics of literature for fear of encountering morally questionable situations, you will miss the opportunity for your conscience to examine the rights and wrongs of life, and grow and develop to the fullest extent. It’s probably better to encounter these situation through the pages of a book as opposed to in your own life, anyway! That’s how I would rather learn about the pitfalls of adultery…🤷 Get off your sanctimonious highhorse and read the book!
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I agree! If it’s for your literature class, your teacher is probably trying to expand your critical thinking skills. If you’re honestly tempted by a book in your literature class, then I suggest focusing on what your teacher wants you to focus on. If the book is really that hard for you to deal with, then talk to your teacher! Don’t use your morals as an excuse to not do class work!
 
Timothysis said:
Are you kidding? Do you want the OP to read all of that killing and sorcery? :rolleyes:
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:rotfl:

To finish what you started (this is all in good fun, guys, don’t take it seriously!) 😃

“The Clowns of God”? Contains adultery too, including an explicit description of a sexual act. Not to mention that it contains dangerous theological errors (the official Church can teach error; having illicit sex is a good way for future Popes to learn about God’s love…)

“The Count of Monte Cristo”? One of my favourite books ever, but I’m sure every one of the Ten Commandments is broken by one character or the other.
 
RPRPsych said:
:rotfl:

To finish what you started (this is all in good fun, guys, don’t take it seriously!) 😃

“The Clowns of God”? Contains adultery too, including an explicit description of a sexual act. Not to mention that it contains dangerous theological errors (the official Church can teach error; having illicit sex is a good way for future Popes to learn about God’s love…)

“The Count of Monte Cristo”? One of my favourite books ever, but I’m sure every one of the Ten Commandments is broken by one character or the other.
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Isn’t it interesting how such devoted Catholics can find the slightest immorality in something that pertains to sex but they don’t cast a second glance to violence?

A priest at Mass once said that while most people think the most “common” sin is sins against chastity (sex), he believed the most common sin to be a lack of charity and I tend to agree with him.

One of my sisters was making a big deal about the movie The Bridges of Madison County saying, “it’s about adultery!!!” My other sister said "it’s called passion." :eek:

I wonder if our good poster is offended by the murder, killing and tragedy in Hamlet?
 
RPRPsych said:
Come on, he’s not offering his children by fire to Baal, or worship an idol, or blaspheme against the name of the Lord! Let’s not get hyperbolic here. 🙂

He’s been asked to study a fairly old (and fairly boring, from what my mother - a professor of English - once said) novel, older than any of us on this board, which happens to deal with an adulterous protagonist whose life ends tragically when she realizes the destructive nature of passion. It’s certainly not a very edifying tale, but it’s not particularly immoral either. Considering some of the stuff students are made to read these days, I think we should cut the OP and his teachers a little slack here.
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It sounds like Anna Karenena and* the Devil*, both by Tolstoy. Both dealt with this very theme, and I doubt that anyone on here would say don’t read it. I would bet everyone on here would read it and say that it was great literature (even it a bit slow).
 
Timothysis said:
A priest at Mass once said that while most people think the most “common” sin is sins against chastity (sex), he believed the most common sin to be a lack of charity and I tend to agree with him.
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That’s a very good observation, and I agree with it entirely. 👍

This also extends to being uncharitable to those who fall prey to “sins of the flesh”, but giving oneself a free pass if one happens to be guilty of them.

And frankly, I fail to see what the fuss is about this particular novel. Some of the hyperbole here (The Awakening = 50 Shades of Gray?? Reading a novel for English class is like idol worship??) bothers even me, and I’m conservative about such things.

(As I pointed out, “The Clowns of God” is even more problematic if one wants to split hairs; it’s borderline Jansenism written by an ex-priest with markedly liberal views, and its plot includes a Pope who resigns because of his private revelations, a venal Church that refuses to see the truth, an absurd version of the Second Coming, and various other theological errors. It also happens to be immensely readable, and a very good story provided you’re willing to check your orthodoxy at the door for a few minutes.)

