American Horror Story….question

[PMAC123]

Does anyone watch this show?

I’ve been watching the current season (Coven) and I really have enjoyed it. It’s gory at times but the plot is great.

I recently started watching the 2nd season, titled Asylum (each season has an entirely different plot, setting, characters, etc, but it keeps the same actors and actresses), and while I’ve enjoyed watching it and been interested, I was wondering….is it a sin to watch?

It’s set in an insane asylum in the 1960’s, owned by a Priest and overseen by a nun. The plot is really interesting and intricate. There’s been elements of demonic possession and things like that, and there have been some parts I’ve had to turn away from the screen at, some blasphemous type scenes that I don’t care to see (similar things to what is seen in The Exorcist). Along with that though, the biggest elements of the season are of murderers, aliens, etc.

I’m just curious if its a sin to watch? It’s obviously a TV show and its not trying to push any type of belief on anyone, its just a fictional plot. As you watch the episodes, you learn more about the characters and learn about their history (why they are the way they are). It hasn’t made me think any differently of my faith, if anything its made me want to pray afterwards to kind of refresh my mind haha. I just find the show entertaining and I’m very interested, I want to finish the season and see what happens.

I read a review of the first episode on the Catholic League and I found it very over the top, misunderstanding, and kind of hateful actually? That’s why I came here to ask haha.

 

[agnes_therese]

It’s kind of like reading Dan Brown novels – as long as you know the difference between fiction and reality, you’re fine. If you don’t, or if you’re not well-grounded in your faith, or if it gives you the creeps, then don’t watch it.

 

[ltwin]

I absolutely am addicted to this show. Asylum was the best season by far. While it has frequent sex scenes, violence, and some pop demonology, in a kind of underrated way it could jive with a Christian view of the world.

The only thing I kind of thought was wrong is that they took the most innocent and virtuous nun in the entire asylum and made her into a sex-crazed, sadistic demoniac. Demonic possession does not really work that way . . . but oh well. At least one episode actually quoted Scripture (Ephesians 6:12).

I do have a question though. Jessica Lang’s character explains that the reason the demon possessed Sister Mary Eunice was that it needed her godliness as a sort of shield because if it possessed someone of less godliness then its host would have been visibly affected by the many holy objects in the Church-owned asylum. Would that really be plausible in Catholic belief?

 

[Miserissima]

Jessica Lang’s character explains that the reason the demon possessed Sister Mary Eunice was that it needed her godliness as a sort of shield because if it possessed someone of less godliness then its host would have been visibly affected by the many holy objects in the Church-owned asylum. Would that really be plausible in Catholic belief?

Demons feed off of ignorance and innocence, so yes, I see that.

I liked Asylum although I was prepared not to. I trend to pick apart a show or movie that has anything “hokey” Catholic…I tend to say things like, “That wouldn’t happen because…” or, “No, that isn’t what we believe…”

I’ve irritated quite a few movie-going friends with that.

The only thing I really didn’t like about Asylum was that it was a bit derivative: ‘Cuckoo’s Nest,’ ‘Exorcist,’ and ‘Magdalene Laundries’ spring to mind.

 

[Ophelia23]

Does anyone watch this show?

I’ve been watching the current season (Coven) and I really have enjoyed it. It’s gory at times but the plot is great.

I recently started watching the 2nd season, titled Asylum (each season has an entirely different plot, setting, characters, etc, but it keeps the same actors and actresses), and while I’ve enjoyed watching it and been interested, I was wondering….is it a sin to watch?

It’s set in an insane asylum in the 1960’s, owned by a Priest and overseen by a nun. The plot is really interesting and intricate. There’s been elements of demonic possession and things like that, and there have been some parts I’ve had to turn away from the screen at, some blasphemous type scenes that I don’t care to see (similar things to what is seen in The Exorcist). Along with that though, the biggest elements of the season are of murderers, aliens, etc.

I’m just curious if its a sin to watch? It’s obviously a TV show and its not trying to push any type of belief on anyone, its just a fictional plot. As you watch the episodes, you learn more about the characters and learn about their history (why they are the way they are). It hasn’t made me think any differently of my faith, if anything its made me want to pray afterwards to kind of refresh my mind haha. I just find the show entertaining and I’m very interested, I want to finish the season and see what happens.

I read a review of the first episode on the Catholic League and I found it very over the top, misunderstanding, and kind of hateful actually? That’s why I came here to ask haha.

I couldn’t get past the opening scene of the season. I turned it off not even 5 minutes in because of the sexual content alone. When watching television, I ask myself, “how, if at all, does this improve me as a person?” If I can’t find a single way , or if I feel as though it has degraded me in some way, then I don’t watch it. That’s what I use as a measure. And I should note, programming doesn’t need to be spiritual or educational to help one grow as a person. It can be insightful, humorous, scary, exciting, sad…whatever category we choose. We can’t answer necessarily if it is sinful or not though.

 

[Miserissima]

on that note, i feel the need to defend watching this show. It’s a respite from critical thinking that unintentionally causes critical thinking. The story telling stretches the bounds of credulity by the very theme of the show. I am refreshed by an hour of television, (literal recreation, if you will) and enjoy the story telling (though it may be badly acted, which can be part of the fun).

I had to think back about the sex scene you mentioned and yes, it was integral to character development and the plot. Although the character’s issue could have been alluded to or referenced, keep in mind the creators are all about the shock value. I’m sure you didn’t have to get to the third season to know that!

That having been said, I cannot stand the opening credits. They creep me out so I turn the volume down and do something else when it’s on.

Watching this our any show is not sinful unless, subjectively, the watcher is put into a near occasion of sin.

 

[slappyhappy]

I couldn’t get past the opening scene of the season. I turned it off not even 5 minutes in because of the sexual content alone. When watching television, I ask myself, “how, if at all, does this improve me as a person?” If I can’t find a single way , or if I feel as though it has degraded me in some way, then I don’t watch it. That’s what I use as a measure. And I should note, programming doesn’t need to be spiritual or educational to help one grow as a person. It can be insightful, humorous, scary, exciting, sad…whatever category we choose. We can’t answer necessarily if it is sinful or not though.

I agree with you Ophelia!

My roommates were REALLY into this show, and I was intrigued by the story of the 1st season but hadn’t watched much of it. They told me season 2 would be a different story line and that I wouldn’t miss anything as I hadn’t seen season 1.

Well… I couldn’t make it very long. I actually became quite upset and stomped out of the room because of what I was seeing.

What also troubles me is that people who don’t understand Catholicism will most likely be turned away even further by shows like this.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

I thought season one was the best and season two was good especially with Lange. But this one has been disappointing. They took a horror genre and turned it into a girl power chick flick. At times it has been comical and not scary. A talking head? Stevie Nicks as herself?! Come one.