There have been many studies on how a person would act if they were never exposed to human contact. What would a person raised on an island without tv act like? Or how would two children who live all by themselves behave? Well, here's a new scenario: What would one child think of the world if he was raised in a place with no toys, no internet, no tv....but an endless supply of books? These books would be his only companions and would always be appearing; classics, moderns, cook books, how to books, you name it! Let's say that this little child is named Harry and he is abandoned at the age of 4. He already knows how to read and has all the items he needs to fulfill his physical needs. What would he do?
Well, to answer this question, I must think about what I would do. As a lover of books, I would find the classics and go crazy. Little Harry, on the other hand, is only four and does not desire classics. He wants picture books! He would probably read one after another until tiring. Over the years, he would teach himself how to read better. He would no doubt pronounce certain words wrong. He would imagine the world as the books described. Of course he would yearn to live in a world like that.
But what if he read the science fictions, the horrors, and the romances? He would be filled with fantasy and lust beyond belief! How would he shape his image of the world if he never picked up a text book and only Star Wars or Twilight? It is scary to think what his mind would contain.Now this example just goes to show how much a book can do. If books were all we had, would we pick the classics or the horrors? The romances or the moderns? Our minds would be controlled by their power and we would not know any better. Therefore, what good is it to read a book describing things you know are wrong? It will poison our minds.
We have an advantage over little Harry: society. We can see through experience what is right and wrong, and also by the wonderful conscience God has given us. Poor Harry could only speculate on the true ways of life. If he read the Bible and Christian books, than he would understand who God is. He could also read the Muslim holy books or strange new age beliefs. In society, we can see the affects of these and choose the right one. That is, Christianity.
In then end, I'm trying to show that books have huge influence over us, as well as movies, and music. They can affect us without our knowing it. We should be careful what we fill ourselves with. Words can paint vivid pictures...pictures that should not exist. Live by this:
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
-Philippians 4:8
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