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I am reading the Bible for the third time, cover to cover.

Every time I read it, I am somewhat embarrassed because this book of love is also filled with sexual innuendos, violence and the deaths of thousands upon thousands of people.

Should it be banned? It鈥檚 like an X-rated movie: sex, violence and killing.

The Bible is intended to bring hope to Christians, which it does. The Bible also makes me aware of man鈥檚 inhumanity to man. Should we subject our children to the Bible鈥檚 sexual, racial and mean-spirited content? Is this a book that we really want our children to read?

Increasingly and for the past couple of decades, educators have faced issues of defending what books they can place on the library bookshelves and what books English and literature teachers can have their students read.

From my many years in education, I have always trusted a teacher鈥檚 decision. If there were an issue, teachers reached out to parents and gave their students a choice of reading a particular book or not reading it. They are aware of the controversy that can be raised about what students read.

Let me put parents鈥� minds at rest. Teachers do not corrupt the minds of students. We have students read books because they make them think, ask questions and formulate opinions.

This is what freedom is all about. We don鈥檛 want young people to have minds of 鈥渕ush.鈥� We want students to be informed.

I trust teachers to guide students when discussing controversial topics. Being uninformed about issues can be detrimental to everyone鈥檚 health. Think of what happened in Germany during WWII when German citizens were not privy to the truth about Jews.

Our Constitution is like a book. What if it were banned and only certain people could read it, and outsiders were punished if they read it? Why would we ban the Constitution? Well, some parts are controversial.

Has the Constitution caused us to think and to ask questions? As a result of this thinking and questioning, do we have a stronger nation?

When 鈥淧eyton Place鈥� was first published in 1956, Grace Metalious' novel shocked the world. Deemed 鈥渢rash鈥� by many, the book was banned in multiple cities and countries, including Canada.

鈥淧eyton Place鈥� sold more than 30 million copies. I remember my mother hid the book in her dresser drawer (now I wonder how I knew that). It was akin to a Dick and Jane reader by today's standards. I don鈥檛 have any data to support this, but I am sure 1956 reading test scores in public schools skyrocketed.

If we aim to improve reading in our schools, let鈥檚 have a 鈥渂anned book鈥� section in our libraries. I think the shelves would be forever empty, with long waiting lists of interested readers. Non-readers would all of a sudden have an interest in reading. Reading scores would soar.

Yes, I am being facetious, but banning books can get out of hand quickly.

In this 鈥渂anned books鈥� section, we might have books like 鈥淭he Kite Runner,鈥� which is the story of two boys growing up in Afghanistan against the backdrop of the Soviet invasion. Students not allowed to read the book could see the movie by the same name.

Sherman Alexie's book, "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian," was subjected to school bans 16 times during the 2021-2022 school year. It was first released in 2007 and has been controversial due to its subject matter.

The novel is semi-autobiographical, based on the Native American author's life, and won a National Book Award in 2007.

Also in our section, we would find "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison. It follows a Black girl who believes she is ugly and would be more beautiful if she only had blue eyes.

Believe it or not, two of the top 10 books banned in 2003 were the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling because they dealt with the occult and satanism.

鈥淥f Mice and Men鈥� by John Steinbeck was also on a banned book list due to its offensive language. The Captain Underpants series was also banned due to its sexually explicit nature and foul language.

鈥淭he Catcher in the Rye鈥� by J.D. Salinger has made the banned book list along with the 鈥淎dventures of Huckleberry Finn鈥� by Mark Twain and the book 鈥淭he Color Purple.鈥�

When you see these titles you can realize how ridiculous book banning can become. Interestingly, no one has suggested we should ban the Bible. No doubt, somebody has.

Other writers included on blacklists in the past were American authors Jack London and Helen Keller. Keller鈥檚 belief in social justice encouraged her to champion people with disabilities, pacifism, improved conditions for industrial workers and women's voting rights.

Yes, intelligent as we are, we can also be very obtuse.

The burning of books under the Nazi regime on May 10, 1933, is perhaps the most infamous book-banning and burning event in history. Their goal was to eliminate outside influence and purify German culture.

It鈥檚 hard to believe that God-fearing people could do such a horrific act. What was the result?

Perhaps this is what the Bible is trying to teach us. To quote Bob Dylan, 鈥淏ut you tell me over and over and over again my friend, ah, you don鈥檛 believe we鈥檙e on the eve of destruction.鈥�

If we wish to ban something, what is more dangerous, books or assault weapons?

Is it time to ban the Bible? Of course not. The question is about as absurd as "Should we ban books?"

Riddle: What building has the most stories? (Answer: the library) Let鈥檚 try to keep it that way.

I want to thank the Lutheran Campus Ministry for putting up 100% posters in their building.

John R. Eggers of Bemidji is a former university professor and area principal. He also is a writer and public speaker.