TV shows

[cyclone_105]

Is it wrong to watch shows such as Family Guy, South Park, and Tosh.0?

I should mention that I do not let any TV shows affect my faith and personal conduct. They have not made me interested one bit in committing sexual sins, getting drunk, etc. A lot of people i know from school say that i can conduct myself better than many others. Also, if I find an episode of a certain show to blatantly blaspheme Jesus,I do not watch that episode.

 

[Winken]

My personal POV ..... I clicked on these, and said "never again." I wrote a letter to administration for South Park. I actually got an affirmative response!!

 

[zephcom]

Is it wrong to watch shows such as Family Guy, South Park, and Tosh.0?

I should mention that I do not let any TV shows affect my faith and personal conduct. They have not made me interested one bit in committing sexual sins, getting drunk, etc. A lot of people i know from school say that i can conduct myself better than many others. Also, if I find an episode of a certain show to blatantly blaspheme Jesus,I do not watch that episode.

FWIW, I think it is wrong to watch television, period. But that has nothing at all to do with any kind of religious reason. Watching television just rots one's mind.

I think the thing that makes it so bad is that television uses the only two long range sensors humans have, hearing and vision, to pretend to the mind that the things being watched are occurring within the normal sight and hearing range of the person watching.

That brings in a LOT of danger activity which the mind has to place somewhere in your immediate area. I think a lot of the danger people today sense around them is not real, it comes from watching too much television.

It is just the way the mind evolved. When you both see and hear something, the mind is designed to put that thing on a mental map that is in close proximity of where you are instead of a fictional world or a place half the planet away. If those things are dangerous, one's fight/flight mechanism is activated.

 

[gaara4158]

Far more dangerous than the content itself is your attitude toward the content. There's nothing wrong with a little edgy/adult humor now and then, but you shouldn't let Family Guy et al inform your moral values. They're not meant to be edifying in that sense, they're pure vacuous entertainment. They're junk food for the soul; fine in moderation, problematic if they're your main source of nourishment.

 

[zephcom]

Far more dangerous than the content itself is your attitude toward the content. There's nothing wrong with a little edgy/adult humor now and then, but you shouldn't let Family Guy et al inform your moral value. They're not meant to be edifying in that sense, they're pure vacuous entertainment. They're junk food for the soul; fine in moderation, problematic if they're your main source of nourishment.

Trust me, I don't let Family Guy et al inform my moral values...I don't watch them.

There is a whole lot of television I don't watch.

 

[jayem]

There is very good TV programming, but you have to be selective. Nature and Nova on PBS are excellent. Ken Burns' recent documentary on the Vietnam war is well-balanced, and should be required viewing for anyone interested in modern history. Many shows on the Smithsonian channel are very interesting. Just for entertainment, I like Dick Wolf's Law & Order SVU, and his Chicago PD, Fire, and Med franchise. And Blue Bloods, on CBS, is a show that clearly promotes strong family values. You can find a lot of informative and worthwhile entertainment on TV, but you have to be discerning.

 

[War_Eagle]

Is it wrong to watch shows such as Family Guy, South Park, and Tosh.0?

Well, if it's not wrong, it's certainly still unwise.

Rather than telling you it's wrong, I'll just leave it up to your conscience.

But I would make one small suggestion. In our house, we teach our children to evaluate pop culture choices by asking these four questions:

1. Does it pass the Phillipians 4 test?

Is it true? Is it honorable? Is it just? Is it pure? Is it lovely? Is it commendable? Is there any excellence? Is there anything worthy of praise?

2. Does it pass the Galatians 5 test?

Does it exhibit, glorify, or incite the works of the flesh, which are sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, either in thought or in deed?

Or does it exhibit, glorify, or encourage the fruit of the Spirit, which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control?


3. Does it pass the 1 Corinthians 8 test?

Even if it's something God grants us the liberty to enjoy or engage in, would our doing it cause a weaker brother or sister in Christ to sin or to stumble in their walk with Christ?


4. Is it an idol to you?

If it's something that failed the three tests above, would you give it up? If so, then what would your attitude be about giving it up? Would you be glad to give it up, knowing it doesn't glorify God, isn't conducive to growth in Christ, and could cause a weaker brother or sister in Christ to sin or stumble in their walk with Christ?

Or would you give it up grudgingly or not give it up at all? If so, then it's an idol.

I should mention that I do not let any TV shows affect my faith and personal conduct.

Yeah, if I had a nickel for every person I've counselled who said that...

They have not made me interested one bit in committing sexual sins, getting drunk, etc. A lot of people i know from school say that i can conduct myself better than many others.

Well, that's good, I guess. But what you're talking about is what Jesus compared to only cleaning the outside of a cup.

What you're describing is external. It's works. But God isn't interested in your works. He's interested in your sanctification.

