tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post2825214754211012299..comments2024-02-11T10:58:23.271-08:00Comments on Reading to Know: Lucy Maud Montgomery and TheologyCarriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08772667430500306088noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-59668185538561564032021-10-05T23:54:05.384-07:002021-10-05T23:54:05.384-07:00Oh I disagree almost entirely with you as for stat...Oh I disagree almost entirely with you as for staters she was undeniably Christian, and how did her husband not believe in hell when he frequently went through spells where he believed himself damned to hell the selected journals do know show everything like the complete ones do but she was an undeniable Presbyterian even if her faith wavered at times JoshuaSinquefieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13476915754027794851noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-60590665003490040192016-09-17T16:54:18.780-07:002016-09-17T16:54:18.780-07:00This article is from The Uxbridge Cosmos newspaper...This article is from The Uxbridge Cosmos newspaper.<br />``<br /><br />Last Saturday night, on the weekend closest to<br />Hallowe’en, 20 members of a spiritualist group<br />from Toronto came to the Manse and Historic<br />Leaskdale Church. They were given a tour, and<br />served tea and scones, after which they sat quietly<br />for two hours in the Manse and communed<br />with the spirit of Lucy Maud<br />Montgomery.<br /><br />We were delighted to welcome this group,<br />especially given the references to gazing balls,<br />seances, table rappings and ouija boards we<br />find in Montgomery’s writings.<br /><br />At the time Maud was growing up, “spiritualism”<br />was a popular interest and form of entertainment.<br /><br />In 1891, aged 17, she wrote:<br /><br />“I was invited to spend the evening at the<br />Kennedy’s and of course we had a scrumptious<br />time. Andrew Agnew, Mr. Sinclair, and Willie<br />were there and we had such fun making a table<br />rap. Willie asked me to go with him to the convent<br />school closing tomorrow night and I agreed, Mrs.<br />K. got us lunch and we all sat around the table<br />and told ghost stories until I vow when I got home<br />I sneaked upstairs in mortal terror and stood with<br />my back to the wall all the time I was undressing<br />so I couldn’t fancy there was anything behind me!”<br /><br />In 1906, when she was 32 years old, she<br />wrote:<br /><br />“This past week has been a gayer one socially<br />than often falls to my lot. Annie Stewart is home<br />for a visit and last Saturday evening George R.<br />and I were invited up for a game of whist. We had<br />it and it was very enjoyable. Then we had a<br />“seance” and made a table rap. Of course this was<br />lots of fun. But it is a curious thing and a little<br />uncanny, give it what scientific “explanation” you<br />please.<br /><br />Monday evening Mrs. J.R. Stewart gave a “goose<br />supper” to the members of the Literary Programme<br />Committee. Both the ministers, Messrs. Belyea<br />and Macdonald [her future husband] were there<br />and we had another table rapping. We made the<br />thing do various stunts, such as standing up on<br />one leg, walking around the room, etc.”<br /><br />From The Selected Journals of L.M.<br />Montgomery Volume 1<br /><br />http://thecosmos.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/nov0112.pdfAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-11799350135163011252011-02-21T08:40:54.887-08:002011-02-21T08:40:54.887-08:00Ronnica - Couldn't agree with you more!Ronnica - Couldn't agree with you more!Carriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08772667430500306088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-65352199890224394002011-02-21T08:38:55.998-08:002011-02-21T08:38:55.998-08:00What drives me crazy sometimes is when people will...What drives me crazy sometimes is when people will take certain classics at face value (without discernment) because they're classics (usually mistaking morality with Christianity), but won't give modern books even an ounce of consideration if you couldn't find them at a Christian bookstore. Sorry, but some of those books actually require *more* discernment than something else!<br /><br />All that to say, books that aren't "Christian" are still valuable (or at least could be). And all books, regardless of the label, require discernment.Ronnicahttp://ignoranthistorian.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-82689196357136442692011-02-16T08:22:08.720-08:002011-02-16T08:22:08.720-08:00Hi, Carrie. I didn't write you for a long time...Hi, Carrie. I didn't write you for a long time, but that was because: 1)I leave my blog for a long time, and 2) because sometimes I don't know what to say about your post; but this time I have what to say =).