50 Shades of Grey (50 Shades of Perversion)

[Titus2]

These books are smut, plain and simple. My sister has read all three and has gotten on a BDSM kick with her husband, to the point where she has overdrawn her bank account to purchase hundreds of dollars worth of "toys" She keeps trying to get me to read it, and I politely decline. Some of the excerpts she has read aloud to me made me blush. Supposedly the books are based on a wildly popular Twilight fan fiction series. According to the 50 Shades of Grey author, the main characters in her trilogy were based on Edward and Bella, if Edward were a billionaire human instead of a vampire. All of the character traits are the same, though.

It just shows where the mind of society is, really. Everyone ate up the vampire-human love story and now everyone is eating up the raunchy S&M novels base on Twilight characters. I know I won't be spending one red cent on those books, nor will I set my eyes on them.

[sherrid]

I work in a library. You should have the seen our hold list for this particular title earlier in the summer. The customers were wondering when their hold for this book was coming in. Sounded like smut.

[Titus2]

I am saddened to see so many Christians around me reading them, even the pastor's daughter. I just don't get it. The Hunger Games sickened me, but everyone around me was all about how wonderful it was. Is everyone just deadened to the Holy Spirit and his conviction.

Having never read "The Hunger Games", but watched the movie, I wanted to throw my two cents into the mix on the series. The concept is taboo, to be certain; however, it almost offers an eerily accurate glimpse into what the future may hold after the rapture. There is a corrupt one world government. The system is almost communistic in nature. You have the very elite and wealthy and the very poor. Each district is fenced off from the next. One thing I will say about the movie - it was tastefully one. I wasn't panicking every time my ten year old son walked into the room, scrambling to find the pause button on the remote. There is no sex, the costumes are modest, the language is very tame (I heard the "d" word once and the "h" word maybe three times at the most), the only sexuality is a brief kiss shared between Katniss and Peeta, and the death scenes were filmed in such a way that there really isn't any gore. I think the biggest objection most people have to "The Hunger Games" is that the concept of children killing children is so entirely disturbing.

I honestly felt no conviction watching the movie, and I tend to be super particular about what I watch, read and listen to. But to each their own. I think there is a world of difference, though, between "The Hunger Games" and "Fifty Shades of Grey". Fifty Shades is porn, no matter how you slice it, so it isn't fit for any professing believer. "The Hunger Games" is such a gray area, because it isn't filled with overt sexuality, satanic themes (like witchcraft or vampirism), or foul language. In the case of that series, it would be up to the individual believer to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit, especially if they are particularly sensitive to the subject matter. I can see where for many it would be very triggering and upsetting.

[Katia_0203]

I had to read the books (all three of them...) in school for a class about sexuality in the Christian marriage. My prof argued that one could apply the sexual...erm...methodology to one's marriage to spice things up. I had a discussion with her about it, asking her whether there was an alternative option to them. She said no. So...I read them. I skimmed over a lot because it really feels disgustingly wrong to read the r-rated sections (of which there are many). The plot in itself is interesting, as are the characters themselves, but it really did feel like I was reading porn. I continually asked myself "What would Jesus think of me reading this?" I continually felt like I should be apologizing to Him for it. Even though I knew I would fail the class if I didn't read the books (they were a huge part of our grade...), I was tempted to just not do the assignment. But, I just couldn't let my GPA slack when I needed it to help me get a job. It was quite the conundrum. How they can make a movie out of it that is fit for anyone to watch sounds impossible.

Long story short, unless you are forced to like the circumstances I was put in, don't waste your time or money on it. Please.

