Regarding a problem I’m having in college:<\/p>\n
I’m in a composition class that requires me to read literature that will sometimes involve sinful situations — things that I wouldn’t read if it was up to me.\u00a0 As well as I’m in an art class that probably will deal with Renaissance Catholic artwork, and it’s possible we will discuss nude sculptures; though I’m unsure.\u00a0 How should I handle things like this?\u00a0 Is there any way I can go through college with my morals and soul still intact?<\/p>\n
Thanks.<\/p>\n\t
When a work depicts an immoral situation, you need to ask yourself why it is there. We know immorality exists in the world, so the fact that immorality took place should not upset us. Even in the Bible, we read of facts of people visiting prostitutes, committing adultery, committing incest, and other immoral acts. But in some works, the immoral acts are recorded to glorify the sin and not to merely express the fact. In some works it is there merely for entertainment, using the old cliche that sex sells. When I run across something that is too graphic and looks only there to glorify or promote immoral behavior, I skip that section. I can guarantee that you won’t have missed anything need for your class.<\/p>\n
Even better, if there is a discussion of that scene, prepare yourself for pointing out why sex outside of marriage was bad — hopefully, you have some facts from the book to illustrate your point. Look for things like it was just an act and not really love because of their later behavior. Look for things that didn’t go well because they engaged in sex without commitment. And look for character flaws that made the people rash, impulsive, or ungodly. Notice that I can discuss all these things without having to have read the details of exactly how they had sex from the book.<\/p>\n
Profane words are a bit harder to deal with. I again skip them, but for personal reading, if I run across a book with too much profanity, it doesn’t get finished.<\/p>\n
I have taken teachers aside in the past and told them bluntly that I did not enjoy a reading assignment and listed out why. I remember one that got so bad about sexual situations that I stopped reading the book and just read the last chapter so I knew the ending. I actually got the highest grade in the class when I took the test on that book. But I also told the teacher that I would like to request alternative readings if similar books were required in the future. Interestingly, the reading assignment got much better thereafter.<\/p>\n
I suspect that you can treat artwork the same way. If nudity exists, then ask yourself if it is gratuitous or not — most of the time it is. Ask for alternative assignments. Since you are not asking to get out of work and the request comes from your religious beliefs, most teachers will respect the request.<\/p>\n\t
Thanks for the advice. I really appreciate all the help you’ve given me. I really think it’s amazing you devote your life to spreading the gospel and helping others. Hope you and you’re physical and spiritual family are doing great!<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Question: Regarding a problem I’m having in college: I’m in a composition class that requires me to read literature that will sometimes involve sinful situations — things that I wouldn’t read if it was up to me.\u00a0 As well as I’m in an art class that probably will deal with Renaissance Catholic artwork, and it’s…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[381,38],"class_list":["post-31364","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-education","tag-morality"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":18740,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/do-you-think-a-movie-with-a-good-storyline-but-some-immorality-scattered-in-should-be-watched\/","url_meta":{"origin":31364,"position":0},"title":"Do you think a movie with a good storyline but some immorality scattered in should be watched?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 25, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I read\u00a0your comment on a question about movies and video games. I believe you even referred to watching the Lord of the Rings movies if I'm not mistaken. I totally agree that there are movies that Christians should not watch. What do you think of movies, though, that have\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":32809,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-do-you-handle-a-bible-class-teacher-who-is-teaching-false-doctrine\/","url_meta":{"origin":31364,"position":1},"title":"How do you handle a Bible class teacher who is teaching false doctrine?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 9, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hello, I've just read\u00a0your answer\u00a0to a person who was asking for advice because his Sunday school teacher told him that Cain was the result of Satan having sexual relations with Eve.\u00a0 You suggested that he find a different Sunday school teacher.\u00a0 However, in many churches you don't choose your\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":43069,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-do-i-do-my-mother-is-committing-fornication\/","url_meta":{"origin":31364,"position":2},"title":"What do I do? My mother is committing fornication!","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 29, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: To start out, I would like to say that I am not perfect, do not pretend that I am perfect, and know that I will\u00a0never\u00a0be perfect. I have made many mistakes, and am merely a sinner, saved by grace. That said, my question is about my mom. My dad\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":41940,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/can-a-brother-committing-fornication-be-used-in-church-worship\/","url_meta":{"origin":31364,"position":3},"title":"Can a brother committing fornication be used in church worship?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 21, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Good day, Brother Jeffrey, I need your help on this. There is a brother committing fornication. He stopped worshiping. The reason why he doesn't want to wed is that his sister, who is living abroad promised him to help him work abroad. If he gets married, he may not\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":5138,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-should-sexual-immorality-be-addressed-with-the-elderly\/","url_meta":{"origin":31364,"position":4},"title":"How should sexual immorality be addressed with the elderly?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 2, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I read many of your very fine Q&A, articles, and sermons on your web site. Your candor is refreshing as well as offering much. We are searching for conclusions on how to address one aspect of the sexual immorality subject and, perhaps, your study of the subject might help\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":43803,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-an-ad-blocker-immoral\/","url_meta":{"origin":31364,"position":5},"title":"Is an ad blocker immoral?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 1, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Is it immoral to use an adblocker on a computer? I'm mainly referring to how you can block ads on videos. 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