<br />I love Anne, I believe in God, but this two things together, in the same person are just for chance. <br />Like you say, and our dearest L. M. Montgomery wrote, Anne is very realistic, so she can say that she is annoyed with God, like we used to be when we were just little girls. The whole story is realistic. Well in the real world there is people who believe in God. These people, who believe that can't read LMM because she was christian, and her writing was christian too, so: don't read greek myth either! I'm not comparing this religions, but to someone who is atheist, all religions are the same thing.<br /><br />In the other hand... wow! I never believe that she could say such things about religion. I can't say what I really want to say and feel, because my poor english, but I can say that I'm surprised!!!<br /><br />Hugh kisses, Carrie, be well! ♥Anne Shirleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04220595058801162907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-51592594828816948672011-02-15T21:08:03.902-08:002011-02-15T21:08:03.902-08:00Fascinating! Thanks for sharing. I had no knowle...Fascinating! Thanks for sharing. I had no knowledge of her spiritual beliefs, so I really appreciate your insight.Shonyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04310547848215492736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-1110256067343389062011-02-15T19:27:50.340-08:002011-02-15T19:27:50.340-08:00My book club just met tonight to discuss Emily of ...My book club just met tonight to discuss Emily of New Moon, and the question of L. M. Montgomery's life and faith came up in light of the "second sight"/psychic element in the Emily books. I'm forwarding everyone a link to this post since it explains so much and because your reflections are so accurate, too!Heather VanTimmerenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05814478239699334086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-57368169764638521552011-02-15T12:37:36.181-08:002011-02-15T12:37:36.181-08:00One of my major pet peeves is when people believe ...One of my major pet peeves is when people believe all the books in a Christian bookstore are "safe" to read. NOT so. Like another reader said, I read LMM because the stories are fun and wholesome. When I come across comments in any book that are contrary to my Christian beliefs I make sure my children understand that it is different from my beliefs. But, while they are so young I am very careful about what I expose them to. I'm also careful about myself. Mainly because I don't want to waste my time on something I'm going to disagree with over and over.Stephanie Kayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02976709475515458563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-27192512644800976772011-02-15T12:24:12.499-08:002011-02-15T12:24:12.499-08:00Thanks for sharing this. I've read lots of LMM...Thanks for sharing this. I've read lots of LMM's books but never really looked into much about her personal life. I find this interesting - and sad.Heidihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04789702680971615990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-59519894324310153132011-02-15T11:46:01.835-08:002011-02-15T11:46:01.835-08:00Sounds like she might have missed her calling as a...Sounds like she might have missed her calling as a Buddhist. (Not to be smarmy, or anything like that :)<br /><br />I do agree with you on the Christian/non-Christian book thing, by the way.Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09964373798194372154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-17994710775116705212011-02-15T11:45:02.914-08:002011-02-15T11:45:02.914-08:00Thanks for this post. I really enjoyed it!
I agr...Thanks for this post. I really enjoyed it!<br /><br />I agree with you. Far too many Christians imagine that this author (along with other pre-1900's authors) are Christians without really investigating their beliefs. <br /><br />That said. I do not read this series because of the author's religious beliefs. I read it because it is an excellent story. <br /><br />I remember you last post on this topic. Now seeing what LMM believe I wonder how did her husband hand her beliefs.Brooke from The Bluestocking Guidehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07832634751075478091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-61391239495789498912011-02-15T10:29:59.650-08:002011-02-15T10:29:59.650-08:00Whoa, that's kind of trippy! I am not opposed...Whoa, that's kind of trippy! I am not opposed to reading books by non-Christians, but like another reader said, when they start having gratuitous scenes of one kind or another it's just not something I want to read. Hence why I read a lot of Christian fiction (or, usually do, as yesterday was the first fiction book I've read in probably 6 