Katy Carl discusses The Body of This on the radio

[Bernardo]

Hey all! For an insightful discussion on Catholic literature, go listen to Katy Carl, Joseph O'Brien, and Matthew Lickona discuss The Body of This on a recent show at the website of Catholic Radio International. Good stuff.

Katy, I do have one quibble with something you said. There's one point during the lecture when you say that if someone basically happens to have an interest in literature (I know I'm paraphrasing.. I hope not unfairly) that The Body of This would be worth reading. I see why you said that, since there is the real risk that someone will be scandalized and, after all, reading literature is not necessary for salvation. However, the way you put it made it sound to me like literature was a special interest -- akin to being fond of stamp collecting or Japanese anime. I think we really do not want to imply that, since I believe an engagement with literature is really very much a good, and that turning away from it, despite how challenging it may be, leaves a person impoverished. Perhaps it's a bit like traveling. You can live a virtuous life without doing it, but you are missing out on a lot if you never leave the place where you were born.

Now, I'm sure you did not mean to say that there is not a real good to be found in literature, but I think some people could have reached that conclusion from your words, so I just wanted to bring up the point.

Thoughts?

[katycarl]

Berni, you are right to be wary. I think the special-hobby attitude you describe may in some instances be lurking behind some Catholics', and others', wariness toward literature. (I think of a great discussion among friends that I recently read: shoelane.blogspot.com/2009/01/reading-for-fun-response-to-ms-neulieb.html -- it's all about the Puritan/Jansenist holdovers of American culture and their suspicion of "reading for pleasure," a phrase that in itself can tend to belittle literary interest, and well worth a look.) And all of what you say, Berni, about the enriching power of literature is definitely true. However, when I said that about people with an interest in literature, I was thinking only of distinguishing readers in general from Catholics in general, and both groups from Catholic readers. I wanted to say that, while people in general (Catholic or not) need not read the book (or any work of fiction) if they judge it not beneficial for themselves, those Catholics (or people in general) who have any interest in reading that deepens their understanding of the world and their sense of mystery should not dismiss it without a fair shake, because there is much of value to be found in it. I wasn't as clear as I might have been, so thank you for the chance to draw things out in a more considered way.