Reading Challenges and the Lens of Faith

"Books" by Vicente CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 on Flickr

    This week, the Canada Reads 2022 booklist was released. I enjoy these discussions; where the works of Canadian authors are championed by Canadian readers.

    I am the type of person who will go out and read such books, taking their position on the list as an invitation and recommendation. Most booklists or reading challenges pique my curiosity and fire up my literary engine. Whether it’s a library challenge or a book club selection, I enjoy being challenged with the opportunity to explore new ideas, new genres, new voices, new perspectives. And, as a bookworm, I always enjoy a new recommendation!

    Reading something new broadens our horizons.

    We may like, we may dislike, we may be indifferent – but in trying, we have exposed ourselves to a different artistic expression.

    Opening ourselves to open the covers of a new-to-us genre brings us gently outside our comfort zones and expands our horizons.

    Reading a ‘banned book’ invites critical thinking (who is trying to ban this book, and why?)

    Engaging someone whose views differ from our own can increase our knowledge and our empathy – and thus connection to others.

    Intentionally learning from an author in a different context (geography, language, political leanings, etc.) invites us to deepen our reflective self-awareness.

    So the more we encounter through literature, the more we are being given tools to use to engage with the world around us, in meaningful and helpful ways.

    Our reading can be for a number of reasons: escape from reality, emotional boosting, distraction from daily stressors, just passing time – whatever our reason, the benefits are great.

    And: as people of faith, we can apply these lessons to our religious experience. We can practice critical thinking with theological texts; we can increase our scope with authors of colour or gender or location (not all Christian theology was written by dead white guys in the northern hemisphere).         And when we increase our exposure, we increase our awareness of the family of God.

    So let’s read: some favourites, something new, something unexpected, whatever.

    For we never know when and where we’ll be surprised by the presence of God’s Good News.