Reminds me of the old joke about the man who jumped out of a 50 story window. As he passed the 20th floor, a man leaned out the window and said, "How are you doing?" and the jumping man said, "So far, so good!"

I'm not making a comment one way or another about your walk with Christ, but the question here shouldn't be "Can I", but "Why would I".

Also, if I find an episode of a certain show to blatantly blaspheme Jesus,I do not watch that episode.

Is there an episode of Family Guy that doesn't glorify sin in one form or another?

 

[Dave-W]

Nice list, War_eagle.

 

[ViaCrucis]

Is it wrong to watch shows such as Family Guy, South Park, and Tosh.0?

I should mention that I do not let any TV shows affect my faith and personal conduct. They have not made me interested one bit in committing sexual sins, getting drunk, etc. A lot of people i know from school say that i can conduct myself better than many others. Also, if I find an episode of a certain show to blatantly blaspheme Jesus,I do not watch that episode.

You're the only person that can make that determination, you have to follow your conscience on these matters. There's no divinely sanctioned list of acceptable media for Christian consumption anywhere--such things are wholly and entirely matters of individual conscience.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[The~Cerberus~Infinite]

It's humor. If you know who you are, you have nothing to fear from edgy jokes.

 

[War_Eagle]

It's humor. If you know who you are, you have nothing to fear from edgy jokes.

Actually, if you're a Christian and you know who you are, then you know that you're a sinner and exposing yourself to sin will only feed your own flesh.

 

[The~Cerberus~Infinite]

Well I'm not a C-word, but if I were shopping for a dour religion, I'd have to go with Islam, hands down. Or off.

 

[War_Eagle]

Well I'm not a C-word, but if I were shopping for a dour religion, I'd have to go with Islam, hands down. Or off.

Christianity isn't a dour religion. When rightly understood and practiced, it is a very joyful religion.

But that having been said, we do still strive to honor God.

 

[The~Cerberus~Infinite]

When rightly understood and practiced, Communism brings peace and prosperity to everyone. You're not going to sell the next generations on the solid ethical lessons of Christianity by telling them jokes offend the holy nature of God, laughing at those stupid poop jokes or Darwin awards on Tosh.

Not to mention, Tosh is the one who broke #Elsagate. Keeping the world safe for kids, one X-rated joke at a time.

 

[Par5]

Most television is rubbish and not worth your time, but if you ever get the chance to watch a programme made by the BBC called Blue Planet II, please do. It took four years to make the programme. The photography is absolutely stunning and you will be amazed at the incredible creatures that inhabit our oceans and the things they get up to. The third programme in the series is being aired tonight. Something for me to look forward to, along with a few million others.

 

[Strathos]

I'm not aware of anyone who is forcing people to watch TV shows that they don't like.

 

[DogmaHunter]

I'ld much rather have my kids enjoy a good laugh by watching family guy or southpark, as opposed to being under the influence of "rolemodels" like the effing Kardashians.

 

[RedPonyDriver]

I'ld much rather have my kids enjoy a good laugh by watching family guy or southpark, as opposed to being under the influence of "rolemodels" like the effing Kardashians.

Family Guy? South Park? Disgusting, lowbrow humor, blatant disrespect of adult authority figures...THAT is what you want your kids to watch?

I've seen the result of a generation raised on that rubbish...insolent, disrespectful, think they're just the greatest when they don't know anything...There's infinitely better out there...find it.

 

[DogmaHunter]

Family Guy? South Park? Disgusting, lowbrow humor, blatant disrespect of adult authority figures...THAT is what you want your kids to watch?

1. did you even read my post? I said "I'ld much rather have them watch this, then that".
What was "this" and what was "that" in my post?

2. Nothing wrong with humoristic cartoons.

I've seen the result of a generation raised on that rubbish...insolent, disrespectful, think they're just the greatest when they don't know anything...There's infinitely better out there...find it.

Right, right.... and that is the fault of a humoristic cartoon, right?
It couldn't be the fault of, ow I dunno, their parents doing a bad job at raising them and teaching them what respect etc means?

 

[RedPonyDriver]

1. did you even read my post? I said "I'ld much rather have them watch this, then that".
What was "this" and what was "that" in my post?

2. Nothing wrong with humoristic cartoons.



Right, right.... and that is the fault of a humoristic cartoon, right?
It couldn't be the fault of, ow I dunno, their parents doing a bad job at raising them and teaching them what respect etc means?

You want to teach your children respect and let them watch shows that show disrespect? Right...that works really well. Kids will throw out what you attempt to teach them in favor of popular culture. No thanks...I'll keep watching my geek documentaries...they're a whole lot more interesting than some stupid cartoon. I haven't watched a sitcom since the 70's.