tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post1779488504395548875..comments2024-02-11T10:58:23.271-08:00Comments on Reading to Know: Embracing Obscurity, by AnonymousCarriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08772667430500306088noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-25727238618061543302012-11-27T12:46:13.256-08:002012-11-27T12:46:13.256-08:00Really good review and you make great points! I im...Really good review and you make great points! I imagine the author's goal was to talk about the cult of celebrity that we, as Christians, being human, keep creating. We have our Christian celebrities and we tend to follow them and be "of Paul" or "of Apollos." It's a problem, but it doesn't sound like this guy has come up with the solution, which is, of course, to simply follow Christ. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-368204168475761322012-10-04T18:49:15.604-07:002012-10-04T18:49:15.604-07:00I too have a copy of this book I was given at TGCW...I too have a copy of this book I was given at TGCW but haven't read it because I find the whole anonymous author deal rather gimmicky. You make much better arguments for non-anonymity :)Lisa Spencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12990706355525884593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-35678509953373211482012-10-04T16:45:01.465-07:002012-10-04T16:45:01.465-07:00Carrie, if you begin reading on a Kindle you will ...Carrie, if you begin reading on a Kindle you will break my heart! Marking in books is acceptable. I do this constantly.<br /><br />This seems like one to skip. But this had me cracking up: "I liked that red sweater you wore last Thursday when you went to the park." Spooky.BerlinerinPoethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06853762912371387793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-81460643631063171162012-10-04T16:03:40.516-07:002012-10-04T16:03:40.516-07:00I like Carrots' well deserved warning that the...I like Carrots' well deserved warning that there are no "safe" authors. Even the Apostle Paul commended those who refused to automatically believe him, but checked his teachings out. We would do well to do that with everything we read. <br /><br />It does sound to me like this author is making the all-too-common mistake of trying to fit scripture (and life) into a pre-conceived idea, which is the source of a lot of error. (And a lot of misery too!) <br /><br />Stephanie's point about false humility is well taken too. My observation about any and all formulas (including this one) is that they lead those good a checking boxes to false humility - and disdain of others, and to frustration by those who are not so good at it. <br />Diary of an Autodidacthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11849157548643091986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-50405405017264625402012-10-04T14:09:11.624-07:002012-10-04T14:09:11.624-07:00@Stephanie - Exactly. Which I think is the incredi...@Stephanie - Exactly. Which I think is the incredible danger of reading and attempting to "do" this book. It can only result in false humility. Which is a different sort of pride all together. Carriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08772667430500306088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-91800518387340461632012-10-04T13:49:33.896-07:002012-10-04T13:49:33.896-07:00Interesting. I don't like anonymous authors. I...Interesting. I don't like anonymous authors. It's difficult to hold them responsible for their words. In this case it comes across to me as a kind of false humility.Stephanie Kayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02976709475515458563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-4901908152961505262012-10-04T10:54:14.221-07:002012-10-04T10:54:14.221-07:00When bad theology happens to good intentions...
O...When bad theology happens to good intentions...<br /><br />On another note, I wouldn't be surprised if you find yourself trying out a Kindle at some point -- it's not a "one or the other thing." It's just really, really convenient for some books :)Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09964373798194372154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-6228756252522369512012-10-04T08:26:27.436-07:002012-10-04T08:26:27.436-07:00noooooooooooooooooooooo Don't embrace the Kind...noooooooooooooooooooooo Don't embrace the Kindle!! We need hard copies of books. They smell good. ;)<br /><br />Thanks for your well-thought out review. Definitely a good I'll be skipping!Cassandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09319901329438691914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-45627514198690860442012-10-04T07:36:36.408-07:002012-10-04T07:36:36.408-07:00I am intrigued both by the book concept and your r...I am intrigued both by the book concept and your response to it.<br /><br />Our culture has gone so far overboard in the cult of personality that I suspect almost any antidote might be valuable. Signing one's name to a book is not just about honesty; it's about creating a persona, a loyal following, a marketing ploy. And the public persona so created may have so little to do with the real person as it gives us less information than remaining anonymous. (Which was actually quite common with authors right up into the 19th century.)<br /><br />We shouldn't--ever--relax while reading a book and assume that someone is going to be preaching the truth. All of us are subject to error. The name branding that causes people to relax--"Ah, this is so-and-so, so you know it's good"--is exactly what we are most in danger from. And we can find flashes of truth in surprising places. My faith was preserved at one difficult point by a fantasy book written by an agnostic. <br /><br />I love the Medieval ideal that the work is everything and the person nothing. The people toiling in obscurity to build a cathedral--not because they flashily chose obscurity, but simply because it wasn't the point who did the work, but that the work was done well. Even with books the book should be judged by what is in it, not by the persona of the person who wrote it. <br /><br />All that said, it doesn't sound like this book was particularly well-written or convincing. I don't know that we should deliberately choose obscurity--as we can see, God did sometimes call people to prominent positions--as that fame, notoriety, a name and a following are simply not appropriate goals. If we work in obscurity, our work is no less valuable for that. Queen of Carrotshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03193758647591339890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-56422626156283539482012-10-04T07:15:19.226-07:002012-10-04T07:15:19.226-07:00PS. I think blogging is esp important to NOT be o...PS. I think blogging is esp important to NOT be obscure for the same reasons!Annette Whipplehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00992675906662456790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-86524839438793034092012-10-04T07:14:55.805-07:002012-10-04T07:14:55.805-07:00And this is a great example of how wonderful you a...And this is a great example of how wonderful you are able to articulate yourself and your theology. (Unlike me...I would have been wondering why it rubbed me wrong...and said a few sentences about that.)<br /><br />Thank you for thorough thoughts on why obscurity is not the answer.Annette Whipplehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00992675906662456790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-52946749355390920622012-10-04T07:04:54.196-07:002012-10-04T07:04:54.196-07:00Well, I have no interest in reading the book, but ...Well, I have no interest in reading the book, but I *did* appreciate your reasoned review. Thanks for taking the time to explain your thoughts on it.Shonyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04310547848215492736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-68451950594164476302012-10-04T06:48:21.509-07:002012-10-04T06:48:21.509-07:00I do that with reviews, too -- try not to read the...I do that with reviews, too -- try not to read them til I have written mine. I don't think I actually even look for them unless I have trouble or an issue with the book and wonder if it's just me or if others felt the same way (unless someone I know had reviewed it -- then I look for theirs just to compare notes after writing mine).<br /><br />This books sounds like such an example of an author getting off balance. Pride and self-promotion are problems, but the answer isn't embracing obscurity. Moses was called out of obscurity to stand before Pharaoh and lead Israel out of Egypt -- a job he didn't want at first. David was called out of the obscurity of shepherding to be king of Israel. Too bad the guy didn't check out his theory thoroughly in Scripture. He would have done better to study out what the Bible has to say about pride and humility rather than coming up with his own flawed solution.Barbara H.http://barbarah.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com