Banning movies

[TomPiltoff]

A look through the past 40 years of media will show a factual, identifiable decline. The fact that partial nudity magazines with celebrities are now in supermarkets, honestly, this was permitted how long ago? They didn’t just put themselves on the shelves.

Again, I’m not arguing that point.

I took issue with the suggestion that there is a group out there that sets out to deliberately erase Christianity.

 

[Cat]

Those who don’t watch certain actors, do you watch and/or listen to Bing Crosby (abused his children)? Even though he died years ago, the fact that he abused his children is well known, so do you ban after the fact? No more listening to “White Christmas”?

White Christmas was written by Irving Berlin. The song is not evil just because evil people sang it.

Many other artists and groups have sung this song. I think if Bing Crosby is offensive to someone, they could still listen to another artist sing White Christmas, or better yet, sing it yourself or tape your kids or family singing it!

One thing you have to be careful of is judging historical figures according to present norms. Believe it or not, what Bing Crosby did to his kids MIGHT not have been considered abusive back then.

There was a time in American history when parents consistently used a switch to WHIP their children. Read the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder! Today, this would be considered abuse or near-abuse. But back then, it was “normal” parenting techniques. No one would have called Charles Ingalls an abusive parent!

I’m not saying that Bing Crosby did the right thing for his children. But there may not have been a person or organization or book to tell him that it was wrong, because it may have been considered “normal” back then.

Just think–twenty years ago when my children were babies, moms were being told by pediatricians to FEED THEM SKIMMED MILK once they are weaned from the breast (or formula). Now this would be considered BAD parenting!!

Now pediatricians tell parents to feed their babies whole milk or 2% milk, because they need the fat to develop good nerves.

So was I a “bad” parent because I followed the doctor’s advice back then?! Of course not. It was considered the good thing to do back then (only twenty years ago).

 

[edwest2]

I recommend going to some atheist web sites. They say:Religion is man’s worst invention. It needs to be on the trash heap of history. It’s caused more death and destruction than anything you can think of.

I don’t want to offend people here by posting a lot of what I’ve run across. Richard Dawkins has a Foundation and his latst book has been on the New York Times bestsellers list for a while. There is a group. They are supposedly spurred on the events of 9/11. They post here.

God bless,
Ed

 

[TomPiltoff]

I recommend going to some atheist web sites. They say:Religion is man’s worst invention. It needs to be on the trash heap of history. It’s caused more death and destruction than anything you can think of.

Ughghghghghg. How many times must I say that I’m not talking about fringe militant atheists who, though they hate religion, aren’t nearly large enough to post a threat to any ideology?

OTHER THAN that small group, there is nobody who just blindly hates Christianity, let alone the kind of massive, organized media effort you’re suggesting.

 

[edwest2]

Bill Maher: Religion is a neurological disorder. For those of you who don’t watch him, he has senators and other government officials for guests. He’s not just ranting in a corner with a few loonies.

Louis Black: Just get him started about evolution and Creation happening in six days.

There are international, national and local atheist groups. You obviously think they just get together to drink soda and eat Cheetohs while discussing the latest from Richard Dawkins.

And back to Bill Maher, if someone was my friend and appeared on his show, I’d have to ask him some questions.

Finally, an Atheist Lobbyist:
cbsnews.com/stories/2005/10/25/politics/main974730.shtml

God bless,
Ed

 

[TomPiltoff]

Bill Maher: Religion is a neurological disorder. For those of who don’t watch him, he has senators and other government officials for guests. He’s not just ranting in a corner with a few loonies.

Louis Black: Just get him started about evolution and Creation happening in six days.

There are international, national and local atheist groups. You obviously think they just get together to drink soda and eat Cheetohs while discussing the latest from Richard Dawkins.

And back to Bill Maher, if someone was my friend and appeared on his show, I’d have to ask him some questions.

Bill Maher has senators on in the interest of politics, not religion. Simply because somebody is invited on the show doesn’t automatically mean that they agree with everything Maher says.

Again Ed you’re completely missing the point. You suggested, in my opinion, that there’s some vague organization out there with unlimited funding that have infiltrated the mainstream media bent on destroying Christianity. There isn’t.

Which isn’t to say that a LOT of our culture revolves around things that don’t mesh with Christian morals. But that ≠ a conspiracy. Just because Britney Spears parades around nude doesn’t make her the chairperson of the Super Secret Anti-Christian Brigade.

