Selecting media by it's religious affliation?

[Pebbles]

This is a question I've been meaning to ask.

Obviously many of you consider your religion to touch all aspects in your life. I was curious to ask you do allow your religion to influence
The TV you watch
The books you read
The Music you listen to
The Movies you watch

Do you explicitly only listen to media from a specific source like (only USA centric hollywood films) Or only movies that have a strong Christian religious undertone, "The Chronicals of Narnia", Or "Apocolypse" 1-4 For exsample.
Or is it more an explicit avoidance of issues that you feel you shouldn't watch Satanism, dark subject matter, Glorification of violence ect.

Same with music. Do you avoid Rock music genres because you feel them to be evil or sinful, do you only listen to music where the band members are outspoken christians? Or do you not care about the subject at all.

Are your standards different when it comes to books rather than say movies or TV

 

[reba]

Over 50 years ago Mom said to me "Dont go see any movie you wouldn't take Jesus with ya to see.

That has been a guide for me for a good while...

I spend time here that a few years back would have been watching TV TV has become uncomfortable to view.

I pretty much apply that guide all around.... I do fail too often.....

 

[jasoncran]

Over 50 years ago Mom said to me "Dont go see any movie you wouldn't take Jesus with ya to see.

That has been a guide for me for a good while...

I spend time here that a few years back would have been watching TV TV has become uncomfortable to view.

I pretty much apply that guide all around.... I do fail too often.....

in general that is what i do.

 

[Nathan Alterton]

Anyway, to answer the OP. I do somewhat limit my exposure to certain kinds of media because of my Christian values, but mostly in a negative sense. In other words, there is certain content I try to avoid, but I generally don't seek out media sources that are explicitely Christian.

I try to avoid movies with gratuiteous sex/nudity in them, although I won't necessarly rule something out because I might see a naked body. It depends on the context. For instance, I think that the nudity in Schindler's List, was appropriate and necessary for the power and truthfulness of the story, but most nudity in film is not what I would consider to be important or necessary.

When it comes to news, I'm actually sure where I would go to find reliable and thorough Christian news sources (World Magazine would be one source I know of), but then again, I'm not sure why it would be necessary to do so. Whether one is Christian or not shouldn't have any bearing on how the news is reported.

While I have a wide range of contemporary and classic music from both Christian and secular artists, I do make attempts to limit my listening to music with messages that are a worst not antithetical to the Christian worldview, if not explicitely in favor of it. I have found that music tends to affect me more than than TV and movies do, probably be cause must of us spend more time absorbing music than we do celuloid media (two hours and a movie is done, but many of us tend to listen to music throughout the day).

 

[jruner]

I believe we live in a fallen world and a we need to see all points of view (within reason). Having said that I do admit I sensor much of what I listen to read or view with God's guidance. I will let my family members have their freedom but if I see it as damaging to walking with Christ I pray about it with them before hand. If we don't atleast get a few different news sources we may not be seeing the complete picture.

 

[Vic C.]

Aardverk,

Please stay on topic and please refrain from targeting other members with negative comments and your posts won't get deleted.

 

[Tina]

LOL, why so many deleted posts ?


I believe that the right question to ask is not if we would allow our religion to influence what kinds of TV shows, books, music or movies we indulge in.

Rather the right question to ask is if we would allow TV shows, books, music or movies to influence or compromise our religious beliefs...

TV, movies and Internet are readily accessible and rampant with porn and evil stuff these days. If one view leads to another and they turn addictive, that's when problem begins... For example, when I go into youtube.com, some of the highly recommended videos turn out to be porn. Many blockbuster movies on TV happen to have strong evil/ satanic undertones, but I still watch them anyway when I have nothing better to do as long as I don't get influenced or addicted to such entertainment. Same with music. As for books why would I wanna waste time reading them if I knew for sure it's not gonna help build up my faith. But I admit I do occasionally read fashion magazines just for fun ... ;)

 

[Mike]

I've always considered that anyone who is committed to Christ will be turned off by certain movies, music, books, etc. because they are Led to see that they don't add to their walk with the Lord. This line will be drawn at different points, but at some point, the true believer will say "This is as far as I go. I will go no further." At some point, a chord is struck, and we realize it's not a productive thing to engage in. I am drawn to music, movies, and TV shows that edifie the Lord.

As Tina inferred, I wonder how these movies will effect me and other fellow Christians. My primary news source (but not the only one) on TV is FoxNews. I would say my choice here is that they are much less biased with agenda's against our Holy Book.

 

[Pebbles]

Anyway, to answer the OP. I do somewhat limit my exposure to certain kinds of media because of my Christian values, but mostly in a negative sense. In other words, there is certain content I try to avoid, but I generally don't seek out media sources that are explicitely Christian.

I try to avoid movies with gratuiteous sex/nudity in them, although I won't necessarly rule something out because I might see a naked body. It depends on the context. For instance, I think that the nudity in Schindler's List, was appropriate and necessary for the power and truthfulness of the story, but most nudity in film is not what I would consider to be important or necessary.

Do you feel that way because Schindlers List is critically acclaimed (ie a classic/iconic peice)? Or is it okay for certain topics like the holocaust to broach established taboo if they are making a certain set of specific points?

Okay thank you guys I'd like to hear more about your music choices now... do you explicitly avoid certain genres of music dose the religious influence of the band members influence wheather you like them or would like to let your kids listen to them?

Do you feel certain kinds of music to be satanic or inherently evil because of their style?

 

[jasoncran]

schindlers list. hmm perhaps i should make nathan watch that and teach him and my wife of the shoah and learn a few things more on that.

it all changes when you learn that you may have had family that died in the shoah.

thats said i generally eschew secular music. i was told by the lord to avoid it. that isnt a command from the bible but just something that i alone should do.

 

[Car Guy]

Since becoming a Christian in my mid 30's, I have changed significantly the media, TV, and movies I watch for both education and entertainment.

I will no longer watch "R" movies or "MA" television shows. The amount of sex, profanity, and other unbiblical behaviours are too much to tolerate. I don't care how supposedly "good" something is -- I just don't go there. There have been times when PG-13 and "TV 14" shows have also been too much over the edge where I will turn them off as well.

When it comes to reading books I usually stick to Christian authors and read mostly books on theology or other studies of the bible.

In the mainstream news media, there is generally a politically left, anti-Christian, bias that causes me to seek out alternative sources for reporting and news. Not only in what's reported but what isn't reported. The way I see it is news stories that go unreported, as is often the case in the mainstream, is a form of bias in itself.

Scripture says we are to be in the world but not of the world. I try to pattern my life in that way.