Comments on: Good Literature: Skill vs. Truth http://www.rachelstarrthomson.com/2009/11/good-literature-skill-vs-truth/ Tue, 27 Jul 2010 21:39:29 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Dawn Smith http://www.rachelstarrthomson.com/2009/11/good-literature-skill-vs-truth/comment-page-1/#comment-17247 Dawn Smith Wed, 06 Jan 2010 21:31:11 +0000 http://www.rachelstarrthomson.com/?p=796#comment-17247 will sure do that and put in quotes with your name! Thanks, Dawn will sure do that and put in quotes with your name!
Thanks, Dawn

]]> By: Rachel http://www.rachelstarrthomson.com/2009/11/good-literature-skill-vs-truth/comment-page-1/#comment-17246 Rachel Wed, 06 Jan 2010 21:11:37 +0000 http://www.rachelstarrthomson.com/?p=796#comment-17246 Hi Dawn, Thanks for your response! I'm a homeschool graduate as well, so I'm perhaps more accustomed to thinking about issues like this than some folks. Absolutely, feel free to use the post in your e-mail. Just please link back to my site :). Thanks! Hi Dawn,

Thanks for your response! I’m a homeschool graduate as well, so I’m perhaps more accustomed to thinking about issues like this than some folks. Absolutely, feel free to use the post in your e-mail. Just please link back to my site :) . Thanks!

]]> By: Dawn Smith http://www.rachelstarrthomson.com/2009/11/good-literature-skill-vs-truth/comment-page-1/#comment-17245 Dawn Smith Wed, 06 Jan 2010 21:04:05 +0000 http://www.rachelstarrthomson.com/?p=796#comment-17245 I stumbled across this post as I googled "as Christians what makes good literature". I love this. Especially the last paragraph. I homeschool. WE uses a Classical Co-op here in Texas. With the literature curriculum there has been a selection with several instance of cursing and taking Gods name in vain. I do not consider this to be good literature. Definitely for my 5th grader. It has brought me to the question of this: By what standard do we judge literature as good. Please know that I in no way intend to sound legalistic. My faith in Christ is not about following some list of rules. I want only to honor Him in this area. May I use your blog article in the email I am writing tot he school/co-op? I stumbled across this post as I googled “as Christians what makes good literature”. I love this. Especially the last paragraph. I homeschool. WE uses a Classical Co-op here in Texas. With the literature curriculum there has been a selection with several instance of cursing and taking Gods name in vain. I do not consider this to be good literature. Definitely for my 5th grader. It has brought me to the question of this: By what standard do we judge literature as good. Please know that I in no way intend to sound legalistic. My faith in Christ is not about following some list of rules. I want only to honor Him in this area.
May I use your blog article in the email I am writing tot he school/co-op?

]]> By: Rachel http://www.rachelstarrthomson.com/2009/11/good-literature-skill-vs-truth/comment-page-1/#comment-17209 Rachel Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:35:15 +0000 http://www.rachelstarrthomson.com/?p=796#comment-17209 I think we can recognize that a piece of writing is good as literature (that is, is done well as a piece of art) but bad as truth, and vice versa. The BEST art, including literature, will bring the two together. I think we can recognize that a piece of writing is good as literature (that is, is done well as a piece of art) but bad as truth, and vice versa. The BEST art, including literature, will bring the two together.

]]> By: Judith http://www.rachelstarrthomson.com/2009/11/good-literature-skill-vs-truth/comment-page-1/#comment-17207 Judith Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:04:38 +0000 http://www.rachelstarrthomson.com/?p=796#comment-17207 Hmm ... I just re-read your post and I'm now wondering if you've answered my questions in the second paragraph. If so, I apologise for repeating! *Smile!* Otherwise, I'd still love to know what you think! *Smile!* Hmm … I just re-read your post and I’m now wondering if you’ve answered my questions in the second paragraph. If so, I apologise for repeating! *Smile!* Otherwise, I’d still love to know what you think! *Smile!*

