Is watching shows about real life murders sinful?

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And all I’m saying is that holiness is a matter of degree. Hermits and monks shoot for the gold, and try to live very holy lives by keeping their mind fixated on their Savior.

Their are so many things in this world whereby focusing our attention on them leads us away from holiness. Satan is subtle and will do all he can to lead us away from holiness.
Oh good grief!

You don’t have to serve God by being a monk who constantly does nothing but pray and think about God!

You can serve God by being a doctor who cures people, or a soldier fighting for the safety of his country, or a wife/mother who takes care of her children and husband full time.

Let’s not get into extremes here.
 
And all I’m saying is that holiness is a matter of degree. Hermits and monks shoot for the gold, and try to live very holy lives by keeping their mind fixated on their Savior.

Their are so many things in this world whereby focusing our attention on them leads us away from holiness. Satan is subtle and will do all he can to lead us away from holiness.
Perhaps I am not understanding your point, but it seems that you are saying we should all meditate about God 24/7 in order to be holy. There is a story that sort of relates to this, in my textbook from religion class.

“There was a woman who was filled with love for God. She was known to be religious and devout, and every morning she walked along the city streets on her way to church. As she walked, children called to her for a kind word, and hungry and homeless people pleaded for help. But the woman was so immersed in the love of God that she did not see or hear them.
One day she approached the church just as the service was scheduled to begin. It was early morning. Some were sleeping; others were just waking up. She opened the church door and walked in, expecting to see the long, narrow aisle and endless rows of pews. But instead, she was amazed that the inside of the church seemed to be a mirror image of the outside world she had just left behind. She stood at the top of the steps, looking down at the same needy children and homeless people she had passed moments before. Why, she wondered, were they here to greet her?
A child spoke, ‘Every day, God has been waiting for you—not just in the church but in all of us who need you.’
• The story says the woman was ‘filled with love for God.’ Do you think that was true?”

Now, that doesn’t exactly have to do with this topic, but I was responding to the part where you call it a sin whenever we take our mind off God. As in, we’re sinning whenever we’re not meditating.

I don’t believe it is a sin to watch those shows for entertainment. It’s one thing to be like, “oh this is interesting, I like it,” and other to be like, “murderers are so cool I wanna be one! Look at the suffering!”
 
Perhaps I am not understanding your point, but it seems that you are saying we should all meditate about God 24/7 in order to be holy. There is a story that sort of relates to this, in my textbook from religion class.

“There was a woman who was filled with love for God. She was known to be religious and devout, and every morning she walked along the city streets on her way to church. As she walked, children called to her for a kind word, and hungry and homeless people pleaded for help. But the woman was so immersed in the love of God that she did not see or hear them.
One day she approached the church just as the service was scheduled to begin. It was early morning. Some were sleeping; others were just waking up. She opened the church door and walked in, expecting to see the long, narrow aisle and endless rows of pews. But instead, she was amazed that the inside of the church seemed to be a mirror image of the outside world she had just left behind. She stood at the top of the steps, looking down at the same needy children and homeless people she had passed moments before. Why, she wondered, were they here to greet her?
A child spoke, ‘Every day, God has been waiting for you—not just in the church but in all of us who need you.’
• The story says the woman was ‘filled with love for God.’ Do you think that was true?”

Now, that doesn’t exactly have to do with this topic, but I was responding to the part where you call it a sin whenever we take our mind off God. As in, we’re sinning whenever we’re not meditating.

I don’t believe it is a sin to watch those shows for entertainment. It’s one thing to be like, “oh this is interesting, I like it,” and other to be like, “murderers are so cool I wanna be one! Look at the suffering!”
Good post.

I know for me I watch them for 2 reasons - one is purely entertainment - I like it. The second is to see how cool it is that the bad guys do not usually get away with the crimes. They are caught. The shows I like the most focus on the forensics - DNA, blood, science, etc. I am so interested in that stuff! To me, it reinforces how unique each of us is, in that a small hair follicle or tiny drop of blood will help tell the investigators who that person was. Blood properties, decomposition properties, etc. all reinforce how amazing the human body is.
 
Good post.

I know for me I watch them for 2 reasons - one is purely entertainment - I like it. The second is to see how cool it is that the bad guys do not usually get away with the crimes. They are caught. The shows I like the most focus on the forensics - DNA, blood, science, etc. I am so interested in that stuff! To me, it reinforces how unique each of us is, in that a small hair follicle or tiny drop of blood will help tell the investigators who that person was. Blood properties, decomposition properties, etc. all reinforce how amazing the human body is.
True that!

I like those shows a lot myself, and have watched Forensic Files since I was about 10 years old. I find those shows entertaining, educational, interesting, and intelligent. If my ultimate vocational goal in life wasn’t to be a wife and mother, I’d pursue a vocation in the forensic science/investigative field. It’s always deeply intrigued me.
 
I’m not sure what you mean by “keeping our minds on God all the time.”

Do you mean constantly thinking about God? I am sorry, but this is quite a bit much for the average person trying to get through their daily lives. How is anyone expected to focus on work, school, or taking a test, if they’re constantly day dreaming about God??? :confused:

Weird.
We ought to keep our minds on God all we can. Of course we have chores and jobs to do, and God is aware of that. But when it comes to television, it’s better to keep our minds on God.

“Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:5).
 
We ought to keep our minds on God all we can. Of course we have chores and jobs to do, and God is aware of that. But when it comes to television, it’s better to keep our minds on God.

“Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:5).
Who says someone that watches tv shows for fun and entertainment isn’t also thinking about God at the same time? I watch the crime shows myself and think about the gifts that God gave people that go into forensics or criminal justice and thank God. I pray for the victim’s family. I watch shows that make me laugh and I thank God for creating the sense of humor. I watch the Food Network and thank God that someone is talented as a chef and I can learn from watching the show to be a better cook. I watch sports and think its amazing that God gives those athletes their skills and talents, or I can discuss the football game (hockey game, baseball game) with my priest because he loves watching our city’s sports teams on tv.

Just because you may watch a tv show and not think of God AND be entertained at the same time, doesn’t mean we all do the same. Personally I do think of God all day, I just don’t put myself in a vacuum and pretend He can’t be found even on fun tv shows.
 
Who says someone that watches tv shows for fun and entertainment isn’t also thinking about God at the same time? I watch the crime shows myself and think about the gifts that God gave people that go into forensics or criminal justice and thank God. I pray for the victim’s family. I watch shows that make me laugh and I thank God for creating the sense of humor. I watch the Food Network and thank God that someone is talented as a chef and I can learn from watching the show to be a better cook. I watch sports and think its amazing that God gives those athletes their skills and talents, or I can discuss the football game (hockey game, baseball game) with my priest because he loves watching our city’s sports teams on tv.

Just because you may watch a tv show and not think of God AND be entertained at the same time, doesn’t mean we all do the same. Personally I do think of God all day, I just don’t put myself in a vacuum and pretend He can’t be found even on fun tv shows.
It’s all a matter of degree in devotion!
 
It’s all a matter of degree in devotion!
And who are you to say I’m not as devoted as you are just because I happen to watch tv shows that you don’t find appealing or distracts you and doesn’t distract me from my devotion to my faith? You don’t know my prayer life or what is in my heart and how I apply my devotion just because I watch tv shows I find entertaining. Devotion does not have to be divorced from entertainment and vice versa.
 
And who are you to say I’m not as devoted as you are just because I happen to watch tv shows that you don’t find appealing or distracts you and doesn’t distract me from my devotion to my faith? You don’t know my prayer life or what is in my heart and how I apply my devotion just because I watch tv shows I find entertaining. Devotion does not have to be divorced from entertainment and vice versa.
Sorry, but I’m not judging you! Your life with television is between you and God! I’m just stating what I see as holiness, and how things like television in the secular world can lead people away from holiness. Satan is subtle, and will lead people away from God one inch at a time! We need to always be on guard.
 
Sorry, but I’m not judging you! Your life with television is between you and God! I’m just stating what I see as holiness, and how things like television in the secular world can lead people away from holiness. Satan is subtle, and will lead people away from God one inch at a time! We need to always be on guard.
So really you’re whole arguement is against TV in general? The OP asked if watching crime shows like Dateline was sinful, not if watching TV is sinful. If you don’t have a TV and have never seen these shows, how could you give an honest opinion about the specific question the OP asked?

TV in the secular world can also lead people to God. Its just a tool, just as the computer or the phone or any other outlet. Any tool can be used by evil, ANY tool.
 
So really you’re whole arguement is against TV in general? The OP asked if watching crime shows like Dateline was sinful, not if watching TV is sinful. If you don’t have a TV and have never seen these shows, how could you give an honest opinion about the specific question the OP asked?

TV in the secular world can also lead people to God. Its just a tool, just as the computer or the phone or any other outlet. Any tool can be used by evil, ANY tool.
I personally watch EWTN through my computer, so I would never condemn these types of modern technologies in an absolute sense. Again, it’s between God and the user!
 
I personally watch EWTN through my computer, so I would never condemn these types of modern technologies in an absolute sense. Again, it’s between God and the user!
You didn’t answer my questions though, pertaining to the OP’s question and tv in general.
 
Honestly, I think a computer can be used for WAY more evil than a TV. 😃
 
Lol at this whole conversation.

When I watch Forensic Files, 48 Hours, Dateline, etc. I feel a satisfaction that the bad guys were caught. I also find it interesting how they go about solving the cases and finding the bad guys. They are stories of good triumphing over evil. Where is Satan involved in any of this?
 
Lol at this whole conversation.

When I watch Forensic Files, 48 Hours, Dateline, etc. I feel a satisfaction that the bad guys were caught. I also find it interesting how they go about solving the cases and finding the bad guys. They are stories of good triumphing over evil. Where is Satan involved in any of this?
He is not.

I agree - I like seeing the bad guys get caught!
 
As a cop investigaolent crime, that is not a sin. So watching shows about violent crime, barring some unforseen fact, is not a sin.
 
Lol at this whole conversation.

When I watch Forensic Files, 48 Hours, Dateline, etc. I feel a satisfaction that the bad guys were caught. I also find it interesting how they go about solving the cases and finding the bad guys. They are stories of good triumphing over evil. Where is Satan involved in any of this?
Satan is always on the prowl and leads us away from our devotion to God one inch at a time. Television is but one way in which he accomplishes this. It is best to avoid unnecessary chatter which is characteristic of so much of the programming on television.

“Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:5).
 
Satan is always on the prowl and leads us away from our devotion to God one inch at a time. Television is but one way in which he accomplishes this. It is best to avoid unnecessary chatter which is characteristic of so much of the programming on television.

“Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:5).
Watching shows for entertainment is not a sin.

Unnecessary chatter, as you call it, is comforting to many. I require a tv on to fall asleep at night. If I wake up, it must go back on again.

Children provide voluminous amounts of unnecessary chatter. Do you advocate shushing them as well?

Those who choose to watch tv are not necessarily “less holy” than you who chooses not to watch!
 
It seems as though everybody but Mr. Sock is in agreement that there is no sin in watching true crime shows.

I think keeping a thread alive even after the issue has been resolved is known as “beating a dead horse.”
 
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