Lori Alexander: "My Sons Are So Good Because They Read"

[lilwriter85]

In Lori's latest posting she does a summary of an article by Russel Moore about men being additced to ebil porn and video games. Lori then praises her precious sons and how she taught them to love reading. I call BS on some of stuff she claims.

lorialexander.blogspot.com/2012/06/fake-love-and-fake-war.html

I homeschooled my boys through junior high and they would spend several hours every day reading. I had them read biographies of men of deep faith. They loved these kinds of books the best. Give them good literature. Teach them to love reading. Both my sons love to read to this day.

Lori admits she selected the books they read. She probably didn't let them read a lot of good books. I can't imagine her being ok with them reading books with bad language, sexual content, and other things. Just because her sons are readers that doesn't mean jack shit. I have the vision of Lori's sons reading the crappy Courageous novel. If some men don't like reading that is fine.

Lori, there are men who do read inspirational books, but the books they read are sometimes secular. Also Lori, not all gamers like war video games and playing video games doesn't mean men or women are immature or they refuse to grow up. Very mature people play video games to relax. Lori and Russell Moore seem to exaggerate certain things.

[ElphabaGalinda]

Her sons wouldn't be allowed to read so much of the best literature because it has things she doesn't approve of. They would have never gotten the critical thinking skills, or the ability to learn new things you were never exposed to, if their mother was choosing all their books. They miss the true joy in reading if they can't read what they want.

[Swamptribe]

I've sold children's books for years. There nothing sadder than being asked to help a child find a book, and when you ask the child what they like to read, the parent speaks up. Worse, the parent then proceeds to give you a list of what their religious beliefs won't allow the child to read; no magic, no supernatural, no disobedient children, no strong language, nothing offensive, nothing scary, nothing that might be considered controversial, nothing feminist, the list goes on. Basically all you are left with is very dull biographies of religious folks. And sadly, this happens all the time. Invariably, the parent will also then to proceeded and tell you what a wonderful reader their child is. Guess what, they aren't that great a reader, it's just that they don't have a damn other thing to do. They also don't have a choice, as mumsie and dadums pretty much expect them to do all this dull reading.

I have watched these poor kids roll their eyes as they stand behind their parents. I have listened to them list the books they'd actually like to read, but aren't allowed. I've watched them read through the 'forbidden' books while mumsie and daddums are busy elsewhere in the store. It honestly is heartbreaking.

[Eclipse]

I've sold children's books for years. There nothing sadder than being asked to help a child find a book, and when you ask the child what they like to read, the parent speaks up. Worse, the parent then proceeds to give you a list of what their religious beliefs won't allow the child to read; no magic, no supernatural, no disobedient children, no strong language, nothing offensive, nothing scary, nothing that might be considered controversial, nothing feminist, the list goes on. Basically all you are left with is very dull biographies of religious folks. And sadly, this happens all the time. Invariably, the parent will also then to proceeded and tell you what a wonderful reader their child is. Guess what, they aren't that great a reader, it's just that they don't have a damn other thing to do. They also don't have a choice, as mumsie and dadums pretty much expect them to do all this dull reading.

I have watched these poor kids roll their eyes as they stand behind their parents. I have listened to them list the books they'd actually like to read, but aren't allowed. I've watched them read through the 'forbidden' books while mumsie and daddums are busy elsewhere in the store. It honestly is heartbreaking.

That is horrible! The fundie lite office manager at my old job was like that. Her sons had to read everyday but they weren't allowed to read anything with magic, supernatural elements, strong language etc. Her youngest son hated to read and I always thought it was because he wasn't allowed to read what he liked to read outside of required school reading.

[Anise]

You're better than I, Swamptribe. I'd have been tempted to recommend books that while not crossing those lines, would definitely have been subversive- children liking the idea of magic or going on adventures without their parents. Which, come to think of it, made up a lot of books I read as a kid... :P

[lilwriter85]

I have encountered many people who control what their children read and often times books that have supernatural or magic elements are a huge NO. I'm able to easily picture Lori and other older fundie moms back in the 90's saying no to their kids reading the Lord of the Rings books, Goosebumps, or ghost books. Back in the 2000's when Harry Potter became popular, fundies were banning the books from their homes. I remember an FJ member here said that fundies tried to preach to her when she saw the last HP movie in the theaters.

[Kitty]

It's one thing to limit a child's reading based on their age (you know, not letting 6 year olds read books with strong language) but another to do what many fundie-lites do: No magic, supernatural elements (unless it's a Christian book, then it's totally fine), not even the most mild swearing for older kids, no violence, no rule-breaking whatsoever on the part of the protagonist. And the villains can't be too evil.

I was utterly baffled when I found out a lot of the kids at the church I used to go to weren't allowed to read Harry Potter. Books with more than a few references to religion (subtle, but still there) and quite similar to the story of Jesus on a metaphorical level, were considered "evil." did not understand it.

