Washington Irving
Washington Irving is famous for his stories such as "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle." While some folks may already recognize the problem with him simply based on the content of his stories, a closer look at his life will show the true character of the author.
Irving was the last of 11 children and tended to be frail and sensitive, which earned him the place of favorite child. Because of these things he was not required to attend college like his brothers. The Bible says in Proverbs 29:15, The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.
Irving "read...at the law" and eventually passed his bar examination, but he was never really a lawyer. He seems to have mainly spent his time, aside from writing, in frivolous pursuits and travel. As he grew older, he spent his time in wandering and does not seem to have had much in the way of a substantial job, except that he was the U.S. minister to Spain for 4 years. Paul admonished the saints at Corinth, For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. (2 Thessalonians 3:10) The writing of useful and spiritual things is praise worthy, but the sort of things that Irving cluttered our world with and his apparent laziness are not acceptable.
When Irving was young, he was "...bent...on enjoying life in terms of feminine society, theatrical entertainment, and literary amusement." On a trip to Europe in his earlier days "...several notebooks were filled with experiences picked up in a constant round of sight-seeing, flirtatious pleasantries and frivolous entertainment." So says the Encyclopedia Britannica, 1963 edition. The Bible says in Proverbs 31:3, Give not thy strength unto women..." and in Proverbs 18:22, it says "Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD. Irving did exactly the opposite of this, for though he was a flirt, and possibly worse, he was never married.
This is certainly not the sort of "gentleman" that godly people would want their children to associate with. Reading his books for pleasure and/or "scholastic value" is in effect associating with him. Romans 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. Nothing of educational value can be obtained from a man that was such a moral waste himself.
- Mary E. Stephens
Lord Byron was a notorious bisexual poet. This is a well-known and documented fact. He lived a wild, extremely vile and short life that was filled to overflowing with adultery, fornication and sodomy. The details are so disgusting that it seemed inappropriate to publish them here. Please search the internet for further information if you really need it. (Not recommended to people under 18 years of age.) His works should be avoided or removed if included in any curriculum.
1 Corinthians 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 ...shall inherit the kingdom of God.
