I would think twice before I used anything attributed to Charles Dickens in a devotional context. He was a real scoundrel, and not only in his treatment of women. Having researched the origins of "A Christmas Carol" (i.e., in connection with other research), I've found a great deal of evidence that he plagiarized it from an American couple. Ironically, *they* were real Christians, of the esoteric variety. Their names were Mathew Franklin Whittier, younger brother of Quaker poet John Greenleaf Whittier, and his wife Abby Poyen Whittier. Abby wrote the spiritual elements--and to her, all of the paranormal aspects were originally authentic. Which is to say, Dickens secularized what was originally a spiritualist redemption story, into a mere "Ghost Story of Christmas." Although I haven't studied in so much depth, I think that "David Copperfield" was originally someone else's real-life memoirs, which Dickens personalized by throwing in elements reflecting his own life history. So actually, you are probably not quoting Dickens at all, but rather the now-forgotten original author of that story, as well.
Thank you for your input Mr. Sakellarios. The book I am using for these devotions is a product of Thomas Nelson and their Devotional Classics Series. Each day includes very brief segments of a work attributed to Charles Dickens but the heart of the meditational thoughts come from Jean Fischer. Mr. Dickens' life is not held up as an example to follow. Therefore, his lifestyle or life choices are not really influential in these daily devotions. Thanks again.
I would think twice before I used anything attributed to Charles Dickens in a devotional context. He was a real scoundrel, and not only in his treatment of women. Having researched the origins of "A Christmas Carol" (i.e., in connection with other research), I've found a great deal of evidence that he plagiarized it from an American couple. Ironically, *they* were real Christians, of the esoteric variety. Their names were Mathew Franklin Whittier, younger brother of Quaker poet John Greenleaf Whittier, and his wife Abby Poyen Whittier. Abby wrote the spiritual elements--and to her, all of the paranormal aspects were originally authentic. Which is to say, Dickens secularized what was originally a spiritualist redemption story, into a mere "Ghost Story of Christmas." Although I haven't studied in so much depth, I think that "David Copperfield" was originally someone else's real-life memoirs, which Dickens personalized by throwing in elements reflecting his own life history. So actually, you are probably not quoting Dickens at all, but rather the now-forgotten original author of that story, as well.
Thank you for your input Mr. Sakellarios. The book I am using for these devotions is a product of Thomas Nelson and their Devotional Classics Series. Each day includes very brief segments of a work attributed to Charles Dickens but the heart of the meditational thoughts come from Jean Fischer. Mr. Dickens' life is not held up as an example to follow. Therefore, his lifestyle or life choices are not really influential in these daily devotions. Thanks again.