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James —
"If you wish to draw the Lord to you, approach Him as disciples to a master, in all simplicity, openly, honestly, without duplicity, without idle curiosity. He is simple and uncompounded. And He wants the souls that come to Him to be simple and pure. Indeed you will never see simplicity separated from humility."
St. John Climacus, John Climacus: The Ladder of Divine Ascent, edited by Richard J. Payne, translated by Colm Luibheid and Norman Russell, The Classics of Western Spirituality (Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1982), p. 216 |
- I have to ask what the purpose is of reading this book?
- Is it simply to satisfy one's curiosity?
- Is the book edifying to one's faith?
- Will it bring you closer to salvation, or
- Does it risk drawing you into an abyss of useless conjecture?
Examine your motives and judge for yourself.
“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful.
“All things are lawful,” but not all things build up.
(1 Corinthians 10:23, RSV2CE)
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“Keep your heart with all vigilance; for from it flow the springs of life.”
(Proverbs 4:23, RSV2CE) |
- If you are reading the book for scholarly research purposes, that's one thing.
- If you're reading it because it seems taboo or forbidden or transgressive, then it is a bad thing to read.
Personally, I do not see a good reason to read it, and would consider it a waste of time. Spend the time reading some spiritual material like the Lives of the Saints, The Imitation of Christ, or the Ladder of Divine Ascent.
Eric
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