1. Hm…some people might take the standpoint that all fiction is ‘fluff’ and that nonfiction isn’t. But if the info in a nonfiction book isn’t going to be used by the person reading it(which is possible) that would mean that the nonfiction book is ‘fluff’ for that person. But, it’s hard to know for sure whether or not the info in the nonfiction book will indeed never be used, so we read them anyway if the topic is interesting enough. We often view that as a good thing(educating ourselves on a topic even if it has no immediate use)

    The same can be true of fiction, though. We never know if the story presented within will have a lasting impact on us or not, but we read anyway.

    Even if reading fiction was fluff, though, writing it certainly isn’t. It’s very useful for learning to articulate ideas, and it’s often motivation for authors to do research.

  2. The appropriate response to incite equal offense might be, “Because you’re a white-washed Pharisee destined for a permanent vacation in the heart of a volcano.” With a smile, of course…

    Kidding, no one should say that (probably). I’m just so sick of that prideful, hateful attitude, and people who call themselves Christians getting away with wielding it like a weapon of the Almighty God.

  3. Jill says:

    At least she said *she* didn’t read fluff, rather than claiming Christians shouldn’t. People are allowed their personal reading preferences. It’s unfortunate she had to be rude about it, though.

  4. Sad that this was her response. As a kid who often felt alone, fiction showed me that I wasn’t. I would’ve been in a very bad place, if not dead if not for the lessons learned in “fluff” books.

  5. Audie Thacker says:

    Without knowing anything else about the exchange, I’d have guessed she may have called it “fluff” because it was a book for children, so likely she considered it something she wouldn’t want to read.

    I guess they may be out there somewhere, but personally I’ve not met any Christians who think that reading fiction is a waste of time.

  6. Jes Drew says:

    Even taking all the things you can learn from fiction away, there have been lots of studies that show that reading fiction makes one more empathetic, which is a helpful trait to cultivate as Christians to better help them share love, mercy, and charity.

  7. Jesus taught by parables, which are fiction.
    And some books have given me ideas which helped maintain my faith when under attack. Such as Puddleglum’s determination, in Lewis’ The Silver Chair, to live as much like a Narnian as he could even if Narnia doesn’t exist — which has at times been my default position as a Christian. Because even if Christ were fictional, he is still better than anything the mundane world has to offer.

    • I said that to a lady (that Jesus taught by parables, which are fiction), and that doorknob of a human had the gall to say, “Because they were stupid people, and that’s the only way he could talk to them.”

      I was dumbstruck. It’s the opposite of Jesus’ stated reason for using parables (to obfuscate the truth, keep it from the unfaithful, and to have it pierce the hearts of those who had faith).

What do you think?