The only groups out there that would have any active interest in doing away with Christianity are the minority atheist groups I mentioned.

They might have a website and hold meetings but that doesn’t at all mean they control the media, Ed.

 

[edwest2]

Read this book description:

amazon.com/Marketing-Evil-Pseudo-Experts-Corruption-Disguised/dp/1581824599

I have watched firsthand, the trashing of American media. I do not need to rely just on memory. Enough books and studies have been done. The media in the United States is controlled by a small handful of corporations, and their consistent immoral message is spread through every media outlet available.

Source magazine: Cover showing a young, healthy African-American man with the word RAPE on his belt buckle.

Time magazine with an article on wine showing a prostitute (aka Porn Star) and her latest creation.

I know for a fact, such things would never have been allowed in the 1950s and 1960s. While growing up, I was always reminded by the government that Russian ICBMs could be on their way at any time. That we were in a struggle with “Godless Communism,” now, the United States is in a struggle with Godless Americanism.

God bless,
Ed

 

[TomPiltoff]

You’re dodging my points. The morality of the 50’s and 60’s has nothing to do with this debate.

You say “the media in the United States is controlled by a small handful of corporations” and yet you fail to point out which one is the anti-Christianity network that you suggest.

 

[edwest2]

They all are. Every one has bought into the, there’s no right or wrong, whatever floats your boat, religion is evil, mind set.

I’m defining morality by Judeo-Christian standards, not the
Abortion is OK
Embryonic Stem Cell research is OK
Euthenasia is OK
Sin, What Sin?
Divorce, Why Not?

Culture that has even infected the body of Christ with its blatant disregard of accepted, and demonstrably better, standards of living in the 1950s and 1960s.

God bless,
Ed

 

[RenaissanceMare]

<<<< They all are. Every one has bought into the, there’s no right or wrong, whatever floats your boat, religion is evil, mind set.

I’m defining morality by Judeo-Christian standards, not the
Abortion is OK
Embryonic Stem Cell research is OK
Euthenasia is OK
Sin, What Sin?
Divorce, Why Not?

Culture that has even infected the body of Christ with its blatant disregard of accepted, and demonstrably better, standards of living in the 1950s and 1960s. >>>>

I think what Tom is trying to say is there’s not a nefarious black ops organization out there saying “let’s show sex in a movie to destroy Christianity”. While I do think alot of the media shows things that are against Judeo-Christian standards, I don’t think they’re churning out the entertainment they do for the sole purpose of destroying Christianity. I highly doubt they’re sitting around saying “Christians are against abortion, so let’s write an abortion into the storyline for this season”. I don’t think it’s that deliberate, or that orchestrated.

 

[YinYangMom]

They all are. Every one has bought into the, there’s no right or wrong, whatever floats your boat, religion is evil, mind set.

I’m defining morality by Judeo-Christian standards…

Culture that has even infected the body of Christ with its blatant disregard of accepted, and demonstrably better, standards of living in the 1950s and 1960s.

The media in the United States is controlled by a small handful of corporations, and their consistent immoral message is spread through every media outlet available.

Ok, Edwest2, looking at it that way the only safe way to describe the current situation is that the media is no longer controlled by a small handful of corporations run by Catholic-supporting executives who controlled the content of what was published and aired during that time. The fact remains the media was controlled back then too, just by a different small group of corporations.

When the church pulled out of the entertainment business that left a void and the void was filled with secular productions. Now, let’s get something straight here: secular does not mean anti-Catholic, or anti-Judeo/Christian. It just means non-religious based, or probably not even that. It most likely just means whatever the popular trend is at the time, fickle with the wind. If it’s kaballa one season, it could be wiccan the next, and catholic again. Who knows?

To sit here and claim media was better when it was controlled by Catholics bugs me because at the time those Catholics were also very pro-american to the point they fed us the lies of the vietnam war and allowed the McCarthy blackballing to last as long as it did.

I would rather see a balance of secular, jewish, buddhist, muslim, cathlolic, christian, morman programming and publications than have any one of those ‘control’ the majority of media output at any given time. I would like to see ‘free’ media, not controlled, any time.

