the published and unpublished works of angeline koh

Why Christians must read
by Gene Edward Veith, Jr., published by Crossway Books
© Book review by Angeline Koh . Written 2001

Quite heavy reading but very thought-provoking. Communication (words and language) is vital to our ministry as disciple-makers. We spend extensive time in the study of the Bible (content), but we also need to give attention to the means by which these precious and unchanging truths are being communicated (or manipulated). I realise that the quotes here come to you in fragments but I hope it will stir up enough interest for you to want to read and to do so widely and wisely.
“What a superb resource this is! It resonates with profound perceptions of how good literature works to enrich and illuminate us. Dr Veith proves himself once again to be a knowledgeable guide through the landscape of the written word.” – Author Luci Shaw.

What you will find in the book

The power of words and why Christians must be people of the (written) word (as compared to the tv media)
How to cultivate good literary taste by recognizing books that are spiritual and aesthetically good. Explains how to discern junk from truth and how words can be misused to manipulate and sway from the real issues.
Presents basic information to understand what we read – from the classics to the best-sellers. How the major types of literature (genre) through the ages communicates.

Some extracts
The habit of reading is absolutely critical today, particularly for Christians. As television turns our society into an increasingly image-dominated culture, Christians must continue to be people of the Word. When we read, we cultivate a sustained attention span, an active imagination, a capacity for logical analysis and critical thinking, and a rich inner life, Each of these qualities, which have proven themselves essential to a free people, is under assault in our TV-dominated culture. Christians, to maintain their Word-centred perspective in an image-driven world, must become readers. (Preface xic)

The Word and The Image: The Importance of Reading
Language is the basis for all communication and so lies the heart of any personal relationship. (Matthew Arnold, “The Study of Poetry,” in Poetry and Criticism of Matthew Arnold.) We can never know anyone intimately by simply being in that person’s presence. We need to have a conversation in order to share our thoughts and personalities… God addresses human beings by means of language in the pages of Scripture… Christians have to be in some sense, readers. (Pg 17)

It is no exaggeration to say that reading has shaped our civilization more than almost any other factor and that a major impetus to reading has been the Bible. (Pg 19)

Reading demands sustained concentration, whereas television promotes a very short attention span. Reading involves (and teaches) logical reason, whereas television involves (and teaches) purely emotional responses. Reading promotes continuity, the gradual accumulation of knowledge, and sustained exploration of ideas. Television, on the other hand, fosters fragmentation, anti-intellectualism, and immediate gratification. (Neil Postman, Teaching as a Conserving Activity) (Pg 21)

Language is cognitive, appealing to the mind; images are affective, appealing to the emotions… (pg 21) Postman foresees a future in which we have “people who are ‘in touch with their feelings,’ who are spontaneous and musical, and who live in an existential world of immediate experience but who, at the same time, cannot ‘think’ in the way we customarily use that word. In other words, people whose state of mind is somewhat analogous to that of a modern-day baboon.” (Neil Postman, Teaching as a Conserving Activity) (Pg 22)

Christians must become conscious of how the image-centred culture is pulling them in non-Christian directions. The priority of language for Christians must be absolute. As the rest of society abandons language-centredness for image-centeredness, we must expect to feel the pressure and temptations to conform. But we must resist.

One way to do this is simply to read. A growing problem is illiteracy – many people do not know how to read. A more severe problem, though, is “aliteracy” – a vast number of people who know how to read but never do it…

…the influential and the powerful will still be readers, as they are today. In the ancient pagan world, reading was a zealously guarded secret for the priest and the ruling elite, who, because they had access to knowledge, had access to power… the wielders of influence will always be those who read and write, who still work within the framework of language. (Pg 25)

How language is used to manipulate
The study of how words carry meaning is called “semantics.” Familiarity with basic principles of semantics can help beleaguered Christians cut through the sophistry and language games practised by the secular culture.

Semanticists speak of two types of meanings that exist in words. The “denotation” of a word is its literal definition. Words also tend to acquire some “connotation,” a set of associations that accompany the word…

Connotations… these associations are subtle, non-reflective, and emotion-based. As such, they are very powerful, so that use of “loaded language” can often short-circuit any rational debate. Words with bad connotation may be replaced by words with a good connotation. This is called “euphemism.” …At its worst, euphemism can be manipulative and deceiving, a way to hide the truth behind a pleasant mask…

Some words are so powerful, conveying such overwhelmingly positive connotations, that they are called “god-terms.” …And yet “god terms” can be attached to more problematic issues so that the powerful connotations of the language actually shape the way people think.

…The language used determines the result of the argument. When the sacred language of the civil religion is invoked, rational analysis and moral debate become impossible. The very term of the debate are shifted away from the concrete issues… into the realm of sacred and therefore unquestionable absolutes.

Such rhetoric, although it purports to be secular, is nonetheless religious. It makes use, not of Christian categories, but of civil religion that tends to develop within a society. It short-circuits thought in a way that can enable almost any idea to attract defenders…

The major social and moral debates are often simply battles over language. Indeed, whichever side succeeds in choosing the words our culture uses to discuss these issues will control the way people think about them…

…We think in words. Our attitudes and our behaviour are shaped by the language that we choose, or that we pick up unconsciously from the world around us. For this reason, Christians need to cultivate sensitivity to language. Reading and reflecting upon literature is perhaps the best means to that end. (Pg 50-52)

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Another excellent book on Reading
HONEY FOR A CHILD’S HEART:
The Imaginative Use of Books in Family Life
by Gladys Hunt, published by Zondervan Books

Building whole children through books – children who are alive emotionally, spiritually and intellectually. Gladys Hunt’s taste are broad, her advice is rooted inexperience, and her suggestions will enrich the cultural life of any home. The authors gives sound advice on how to choose good books to encourage children to be avid readers. Includes an 85-page list of the best of children’s classics ever. Good for adults too!