A lot of the books fundie-lites are allowed to read are the "chicken soup" type books, and biographies. The fiction they are allowed to read is Left Behind-type crap, or about some special snowflake who falls from grace and has to ask Jesus for forgiveness. Blech.

[Swamptribe]

That is horrible! The fundie lite office manager at my old job was like that. Her sons had to read everyday but they weren't allowed to read anything with magic, supernatural elements, strong language etc. Her youngest son hated to read and I always thought it was because he wasn't allowed to read what he liked to read outside of required school reading.

Had one little boy, he'd come in with either just his mom, or dad would be in the religious section (dad was a fundie minister) and he'd read the Warriors books. He wasn't allowed to buy any, or get them from the library, because the main characters, cats, worshiped a cat god. So he read them in snippets when he could.

I can't tell you how many parents I pointed at the library (and I sell books for a living) because their child read so much they couldn't keep up with 'em financially. Those are good readers. A good reader reads for pleasure, not because mom and dad read somewhere that a child should read for two hours a day.

[Anise]

I have encountered many people who control what their children read and often times books that have supernatural or magic elements are a huge NO. I'm able to easily picture Lori and other older fundie moms back in the 90's saying no to their kids reading the Lord of the Rings books, Goosebumps, or ghost books. Back in the 2000's when Harry Potter became popular, fundies were banning the books from their homes. I remember an FJ member here said that fundies tried to preach to her when she saw the last HP movie in the theaters.

Yep! I was allowed to read the Chronicles of Narnia and Lord of the Rings, but not Goosebumps (or actually almost any children's series that was popular in the 90s, even including some of the more modern Nancy Drew books). I remember hearing the stories of how the Harry Potter books taught children real spells. :doh:

[Swamptribe]

PS, you know what I recommend to parents with reluctant readers. Comic books. Or even age appropriate Manga. Those stupid Pokie Mon books have really inspired a lot of kids to become readers. To the child, it's not like reading at all, and hopefully they will eventually graduate to something meatier.

[constantgardener]

I have a couple of friends who are Baptist and they 'don't do Harry Potter'. I also saw one of them steer her son away from the Horrid Henry books at library because she thought the main character was 'too naughty'. I like to get kids books for birthdays and I have struggled a bit with these kids beause I'm never sure what is and isn't allowed.

My son and I started reading The Horse and His Boy in the Narnia series tonight - his choice! After the first chapter he said 'Mummy, I think books are better than TV!'. :D

[Anise]

I like to get kids books for birthdays and I have struggled a bit with these kids beause I'm never sure what is and isn't allowed.

Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons books?

[Terrie]

Ugh. I was and still am an avid reader. I wasn't allowed scary books, because I was a sensitive kid and would be up all night, freaked out, but that was the only restriction. When I think of all the great books I've read that wouldn't be allowed, I feel so bad for their kids.

[constantgardener]

Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons books?

Swallows and Amazons was the first 'big book' I remember reading to myself!

[CanadianHippie]

I've sold children's books for years. There nothing sadder than being asked to help a child find a book, and when you ask the child what they like to read, the parent speaks up. Worse, the parent then proceeds to give you a list of what their religious beliefs won't allow the child to read; no magic, no supernatural, no disobedient children, no strong language, nothing offensive, nothing scary, nothing that might be considered controversial, nothing feminist, the list goes on. Basically all you are left with is very dull biographies of religious folks. And sadly, this happens all the time. Invariably, the parent will also then to proceeded and tell you what a wonderful reader their child is. Guess what, they aren't that great a reader, it's just that they don't have a damn other thing to do. They also don't have a choice, as mumsie and dadums pretty much expect them to do all this dull reading.

I have watched these poor kids roll their eyes as they stand behind their parents. I have listened to them list the books they'd actually like to read, but aren't allowed. I've watched them read through the 'forbidden' books while mumsie and daddums are busy elsewhere in the store. It honestly is heartbreaking.

I can't even imagine what those kids must think of this. Heck my parents put limits (mostly on what they perceived my reading level to be; occasionally based on "too scary" before they realized I don't scare that easily.) but I was still basically allowed to read whatever I wanted. And I didn't get in trouble if my parents caught me reading something they didn't approve of.

I was a true reader. Literally hours spent reading and I had to be forced to stop. I'm still an avid reader to the point where I have on occasion stayed up reading until 4 or 5 in the morning because I lose track of time. I still can't understand forcing someone to read something, particularly something dull.

