This is a good point, and I think my mom used to use the “would you watch this or that with your Grandma sitting next to you?” Same concept, except that I can picture my incredibly devout Catholic grandmother’s distaste a lot more clearly. Honestly, I feel like I’d have to give up pretty much every single show that I watch and only watch cheesy musicals from the 50’s if I were to go by this guideline…maybe that is what I’m supposed to do, but I’d like to think there’s a compromise somewhere…Hi, Sydney28.
You know, I struggled over the same question with a series I used to really enjoy which contained occasional instances of offensive language. I finally came up with guidelines which worked well for me and which enable me to make what I hope are sound choices for what I will and will not read, listen to, etc. If Jesus Christ materialized in the room while I was watching this or listening to that, would I be embarrassed? Would I take our Lord to see (fill in the blank) or would I recommend this or that book for Him to read? What you say is very true in that it would eliminate most of the garbage produced by our culture, but I live with myself much better that way. There is still plenty of good drama and great literature out there that I personally don’t feel deprived.
When they are showing bare behinds and people underneath the sheets, they’re insinuating sexual activities. That is not art. You’re not comparing apples to apples. The statutes in Europe have nothing to do with what these shows are about. These tv shows constantly display fornication, homosexuality, and are truly perverse. It is a decay in our society. If you can’t see that, then your senses have already been dulled to what is right and what is wrong.And I suppose all those statues in Europe are made just to arouse lust. Oh wait that’s called art.
Am I going to hell simply by watching them-NO.Theoretically some people could look at playboy magazine and not sin. Not many and I know not me. In the same way some people could watch TV shows with sexy actors wearing skimpy outfits and only notice the snappy dialog and interesting plot. Lusting doesn’t have to make drool drip from your chin to be sinful. When we look at another person and imagine them in a sexual situation we cheapen them as creations of God. Granted many of these people cheapen themselves by wearing those clothes but as Christians we are called to be better than “what everyone else is doing”. So as Christians it is incumbent upon us to be “the salt of the earth”. As the scriptures say if we lose our flavor we will be cast out to be trampled underfoot.
As part of our act of contrition don’t we ask for “the grace to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin”? We are all sinners and sexual attraction is a natural part of each of us. In the same way an alcoholic should not frequent bars we should not frequent sexy shows or internet sites that feature actors portraying situations that may cause us or one of our family members to sin. Does it limit the shows I can watch - yes. Does it make me sad sometimes - yes. Am I willing to go to hell so I can watch them - NO!
I do consider this a fascinating subject. My two cents: I’m not sure that one could even theoretically look at Playboy and not sin (unless you’re a woman); you might say the magazine itself is a manifestion of degredation.Theoretically some people could look at playboy magazine and not sin. Not many and I know not me. In the same way some people could watch TV shows with sexy actors wearing skimpy outfits and only notice the snappy dialog and interesting plot. Lusting doesn’t have to make drool drip from your chin to be sinful. When we look at another person and imagine them in a sexual situation we cheapen them as creations of God. Granted many of these people cheapen themselves by wearing those clothes but as Christians we are called to be better than “what everyone else is doing”.
For one thing, we’re all sinners, and will always battle our fallen natures. IMHO, not that I even like to make generalizations like this, but the only difference between “good” Catholics and “bad” Catholics would be whether or not one acknowledges that.Again, that may make me a bad Catholic is some people’s eyes, but there are so many things in the world that I don’t sweat the little things.
That’s an interesting point that I’d never thought of before James22.For one thing, we’re all sinners, and will always battle our fallen natures. IMHO, not that I even like to make generalizations like this, but the only difference between “good” Catholics and “bad” Catholics would be whether or not one acknowledges that.
I wouldn’t take that too far though. Life itself is a positive good, and that we are made to experience creation is a positive good; neglecting to be vigilant to what you rightly noted to be pervasive sin in our world, however, neglects the other side of the coin; the reality that God intends us to experience the world in certain ways. There are good and bad experiences, and good and bad ways to go about living and experiencing. Not all experiences are worth having.In the end we’re all sinners it’s just a matter of degree and what lengths we’ll go to not sin. I personally think that God gave us a great many things to do with our lives… I choose to LIVE my life and experience all the great many things that are out there.
chewie
I still disagree that it is an automatic sin to watch these shows. It has to fall back on the individual. One can look at the painting in the Sistine Chapel and get aroused and for them it would then be a sin. For others it would not. Some, and I think my parents are included, were able to watch NYPD Blue and not be aroused in the least. So for them watching the show is not a sin. We judge the heart too often around here. Some things like actions can be judged, but what is going on in theheart of an individual when he or she is watching tv cannot and should not be judged.I do consider this a fascinating subject. My two cents: I’m not sure that one could even theoretically look at Playboy and not sin (unless you’re a woman); you might say the magazine itself is a manifestion of degredation.
