Is Watching Particular Shows A Sin?

[Ceil-1]

Nothing.

 

[Joseph_Kemp]

ATEUTONICKNIGHT WROTE: “Well, to quiet everybody up about this, I talked to a very good and holy Priest yesterday in the confessional. I told him that I had a three joke rule, and that if a show or comedian had told three dirty jokes, I turned it off. I asked him if this was good enough, and if I should turn it off before then, and he said that was a good rule. I’ll take this Priest’s reasonable advice, as I would recommend everyone else to.”

• Whatever you and this priest discussed, that is just your own personal opinion, and nothing but.

Just because a show has elements that YOU might find objectionable does not merit condemning the entire show. Just because television may not be as “pure” as you wish does not justify condemning most television. There is absolutely nothing in all Catholic theology that forces us to do so. You are wrong.

Also, your personal disapprove of a particular show does not mean that others will share the same view. You will never get me or anyone else to agree with this. You are wrong here, too.

TheRealJuliane WROTE: “What Would Jesus Watch?” And CEIL-1 replied: “Nothing.”

• This is truly sad. People here seem to be trying to make absolute judgments in an area where almost everything is OPINION ONLY. If you don’t like a given show, then don’t watch it. Just be aware that other people will likely not share your views – nor are they required to. The Catholic Church does not support that we watch “nothing.” This is just plain wrong.
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ARTICLE - What Are Decent Films?

“The Vatican II decree* Inter Mirifica* states that “young people” especially need “entertainment that offer them decent amusement and cultural uplift.”"

“Also, the 1995 Vatican film list is notable for (mentioning films of) outstanding religious, moral or artistic value. Honorees range from deeply religious and moral films to crime comedy, horror and philosophically and morally complex art-house fare.”

“Though the list honors films that show restraint in the depiction of violence and sexuality, it doesn’t confine itself to films that totally avoid such content — any more than the Church’s patronage of other art forms has historically eschewed depictions of violence and nudity. Nudity, sexual content, obscene and profane language, and explicit violence can all be found in films on the Vatican’s list.”

“Yet all demonstrate a level of restraint that distinguishes them from morally unworthy productions. In acknowledging films that deal with potentially disturbing content, the list again reflects the thought of John Paul II, who wrote in his Letter to Artists, “Even when they explore the darkest depths of the soul or the most unsettling aspects of evil, artists give voice in a way to the universal desire for redemption” (10). (See also “What Are the Decent Films?”)

• Steven Greydanus, Catholic film critic.

decentfilms.com/articles/vaticanfilmlist.html​

• The VATICAN ITSELF finds movies and televised media to be valuable. Even those movies and media that might not be to everyone’s “liking.” Steven Greydanus himself says he has his own problems with the Vatican’s “list” of great movies. But he points out that this is no-one’s view but his. The Vatican does not require anyone to avoid or “cast down” any particular movie or show, and neither does the Church as a whole. Saying so will simply mislead people, and is wrong.

Interestingly, the** 1**995 Vatican film list includes such movies as “The Mission” and “Shindler’s List,” which have an ASTONISHING amount of violence, sexuality, and nudity in them. Some of it is quite explicit. The Church does not condemn such things in the media outright. The media, as stated before, was and remains a “grey area.” Unless it is something very obvious, like outright pornography, no absolute judgment is possible.

 

[ATeutonicKnight]

ATEUTONICKNIGHT WROTE: “Well, to quiet everybody up about this, I talked to a very good and holy Priest yesterday in the confessional. I told him that I had a three joke rule, and that if a show or comedian had told three dirty jokes, I turned it off. I asked him if this was good enough, and if I should turn it off before then, and he said that was a good rule. I’ll take this Priest’s reasonable advice, as I would recommend everyone else to.”

• Whatever you and this priest discussed, that is just your own personal opinion, and nothing but.

Just because a show has elements that YOU might find objectionable does not merit condemning the entire show. Just because television may not be as “pure” as you wish does not justify condemning most television. There is absolutely nothing in all Catholic theology that forces us to do so. You are wrong.

Also, your personal disapprove of a particular show does not mean that others will share the same view. You will never get me or anyone else to agree with this. You are wrong here, too.

TheRealJuliane WROTE: “What Would Jesus Watch?” And CEIL-1 replied: “Nothing.”

• This is truly sad. People here seem to be trying to make absolute judgments in an area where almost everything is OPINION ONLY. If you don’t like a given show, then don’t watch it. Just be aware that other people will likely not share your views – nor are they required to. The Catholic Church does not support that we watch “nothing.” This is just plain wrong.
  =====================================================================================

ARTICLE - What Are Decent Films?

“The Vatican II decree* Inter Mirifica* states that “young people” especially need “entertainment that offer them decent amusement and cultural uplift.”"

“Also, the 1995 Vatican film list is notable for (mentioning films of) outstanding religious, moral or artistic value. Honorees range from deeply religious and moral films to crime comedy, horror and philosophically and morally complex art-house fare.”

“Though the list honors films that show restraint in the depiction of violence and sexuality, it doesn’t confine itself to films that totally avoid such content — any more than the Church’s patronage of other art forms has historically eschewed depictions of violence and nudity. Nudity, sexual content, obscene and profane language, and explicit violence can all be found in films on the Vatican’s list.”

“Yet all demonstrate a level of restraint that distinguishes them from morally unworthy productions. In acknowledging films that deal with potentially disturbing content, the list again reflects the thought of John Paul II, who wrote in his Letter to Artists, “Even when they explore the darkest depths of the soul or the most unsettling aspects of evil, artists give voice in a way to the universal desire for redemption” (10). (See also “What Are the Decent Films?”)

• Steven Greydanus, Catholic film critic.

decentfilms.com/articles/vaticanfilmlist.html​

• The VATICAN ITSELF finds movies and televised media to be valuable. Even those movies and media that might not be to everyone’s “liking.” Steven Greydanus himself says he has his own problems with the Vatican’s “list” of great movies. But he points out that this is no-one’s view but his. The Vatican does not require anyone to avoid or “cast down” any particular movie or show, and neither does the Church as a whole. Saying so will simply mislead people, and is wrong.

Interestingly, the** 1**995 Vatican film list includes such movies as “The Mission” and “Shindler’s List,” which have an ASTONISHING amount of violence, sexuality, and nudity in them. Some of it is quite explicit. The Church does not condemn such things in the media outright. The media, as stated before, was and remains a “grey area.” Unless it is something very obvious, like outright pornography, no absolute judgment is possible.

I never protested any shows on this thread once. I’ve been one of the most lenient throughout this entire thread when it comes to television, so I’m not sure why you’re going to blows with me about this. In fact, I was one of the first (If not only) person that stated the Vatican endorses shows such as the ones you mentioned which contain nudity and cursing in them.

 

[Joseph_Kemp]

I am very sorry if I caused offense. It was most certainly not my intention. I used your quote merely for what was in it - not because I am trying to discredit your personal way of approaching the media.

If you feel that your approach of television/movies works for you, then there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. I was merely pointing out that other people may see things in a slightly different way - which the Church certainly permits. I was NOT trying to declare your view as “invalid” somehow. If I gave that impression, I regret it very much.

 

[ivebeenshown]

I like me some Adventure Time and Regular Show. But then sometimes I really think I could be doing something more productive – programming, **praying **(which I don’t do enough.) I don’t think it’s sinful to have some relax/kickback time, though, even watching TV, but TV could make it harder to free yourself of worldly things (fashion, brands, drama, profanity, etc.)