314
The Adventist Home
our faith; but they have grown to maturer years destitute of true piety
and practical godliness
The readers of fiction are indulging an evil that destroys spirituality,
eclipsing the beauty of the sacred page
Prevalence of Harmful Books—The world is deluged with books
that might better be consumed than circulated. Books on sensational
topics, published and circulated as a money-making scheme, might
better never be read by the youth. There is a satanic fascination in such
books....
The practice of story reading is one of the means employed by
Satan to destroy souls. It produces a false, unhealthy excitement,
fevers the imagination, unfits the mind for usefulness, and disqualifies
it for any spiritual exercise. It weans the soul from prayer and from
the love of spiritual things
[413]
Works of romance, frivolous, exciting tales, are, in hardly less
degree, a curse to the reader. The author may profess to teach a moral
lesson; throughout his work he may interweave religious sentiments,
but often these serve only to veil the folly and worthlessness beneath
Infidel Authors—Another source of danger against which we
should be constantly on guard is the reading of infidel authors. Such
works are inspired by the enemy of truth, and no one can read them
without imperiling the soul. It is true that some who are affected by
them may finally recover; but all who tamper with their evil influ-
ence place themselves on Satan’s ground, and he makes the most of
his advantage. As they invite his temptations, they have not wisdom
to discern or strength to resist them. With a fascinating, bewitching
power unbelief and infidelity fasten themselves upon the mind
Myths and Fairy Tales—In the education of children and youth
fairy tales, myths, and fictitious stories are now given a large place.
Books of this character are used in schools, and they are to be found in
many homes. How can Christian parents permit their children to use
books so filled with falsehood? When the children ask the meaning of
stories so contrary to the teaching of their parents, the answer is that
6
Ibid., 132
.
7
The Youth’s Instructor, October 9, 1902
.
8
Counsels to Teachers, Parents, and Students, 133, 134
.
9
The Ministry of Healing, 445
.
10
Counsels to Teachers, Parents, and Students, 135, 136
.