The broader issue, as edwest keeps saying and I agree with him, is that it is a process of desensitizing.
And goofyjim, I can’t but help believe that the “story” that we’re looking for, even while we miraculously ignore the scantily clad women, IS the sexual situations and the satisfaction derived from the story is the titilation derived therein. In Grey’s Anatomy, for example there is virtually no story (no anecdotes here about various plots - I’m talking about the general theme of the show) apart from the sordid stories of these characters hooking up with each other.
Someone mentioned earlier, and I agree also, that we should honestly reflect on why we watch those shows. I myself confess to watching shows at time “for the story,” when in all honesty, it is when I am lazy about being vigilant to the prevailing winds of society that do, in reality, corrupt and darken our minds and souls, and make us unable to call sin what it is when we see it. It is entertaining in a sense to watch beautiful people in sexual situations, and not necessarily in the lustful fantasizing way - young women are often enraptured by the exploits of characters in such shows, case in point being Sex and the City. Even if there isn’t some explicit lustful pleasure there, it is certainly polluting and distorting our minds as to what good, holy, and true human relationships should really be about.
We should stay away from a legalistic approach to this. “Is it a sin?” too often really reflects an attitude of “What can I get away with?” instead of “How can I be the best and holiest person I can be?” The focus is all wrong when the question comes down to drawing lines in the sand.
Again, legalism. However, I think you may have touched on one of the problems with it - we can’t draw lines in the sand because we don’t know whats going on in people’s hearts. I don’t know enough about your parents or about NYPD blue to say “is it a sin?” I can still probably tell you though, that it wasn’t good for them. Whether or not an actually sin was taking place doesn’t change the fact that watching shows bare bottoms and casual sex desensitizes us to sin.I still disagree that it is an automatic sin to watch these shows. It has to fall back on the individual. One can look at the painting in the Sistine Chapel and get aroused and for them it would then be a sin. For others it would not. Some, and I think my parents are included, were able to watch NYPD Blue and not be aroused in the least. So for them watching the show is not a sin. We judge the heart too often around here. Some things like actions can be judged, but what is going on in theheart of an individual when he or she is watching tv cannot and should not be judged.
I didn’t want to belabor this either, but come on, you haven’t addressed the point at all. Whether or not it a sin isn’t the question, I said that ten times. You’ll notice even our Magisterium isn’t in the business of enumerating sins, beyond those which are intrinsically grave and disordered. It is in the business of exhorting us to holiness and showing us the way to live.I refuse to belabor the point anymore. I do not consider it a sin to watch many of the shows mentioned in this thread.
Funny I’ve never had any tv show harm my ability to live as I should.I didn’t want to belabor this either, but come on, you haven’t addressed the point at all. Whether or not it a sin isn’t the question, I said that ten times. You’ll notice even our Magisterium isn’t in the business of enumerating sins, beyond those which are intrinsically grave and disordered. It is in the business of exhorting us to holiness and showing us the way to live.
Here’s the question: There are things we should not do which may not in and of themselves be sinful, because they contribute to our inability to recognize sin for what it is, and harm our ability to live as we should as a result. Do you disagree with that?
And I think Grey’s is raunchy enough to be in league with Sex and the City.
To your knowledge. You probably have. You’ve sinned, right? And we’re talking about contributing factors here. Do you know what combination of influences in your life converged to determine your committing particular sins?Funny I’ve never had any tv show harm my ability to live as I should.
NOYB. The tv shows don’t influence me either way. That is objectively true whether anyone likes it or not.To your knowledge. You probably have. You’ve sinned, right? And we’re talking about contributing factors here. Do you know what combination of influences in your life converged to determine your committing particular sins?
I would go so far as to say your statement is likely to be objectively untrue, if you’ve ever committed sexual sins. Our ubiquitious modern media has so utterly distorted our perception of what is moral in terms of sexuality that it is literally impossible to not have been affected by it.
And I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be too uncharitable, but I’d be willing to bet that your insistence that you aren’t affect by it is virtually proof positive that you have been.Funny I’ve never had any tv show harm my ability to live as I should.