]]> By: Judith http://www.rachelstarrthomson.com/2009/11/good-literature-skill-vs-truth/comment-page-1/#comment-17206 Judith Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:03:19 +0000 http://www.rachelstarrthomson.com/?p=796#comment-17206 I think Christian fiction IS literature if it's executed to a high standard of artistic excellence, but Christian writing that is clunky (good word - and I've read a number of "best sellers" that I would describe as clunky ... due to inaccuracy and emotionless-ness if not, otherwise, weak writing) is NOT literature. But what about Christian fiction that IS excuted to a high standard of artistic excellence (the plot is credible and engaging, the characters are "alive" and emotionally authentic and you've got, got, got to read more - NOW!), but is NOT the truth? What if it twists the truth? What if it exalts the opposite of the truth? Just wondering - I'd love to know what you think! I think Christian fiction IS literature if it’s executed to a high standard of artistic excellence, but Christian writing that is clunky (good word – and I’ve read a number of “best sellers” that I would describe as clunky … due to inaccuracy and emotionless-ness if not, otherwise, weak writing) is NOT literature. But what about Christian fiction that IS excuted to a high standard of artistic excellence (the plot is credible and engaging, the characters are “alive” and emotionally authentic and you’ve got, got, got to read more – NOW!), but is NOT the truth? What if it twists the truth? What if it exalts the opposite of the truth? Just wondering – I’d love to know what you think!

]]> By: Rachel http://www.rachelstarrthomson.com/2009/11/good-literature-skill-vs-truth/comment-page-1/#comment-17202 Rachel Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:23:25 +0000 http://www.rachelstarrthomson.com/?p=796#comment-17202 Very true. In my opinion, art done excellently will always do a better and more lingering job of getting its truths across as well. Very true. In my opinion, art done excellently will always do a better and more lingering job of getting its truths across as well.

]]> By: Elisabeth http://www.rachelstarrthomson.com/2009/11/good-literature-skill-vs-truth/comment-page-1/#comment-17200 Elisabeth Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:18:33 +0000 http://www.rachelstarrthomson.com/?p=796#comment-17200 Good point, Rachel! I'd...hehe...forgotten about that aspect of good literature for the moment. :-) And I agree with you again; I've read some Christian fiction that was clunky and cardboard, which does NOT meet my criteria for good literature. And I've noticed that many cardboard style Christian fiction also doesn't present the Gospel accurately or completely. Good point, Rachel! I’d…hehe…forgotten about that aspect of good literature for the moment. :-) And I agree with you again; I’ve read some Christian fiction that was clunky and cardboard, which does NOT meet my criteria for good literature. And I’ve noticed that many cardboard style Christian fiction also doesn’t present the Gospel accurately or completely.

]]> By: Rachel Starr Thomson http://www.rachelstarrthomson.com/2009/11/good-literature-skill-vs-truth/comment-page-1/#comment-17199 Rachel Starr Thomson Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:22:28 +0000 http://www.rachelstarrthomson.com/?p=796#comment-17199 Ah, but ANY story with biblical truth? What if it was abysmally written, with cardboard characters, clunky language, and plot twists that lacked any credibility? Would it still qualify as "good literature," just because it came from a biblical worldview or worked in truth? Probably not ;). Christian art, in any form, has the dual challenge of being excellent artistically AND being excellent in the area of truth. Ah, but ANY story with biblical truth? What if it was abysmally written, with cardboard characters, clunky language, and plot twists that lacked any credibility? Would it still qualify as “good literature,” just because it came from a biblical worldview or worked in truth? Probably not ;) . Christian art, in any form, has the dual challenge of being excellent artistically AND being excellent in the area of truth.

]]> By: Elisabeth http://www.rachelstarrthomson.com/2009/11/good-literature-skill-vs-truth/comment-page-1/#comment-17198 Elisabeth Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:17:13 +0000 http://www.rachelstarrthomson.com/?p=796#comment-17198 I agree. A story with Biblical truth would qualify as good literature in my opinion. I agree. A story with Biblical truth would qualify as good literature in my opinion.

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