As a Protestant apologist once said: “Stay away” is good advice for those weak in their faith, but “Learn to discern” is even better.
 
jimmy said:
It sounds like Anna Karenena and* the Devil*, both by Tolstoy. Both dealt with this very theme, and I doubt that anyone on here would say don’t read it. I would bet everyone on here would read it and say that it was great literature (even it a bit slow).
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Anna Karenina is by far the better novel, though. 😃
 
Timothysis said:
Isn’t it interesting how such devoted Catholics can find the slightest immorality in something that pertains to sex but they don’t cast a second glance to violence?

I wonder if our good poster is offended by the murder, killing and tragedy in Hamlet?
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Taking offense is a matter of taste, and discerning a near occasion of sin is, as I said, a judgement call for an individual to make, or in consultation with his confessor. Someone who struggles greatly with sexual impurity may not be tempted or bothered much by portrayals of violence. They are two entirely different areas of psychology. An abusive person or one who has trouble with anger management may be incited by witnessing violence, so to him, yes, Hamlet may be a stumbling block.
 
As much as I would love to not have to do this assignment, I would much rather not suffer the consequences of not doing the assignment, so this needs to be resolved. I do have scrupulous tendencies and because of that my Pastor has told me that in instances where I don’t know whether something is a sin, than it is not a sin for me. That would seem to resolve the issue here, but I’m not sure if that’s completely sound advice.

Reading the book will cause me impure thoughts, but I don’t think I will consent… is that still a near occasion to mortal sin, even if I can forsee that I will not consent?
 
McatholicN said:
As much as I would love to not have to do this assignment, I would much rather not suffer the consequences of not doing the assignment, so this needs to be resolved.** I do have scrupulous tendencies and because of that my Pastor has told me that in instances where I don’t know whether something is a sin, than it is not a sin for me. That would seem to resolve the issue here, but I’m not sure if that’s completely sound advice.**
Reading the book will cause me impure thoughts, but I don’t think I will consent… is that still a near occasion to mortal sin, even if I can forsee that I will not consent?
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Your pastor has given you very sound advice. You should follow his advice.
 
McatholicN said:
As much as I would love to not have to do this assignment, I would much rather not suffer the consequences of not doing the assignment, so this needs to be resolved. I do have scrupulous tendencies and because of that my Pastor has told me that in instances where I don’t know whether something is a sin, than it is not a sin for me. That would seem to resolve the issue here, but I’m not sure if that’s completely sound advice.

Reading the book will cause me impure thoughts, but I don’t think I will consent… is that still a near occasion to mortal sin, even if I can forsee that I will not consent?
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So you talked to your pastor and he gave you this very sound advice … but you are still going to not do the assignment.

According to what you have written, or more acurately NOT written, you have not talked to your teacher about your issues with this assignment. So, you will take your failing grade silently, and for what? What point are you trying to make?

Sorry for the “tough love” words – but it sounds like to me that you are purposely setting yourself up to be a victim when there may be no reason to *suffer *for your faith.
 
1ke said:
A) What leads you to believe this is an “impure” book, or something not appropriate in the context of an English literature class? What grade is this? The Church is NOT Puritan in its beliefs or practices. It is fine to read a book for such a purpose as literary criticism, as you have been assigned.

B) Your past posts have given indications of scrupulosity, have you gotten counseling for that? Perhaps it is your scrupulosity at work here, and not the actual contents of the novel.

C) If you really believe this is inappropriate and that you cannot read it, you need to have your parents talk to your teacher about an alternate assignment. Simply not doing your work is not an acceptable option here.
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I agree.

I read this book back in high school, too. It’s pretty standard stuff. I have some problems with the book (especially the ending), but I’d be hard-pressed to call it “impure”. It was almost 20 years ago that I read it, so I cannot say for sure, but if there was anything explicit in it, I probably would have remembered.
 
i think a person who finds a boring classical literature “impure” would do well entering a convert or monastery. 🤷
 
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