[Lynn]

I had to read the books (all three of them...) in school for a class about sexuality in the Christian marriage. My prof argued that one could apply the sexual...erm...methodology to one's marriage to spice things up. I had a discussion with her about it, asking her whether there was an alternative option to them. She said no. So...I read them. I skimmed over a lot because it really feels disgustingly wrong to read the r-rated sections (of which there are many). The plot in itself is interesting, as are the characters themselves, but it really did feel like I was reading porn. I continually asked myself "What would Jesus think of me reading this?" I continually felt like I should be apologizing to Him for it. Even though I knew I would fail the class if I didn't read the books (they were a huge part of our grade...), I was tempted to just not do the assignment. But, I just couldn't let my GPA slack when I needed it to help me get a job. It was quite the conundrum. How they can make a movie out of it that is fit for anyone to watch sounds impossible.

Long story short, unless you are forced to like the circumstances I was put in, don't waste your time or money on it. Please.

Katy, you are an amazingly wise young woman. God bless you for your post and for speaking out against this trash. I can't imagine what school would want the students to read this book to aid in their learning about sexuality in the 'Christian' marriage. Strikes me as kind of odd, especially if you are in a Christian school.

[Kliska]

I had to read the books (all three of them...) in school for a class about sexuality in the Christian marriage. My prof argued that one could apply the sexual...erm...methodology to one's marriage to spice things up. I had a discussion with her about it, asking her whether there was an alternative option to them. She said no. So...I read them. I skimmed over a lot because it really feels disgustingly wrong to read the r-rated sections (of which there are many). The plot in itself is interesting, as are the characters themselves, but it really did feel like I was reading porn. I continually asked myself "What would Jesus think of me reading this?" I continually felt like I should be apologizing to Him for it. Even though I knew I would fail the class if I didn't read the books (they were a huge part of our grade...), I was tempted to just not do the assignment. But, I just couldn't let my GPA slack when I needed it to help me get a job. It was quite the conundrum. How they can make a movie out of it that is fit for anyone to watch sounds impossible.

Long story short, unless you are forced to like the circumstances I was put in, don't waste your time or money on it. Please.

As a secular college prof, to me this is unconscionable. Even in my logic class, if a student is uncomfortable discussing a topic, we change topics or they are excused from participating. For a "Christian" professor to require this... I think there is something morally and perhaps mentally wrong with them.

[Acts5:41]

I think a lot of parents would be shocked if they knew what was being taught in the "Christian" colleges. I would have notified the dean "Do you know this guy is forcing us to read about extramarital bondage sex as part of our grade?"

That said, I don't know if I said it before, but the tone of the books are clearly that of a much younger girl - about 12. In one scene, I am told, she is forced into having relations against her will. How is that sexy? Romantic? I don't get it.

My husband can get talking books with some X rated sections, and he isn't even remotely interested in reading that.

[Lynn]

As a secular college prof, to me this is unconscionable. Even in my logic class, if a student is uncomfortable discussing a topic, we change topics or they are excused from participating. For a "Christian" professor to require this... I think there is something morally and perhaps mentally wrong with them.

Couldn't agree more.

[Sonyab1974]

My 15 year old niece posted a picture of herself "reading" this book, on facebook. I tried to talk to her and her mother...but they think I am a 'religious nut'...

That book is not for 15 year olds!!! YIKES!

[emmy905]

I know some women who say they're Christians who've read this...it shocked me. I would never dream of wasting money or time to read that and I've thrown away all the romance novels I used to read...it's all pointless, smutty garbage and it doesn't need to be in our heads.

[Acts5:41]

Some of you may recognize this: I used to read a series about a woman. She had two boyfriends. One was a vampire, one a werewolf. In addition to dealing with her job as a paranormal expert for the police, she had to deal with their dramas.

It was a great series, well written. One day, though, I noticed the sex content had ramped way up. I realized the series focused more on her "activities" and less on actual plot. Then it started getting downright weird and disgusting. I stopped buying them. A while later, I felt convicted I even had the stuff in my house and threw it all out.

I also got rid of the romance novels with, as the talking book library says it "Explicit descriptions". I stick to reading the Inspirational ones, where they might kiss a little but that's it. I don't miss it.

[B Allen]

I remember reading this headline back this summer. I didn't, and still don't, know much about this book, other than what I have read here. But to replace God's Word with this trash is a travesty and a tragedy.