months, yikes!).Kristahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04030109870736499425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-36224256755099108792011-02-15T10:27:44.747-08:002011-02-15T10:27:44.747-08:00Thanks so much for your thoughts. I know how you f...Thanks so much for your thoughts. I know how you feel... It bugs me when people attribute Christian beliefs to an author I know doesn't subscribe to them, and I too always wonder whether I should quibble or just hold my tongue. I'm glad you shared LMM's words. <br /><br />I think there was a period of time in the late 19th-early 20th century when the occult was a fashionable preoccupation. It surprised me that it played a role in Elizabeth Goudge's autobiography, because she was a Christian. It seems like it was touched on in 'The Narnian' too as something Lewis was curious about but didn't get involved with.Janethttp://acrossthepage.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-69681866508249554432011-02-15T09:22:38.532-08:002011-02-15T09:22:38.532-08:00interesting. I had no idea people thought she was...interesting. I had no idea people thought she was a Christian author. I don't go searching authors bios. So unless I'm in a Christian bookstore it it's under the religion heading, I don't give much thought to it. thanks for the post. I love learning new things.L.A.C.E.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12577191941757276203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-61085975848685947072011-02-15T07:07:03.272-08:002011-02-15T07:07:03.272-08:00I just just doing my daily check through my spam f...I just just doing my daily check through my spam folder on my blog and saw that you DID post a comment on the book that somehow got caught in there! Thanks -- my thought pretty much agreed with yours.Barbara H.http://barbarah.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-58870069181344341052011-02-15T06:49:01.357-08:002011-02-15T06:49:01.357-08:00Thank you for sharing this. The more we know, the ...Thank you for sharing this. The more we know, the more informed we are to make better decisions and understand the world around us. I won't ditch her books, (I enjoy them!) but I will definitely read them a little more guarded.Monicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09043233124533743012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-87835290926721683772011-02-15T06:25:03.176-08:002011-02-15T06:25:03.176-08:00Thanks, Carrie. I agree, too, that a Christian'...Thanks, Carrie. I agree, too, that a Christian's reading does not need to be limited only Christian writings. We learn to discern by looking at everything through Christian eyes, whether the source is Christian or not. And, as you said, sometimes even non-Christians convey truth. Someone once said all truth is God's truth.<br /><br />LMM's works can easily be mistaken for Christian since she was a pastor's wife and there is reference to some spiritual truths in it. I did catch a very short mention -- I think in Windy Poplars -- about "all roads" leading to God, which is, of course, not true. I shudder to think what people in her church were learning.<br /><br />I know you're not usually online on weekends, but I posted a review Sat. of the book I was reading called Looking For Anne of Green Gables. I'd love to have you look at it and tell me what you think, because the book brought up a few things that were disturbing, and since you've read so much more about her life, I wanted to see if it jived with what you knew. My first impression was that the author was reading sensibilities from our times into what LMM wrote in her journals and letters, but I am not entirely sure. I knew before reading the book that she was not a Christian, had an unhappy marriage, and took her life, but this book brought up a couple of other areas that were disturbing.<br /><br />The review is here:<br />http://barbarah.wordpress.com/2011/02/12/book-review-looking-for-anne-of-green-gables-the-story-of-l-m-montgomery-and-her-literary-classic/Barbara H.http://barbarah.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-69116114255996705892011-02-15T06:21:54.522-08:002011-02-15T06:21:54.522-08:00It was good to read her own words instead of guess...It was good to read her own words instead of guessing from her books that her faith and my own do not line up. Thank you for taking the time to copy all of that!!!<br /><br />Sad, yes. <br /><br />Though I lean mostly toward Christian fiction, there is great benefit from reading a variety. I struggle when a book has too much language or sexuality...but so enjoy secular authors who don't include too much of either, so that I can enjoy another book.<br /><br />As you said, we can glean truth from many sources...and sometimes Christian fiction/nonfiction seems to be truth...but isn't.Annette W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02498639468291720406noreply@blogger.com