Even though I know Catholicism teaches truth, as we all know from this site alone, there are varying views of the Catholic view on a variety of subjects…all of which carry elements of Truth. Would you like to see all of media influenced by the SSPXers or the Vatican II abusers? How 'bout some of those Catholic churches who ordain women priests and are actively involved in lobbying for gay marriage? Or Mel Gibson’s version of Catholicism? Are we supposed to support the commercials for that programming and cheer for any show, game, music, or play which is financed by these companies just because it’s “Catholic”-based?

My point is media is not good or bad based on who happens to be in ‘control’. In fact, no one is in control. That’s as much of a lie as ‘the people run the government’ in this country. The people vote, but the politicians serve those who financed their campaigns, not the people who placed the votes.

You can’t answer Tom’s question about naming the corporations behind this ‘anti-Catholic’ campaign because there is no moderated and controlled campaign. Productions will continue to reflect whatever those who are financing the productions want to convey, and those people are not meeting behind closed doors wringing their hands together, plotting as a cohesive unit against Catholicism.

This is why I again will plug and applaud the efforts of John Paul the Great University in San Diego, CA. At least they are doing something tangible and constructive for the future of the entertainment industry. The university needs our prayers and financial support to initiate change in the media. As Catholics we must support efforts to attract our young minds to a field which will counteract the damage already done by the void we left the first time, but this time we need to train them to accept the Catholic responsibility of carrying so much weight with their messages and where they invest their funds. Hopefully the next generation of Catholic media executives will be able to resist falling in with corrupt political ideals.

 

[edwest2]

A careful look at the last 40 years shows a clear pattern throughout the media, It is immorality. First a little, then a little more, then a little more.

Speaking as a Catholic, it is my duty to warn my brothers and sisters in Christ. To tell them that the media has become evil, and to walk away. Just walk away from the dirty, filthy guest in our home that has invited in pimps and prostitutes. The television is no longer your friend.

God bless,
Ed

 

[YinYangMom]

A careful look at the last 40 years shows a clear pattern throughout the media, It is immorality. First a little, then a little more, then a little more.

Speaking as a Catholic, it is my duty to warn my brothers and sisters in Christ. To tell them that the media has become evil, and to walk away. Just walk away from the dirty, filthy guest in our home that has invited in pimps and prostitutes. The television is no longer your friend.

God bless,
Ed

I don’t think anyone here would argue that point, EdWest2. Any opposition you seem to be hitting is more about the idea that there’s some sort of conspiracy going on directly specifically toward anti-Catholicism.

While I applaud and appreciate your efforts to appeal to anyone you come in contact with to wake up to the fact that mainstream media is dangerous, I’d like to hear your other suggestions to help turn things around for the better.

Banning television, boycotting movies and the like is one approach, but not realistic, as you’ve probably noticed. Don’t you think we have to do more than just avoid what already exists? Aren’t we called to turn things around too? How do you propose we do that if we don’t see the muck that’s out there?

 

[gmarie21]

A careful look at the last 40 years shows a clear pattern throughout the media, It is immorality. First a little, then a little more, then a little more.

Speaking as a Catholic, it is my duty to warn my brothers and sisters in Christ. To tell them that the media has become evil, and to walk away. Just walk away from the dirty, filthy guest in our home that has invited in pimps and prostitutes. The television is no longer your friend.

God bless,
Ed

Based on St. Paul’s teaching, h ow will you help others to find Christ if you aren’t like them without sinning. Remember, to convert the Jews, be like a Jew, to convert the Gentiles, be like a Gentile. Do this all without sinning. I’m not saying go out an view all porn to relate to those who are addicted to porn, but if you live like a hermit and don’t know what is going on in the culture (or know solely based on what someone else tells you) all the time, how will you relate to those who do not yet know the TRUTH? Heck, the Catholic Church didn’t just bury their heads in the sand about the DaVinci Code, they decided to publically state all the innacurracies and to teach the TRUTH. Even if one person took head to the TRUTH and realized their own personal error, then the efforts we worth it.

 

[edwest2]

I refer you to my other posts where I relate my thoughts on specific people, specific movies and specific references. Yes, I’m watching some of the filth out there to see how far they, in a purposeful campaign to make the public used to anything and I mean anything, are willing to go.

Let me give you one example: Dexter.

A lovable serial killer. The show contains scenes of body parts, and hookers walking around with the attitude of; “What’s wrong with bein’ a ****** whore?” Dexter works in the crime lab at the police station. His dad, a police officer, taught the little psycopath how to kill only ‘bad’ people and hide his tracks.

You can get Season One at your local store. Isn’t that wonderful?