July 25, 2012

Are hotel guests more interested in reading "50 Shades of Grey" than the Bible?

One British hotelier thinks so. And that's why, even though he says he's never read E L James' best-selling novel himself, Jonathan Denby has decided to remove all the Gideon Bibles from his hotel's 40 rooms and replace them with the book that's been dubbed "mommy porn."

He made the switch earlier this month at the Damson Dene Hotel in the Lake District of England.

Denby writes on his blog, Slow Life: "Tonight millions of women will be curling up in bed with a good book and you can bet your life it won't be the Bible. More likely than not it will be 'Fifty Shades of Grey.' I haven't read the book yet -- I'm not in the target audience -- but I'm told it's a ripping good yarn and everyone who's in the target audience loves it. This made me wonder about the sense of providing a book, the Gideon Bible which no-one reads, and many dislike, in the bedside cabinet of our hotel bedrooms, instead of a book which everyone wants to read, such as 'Fifty Shades of Grey.'

"In this secular age it seems distinctly odd that anyone would expect to find a religious book in a hotel bedroom."

So what are guests who are not the book's "target audience" supposed to read on a visit to the Damson Dene Hotel? Denby isn't banishing the Bible altogether. Instead, he plans to keep a few copies behind the reception desk in case someone asks.

That's not enough for some. The Telegraph reported a local vicar has condemned the hotelier's actions, calling it a "gimmick." The Damson Dene was featured on a British reality show, "The Hotel."

Rev Michael Woodcock told the newspaper, "It is a great shame that Bibles have been removed from rooms and very inappropriate to have been replaced by an explicit erotic novel.

"The Bible remains a source of comfort and inspiration that many people do find helpful."


http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/fifty-s...ry?id=16853389

[Acts5:41]

I'm sure those interested in the book, stole it and took it with them. At, what, $15 a pop that wouldn't last for long.

[Katia_0203]

I remember reading this headline back this summer. I didn't, and still don't, know much about this book, other than what I have read here. But to replace God's Word with this trash is a travesty and a tragedy.



July 25, 2012

Are hotel guests more interested in reading "50 Shades of Grey" than the Bible?

One British hotelier thinks so. And that's why, even though he says he's never read E L James' best-selling novel himself, Jonathan Denby has decided to remove all the Gideon Bibles from his hotel's 40 rooms and replace them with the book that's been dubbed "mommy porn."

He made the switch earlier this month at the Damson Dene Hotel in the Lake District of England.

Denby writes on his blog, Slow Life: "Tonight millions of women will be curling up in bed with a good book and you can bet your life it won't be the Bible. More likely than not it will be 'Fifty Shades of Grey.' I haven't read the book yet -- I'm not in the target audience -- but I'm told it's a ripping good yarn and everyone who's in the target audience loves it. This made me wonder about the sense of providing a book, the Gideon Bible which no-one reads, and many dislike, in the bedside cabinet of our hotel bedrooms, instead of a book which everyone wants to read, such as 'Fifty Shades of Grey.'

"In this secular age it seems distinctly odd that anyone would expect to find a religious book in a hotel bedroom."

So what are guests who are not the book's "target audience" supposed to read on a visit to the Damson Dene Hotel? Denby isn't banishing the Bible altogether. Instead, he plans to keep a few copies behind the reception desk in case someone asks.

That's not enough for some. The Telegraph reported a local vicar has condemned the hotelier's actions, calling it a "gimmick." The Damson Dene was featured on a British reality show, "The Hotel."

Rev Michael Woodcock told the newspaper, "It is a great shame that Bibles have been removed from rooms and very inappropriate to have been replaced by an explicit erotic novel.

"The Bible remains a source of comfort and inspiration that many people do find helpful."


http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/fifty-s...ry?id=16853389

And what if a child were to pick up this book and read it while mommy and daddy are out for a moment? Bet the sicko didn't consider that

[Acts5:41]

Maybe he did. A lot of sick people love to "ruin" children's innocence.