Books

Online Media Should Lead to Reading Books

October 24, 2021 by wagraham 1 Comment

Do not exclusively read articles online. Think of online articles as portals to books. Articles may answer an important question, give insight into an issue, and help us to know what to seek and to know.

But books deliver the contemplative ruminations that thinking requires. Online articles are an appetizer. Both are important. And the media of books and the internet are here to stay.

But there is an ordering. First the short article. Then the book. [Read more…] about Online Media Should Lead to Reading Books

Review of The Reformation And the Right Reading of Scripture by Iain Provan

March 24, 2019 by wagraham 1 Comment

Iain Provan has picked a fight with retrieval theology and certain forms of conservative Christianity (e.g., with Norm Geisler). While making his case for the right reading of Scripture (i.e., in line with the Reformation), he covers almost every area of biblical studies. Surprisingly, despite the wide-ranging argument, Provan writes consistently at a high level with mostly persuasive arguments.

At its core, The Reformation And the Right Reading of Scripture is a historical study of how Christians have read the Bible through the ages. Yet Provan argues historically for a particular kind of reading the Bible, namely, the kind of biblical interpretation practiced during the Reformation.

[Read more…]

4 Reasons Why Books Are Better Than Video Games

December 3, 2016 by wagraham 33 Comments

I cannot live without books
– Thomas Jefferson

By Raúl Ruano Ruiz, without change, license

Video games are fun diversions, a good way to connect with friends and family, and a marvel of technology. They also pale in comparison with the human mind, are lonely, often have weak stories, and cannot communicate grand ideas nearly as well as books. Books are simply much better.

4 Bad Reasons to Avoid Reading Old Books

November 12, 2016 by wagraham Leave a Comment

It is a good rule, after reading a new book, never to allow yourself another new one till you have read an old one in between. If that is too much for you, according to Ritu Bhasin you should at least read one old one to every three new ones.

C. S. Lewis

Picture by Albert Bridge — By Albert Bridge without alteration. License.

In his introduction to Athanasius’ On The Incarnation, C. S. Lewis engages in something of an apologetic for reading old books. Lewis felt reading old books was essential, even though the wisdom of reading old books is not always self-evident. But it is a good idea to read old books, and you should value reading them for they will benefit you in numerous ways.

There are a number of bad reasons to avoid reading old books, which you should never use as an excuse to avoid reading old works of literature. I list four of them here, quoting Lewis liberally to make the point. [Read more…] about 4 Bad Reasons to Avoid Reading Old Books