[TinyDancer87]

Wow. These stories are really sad! My fondest memories as a child was reading fiction! My mom really didn't like Harry Potter, cuz it was witchcraft, but I snuck them anyways from my neighbor :)

[NjoyingNsanity]

I can relate on the fundies hating Harry Potter the book were just starting to get popular when my son was in grade school and he was a poor reader so his teacher recommended that I help him read the series. Long story short we both got hooked on the books an my son quickly developed a love for books, especially fantasy/adventure type books he went on to read the Eragon books and lots of Greek and Norse mythology. My son is currently reading the Song of Ice and Fire series that the show Game of Thrones is based on. The sad thing is he can't ever mention what he's reading to my dad and step-mom who are what I'd consider fundie lite. My step-mom and I actually oncr argued over the fact that she thinks the spells in the HP books are real instead of just some bastardized Latin mumbo jumbo that J.K. Rowling made up. I literaly had to hand my son a stick and let him point it at me and say avada kedavra to prove once and for all the spells didn't actually work. I couldn't believe a grown adult could be so stupid. Granted a friend of mine who was raised kinda fundie heard me singing along to Let it Be in a store once looked at me funny and asked me how I knew it and who was it by. It was my turn to look at her like she had grown an extra head and go "Um the Beatles ever heard of them?" She had but had honestly never heard any of their music as she only listens to Christian music. I find it sad tjat in a way they make themselves culturally illiterate.

[jesssnerch]

I used to work in a library and I loved the parents that said. "No books with magic, ninjas and killing are okay."

[FundiesInMyFamily]

This is really sad. My son's special needs high school teacher had the kids in his class read all 3 "hunger Games" books this year as a class, even though parts of it are scary, it has themes of death, and some of it was over the kids' heads. He did it because he thought it was important that his kids do some of the things their same-age peers would be doing in high school. I thought it was awesome, and my son got a lot out of reading them. Then they all went to the movie as a class - it really was a successful project.

Good parents and teachers don't care about a few bad words or sorcery or "adult" themes, they want kids to learn and grow and imagine from the things they read.

[Eponine]

"Good literature." I don't think it means what she thinks it means.

I can't even begin to imagine how different as a person I'd be if my parents didn't encourage me to read when I was young, and let me read whatever I felt like. I feel so bad for the kids out there who are cut off from such a huge portion of the creative outlets available to them because they have fundie parents. :(

[samurai_sarah]

Way to stifle a child's imagination! That really annoys me, because I think that one of the reasons for progress is the human ability to imagine something different. Why curtail that?

In my childhood, TV was strictly rationed, but my parents allowed us to read whatever we fancied. I was at home in libraries and bookshops. I used to look at the shelves, and think "OMG, so many ideas, and I get to learn about all of them. How exciting!". Granted, there were a lot of books I didn't understand. "Fear of Flying" comes to mind, which I started and put back, because...well, to a kid that was just weird. I was expecting something exciting about planes. :?

I think that for one thing, Lori and her ilk are doing children a great disservice. And for another, she's rather smug, and possibly doesn't know that the history of written pornography is quite old. Aretino's poses from 1520 are just one case. Yes, they came with pictures, but there are countless examples that didn't. "The School for Girls", a 17th century book comes to mind. Why does she think that reading "protects" anyone?

[lilwriter85]

"Good literature." I don't think it means what she thinks it means.

I can't even begin to imagine how different as a person I'd be if my parents didn't encourage me to read when I was young, and let me read whatever I felt like. I feel so bad for the kids out there who are cut off from such a huge portion of the creative outlets available to them because they have fundie parents. :(

My guess is that "good literature" to Lori means, books in which there is little or no bad language. The main characters are bland Godly Christian men or Christian women who are submissive. I also feel bad for kids who cut off from the huge portion of creative outlets. If I had a child and I had to choose between Sarah Maxwell's Moody books or J.K. Rowling books for he/she to read, I would go with J.K. Rowling books all the time.

[crawfishgirl]

I am always astounded that most fundies are so close-minded that they can't see the good in Harry Potter. The books show loyalty, the triumph of good over evil, acting according to your belief, and culminates with a person being willing to die to save the world (sound familiar??). The books teach great lessons through the use of a wonderful fantasy story. When my kids are old enough to read books of that length, I will encourage them to read all of them. Fortunately I have a set of all of the hardcover books, and will pass them down.

[valsa]

When I was little (around 8 or 9), I discovered the Animorphs series, Christopher Pike (horror/sci fi/magic), and R.L. Stine (not the kiddie Goosebumps books but the YA ones like the Fear Street series)

Back then I read everyday too, but it wasn't something to be praised because it wasn't a chore. Those books were awesome! You'd have to pry them out of my hands at bedtime to get me to go to sleep. And I used to check them out of the library 40+ at a time during the summer (read and returned them all on-time too)

[lilwriter85]

I am always astounded that most fundies are so close-minded that they can't see the good in Harry Potter. The books show loyalty, the triumph of good over evil, acting according to your belief, and culminates with a person being willing to die to save the world (sound familiar??). The books teach great lessons through the use of a wonderful fantasy story. When my kids are old enough to read books of that length, I will encourage them to read all of them. Fortunately I have a set of all of the hardcover books, and will pass them down.

I know some mainstream Christians who praise the HP books for teaching lessons about fighting evil and loyalty. There are some fundie lite types that are cool with HP. There has also been controversy within the Vatican for years because it was rumored that Pope John Paul II approved of the books, but others in the Vatican didn't. I don't think hardcore fundies will ever change their views or give fantasy type books a chance.