“Veltz Meshugener” – please agree that the following type of attitude, a lack of respect of Yiddiskeit, is the predominent cause of OTD-“going off the derech”:
“Probably the biggest benefit to reading is expanding your horizons and encountering new ways to think of things” -your words from another thread in the coffee room.
Jewish horizons are “state of the art” there is none better.
The goyim have some chochma, mostly technology and similar, but the seven pillars of wisdom are still Torah which INCLUDES all wisdom including that of the goyim.
The misguided attitude of investing customs and behaviours from the goyim with importance leads to a perception in the OTD person that he or she is climbing a ladder, when in fact they are descending the ladder and at a very rapid rate, has v shalom.
Why then glorify that which is not glorious? The Torah says what is forbidden, and reading “most secular literature” is one of the things that are forbidden. “Forbidden” is just another word to say something is on par with a toxic substance, which can affect the body AND the mind. Give it up.