How many other book burnings have happened in christianity, was it justifiable?

Question

My christian history is lacking is some areas. I admit it. Sometimes i find it difficult to even Remember or understand what i read, Nowadays, im thinking about alzheimers too much.

But were there other book burning historical events. i have a vague memory of being taught that it was so.
I know christians burn Record albums and Harry Potter books, but are they the same. I mean a harry potter book is only fiction! right?
What kind of books did Nazi Hitler burn. I dont think those types would be justified. I think Hitler wanted knowledge altogether destroyed.

Answer 1

Here is a list http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_burning
In the 1500's the Catholic Church stopped burning books but created the "index" which was a list of books that the faithful should not read. Galileo's books were put on the index not burned.Since then the burning of books by many groups has occurred , but was symbolic with no real possibility of suppressing the book but as way to showing disapproval. The exception was Nazi Germany which tried to burned books that contradicted their policies, especially about Jews. Many governments censer the news and pornography, but these never get published so their are no books to burn. The US was still doing it in the 1950's when the banned Henry Miller's works.

Answer 2

Throughout history Christians have burned books that conflicted with their beliefs. In the times when the Roman Catholic church was the epicenter of the civilized world, any literary books, fiction or non, was burned when the pope did not agree with the idea. Many books that were even supposed to be in the bible were tossed out because they conflicted with what the church believed should be taught. Mostly any books that stated the strength of women or women leading in the church. Did you know that Christs follower Mary was depicted as a prostitute in order to denounce her creditability as a woman in the church? This has been throughout history and will probably continue for a long time to come even though the Catholic church is losing much power by appointing a former Hitler Youth to be a Pope.

Answer 3

They've been burning books for centuries. During the Inquisition it was risky to have any book other than the Bible or other obviously religious books. Galileo's astronomy books were burned by the Church of Rome. The Great Library of Alexandria was destroyed by crusaders. The papyrus scrolls of ancient Egypt were used as fuel for steam engines during the 1800s (and also for making rag paper, but that's another subject).

Answer 4

Book burnings isn't just a Christian phenomenon. Mao in China and, golly, thousands of other governments have burned books that criticized them.

Book burnings have always happened, in all cultures. People never liked to have ideas circulating that fought against the status quo.

It's wrong of course, and counterintuitive. Making a better argument is always better than silencing the argument you don't like through violence.

Answer 5

There have been many burnings of books and records through the ages, Christians are only one sect so disposed. It is an act of ignorant, superstitious, people who fear what they don’t know.

Answer 6

I agree, it is never right, no matter who you are to destroy any work of art (books, records) or any type of history, how can we learn from it if we dint know what really happened, or what people saw and thought was happening.

Answer 7

It is NEVER justifiable to destroy information...Only the people who would use the information for the wrong purposes.