Dexter is coming back for a second season where… uh… let’s just say War Veterans would not likely enjoy watching.

God bless,
Ed

 

[rayne89]

Those who don’t watch certain actors, do you watch and/or listen to Bing Crosby (abused his children)? Even though he died years ago, the fact that he abused his children is well known, so do you ban after the fact? No more listening to “White Christmas”?

Before we go around speaking ill of the dead -the fact that he abused his children is not a “fact”. His own children dispute it.

After Bing’s death, his image as an ideal father (fostered in part by his family’s participation on his famous holiday television specials) was nearly destroyed when his eldest son, Gary, wrote a highly critical memoir (Going My Own Way) depicting Bing as cold, remote, and both physically and psychologically abusive. His son Phillip frequently disputed his brother Gary’s claims about their father. In an interview conducted in 1999 by the Globe, Phillip is quoted as saying, “My dad was not the monster my lying brother said he was, he was strict, but my father never beat us black and blue and my brother Gary was a vicious, no-good liar for saying so. I have nothing but fond memories of dad, going to studios with him, family vacations at our cabin in Idaho, boating and fishing with him. To my dying day, I’ll hate Gary for dragging dad’s name through the mud. He wrote Going My Own Way out of greed. He wanted to make money and knew that humiliating our father and blackening his name was the only way he could do it. He knew it would generate a lot of publicity. That was the only way he could get his ugly, no-talent face on television and in the newspapers. My dad was my hero. I loved him very much. He loved all of us too, including Gary. He was a great father.”

He may have been abuser or he may not have -we don’t it was a fact and he is not here to defend himself.

 

[TomPiltoff]

Let me give you one example: Dexter.

A lovable serial killer. The show contains scenes of body parts, and hookers walking around with the attitude of; “What’s wrong with bein’ a ****** whore?” Dexter works in the crime lab at the police station. His dad, a police officer, taught the little psycopath how to kill only ‘bad’ people and hide his tracks.

It’s also entertaining. The show does not cause mentally stable people to go out and begin killing people. Be realistic, every television station is not going to play PBS all day.

I think what Tom is trying to say is there’s not a nefarious black ops organization out there saying “let’s show sex in a movie to destroy Christianity”. While I do think alot of the media shows things that are against Judeo-Christian standards, I don’t think they’re churning out the entertainment they do for the sole purpose of destroying Christianity. I highly doubt they’re sitting around saying “Christians are against abortion, so let’s write an abortion into the storyline for this season”. I don’t think it’s that deliberate, or that orchestrated.

Bingo, thank you.

 

[edwest2]

I strongly disagree. By their fruit you will know them.

God bless,
Ed

 

[RenaissanceMare]

I agree completely with Gmarie, that we have to know what’s out there to counteract it. An evangelical points out in the book “The Gospel According to the Simpsons” that it does a greater good being in the world then hiding away from it. If we’re not out there, how do we reach people and show them how Christians live?

Art is a reflection of reality in most cases. The movies don’t show immoral things, like let’s say premarital sex, to try to destory Christianity. They show it because that is what’s happening in daily life now in our culture. If we saw more abstience in the real world, I can almost guarentee we’d see more of it in movies. So shouldn’t we try to change reality so art has something more positive to reflect? That’s my thought.

 

[cue]

I don’t think anyone here would argue that point, EdWest2. Any opposition you seem to be hitting is more about the idea that there’s some sort of conspiracy going on directly specifically toward anti-Catholicism.

I cannot speak for EdWest2, but I didn’t read him as arguing a conspiracy. However, in sense, we can say that there is one. Since the days of our first parents, the devil has sought to attack God’s truth and tempt us to believe in his lies. He has tirelessly attacked the Church and continues to try to do so, especially in a publicly-influential way like the media. So while the people who make decisions about what appears in the media are physically very far from united, they are united, unconsciously, when the give into temptations to perpetuate Satan’s lies and all take part in an attack of the Church. They are not intentionally seeking that attack, necessarily, but remain primary agents of that attack.

I cannot agree with you, RenaissanceMare. People are exposed to enough evil (immorality) in their lives. If we want to help them, we must expose them to good things. Today people spend a lot of time watching movies and learn a lot from them. We need to encourage good things rather than bad things (pornographic imagery). You are absolutely correct that art should depict what is true, but sin, Satan’s lies, is the farthest thing from truth.