Is watching t.v. a sin?

[prettylarge]

How can you guys live without mtv’s jersey shore?

huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/10/jersey-shore-girl-punched_n_388203.html

 

[kage_ar]

Out of this group, how many of you have gone without tv for any volunteered extended period of time? As in simply shutting it off? How long was it? What did you do during it?

We have not had TV since May 1 of this year.

We read, we do watch movies, we talk, we do crafts, we simply live our lives.

 

[prodigalson12]

I feel verry sorry for you. So many good shows that you are missing. More importantly, however, is that you’re yet another person who thinks they are in the “righteous minority” and have a sort-of “leg up” on everyone else.

With your mentality I’d say you and everyone else is sinning just walking out your front door every morning.

The thing is, how can you make that assumption if you have never simply turned it off for a while? I turned mine off because I was tired of being bombared with commercials, they tend to linger in your mind even when you aren’t watching it, it’s a form of brainwashing. They say garbage in, garbage out, and that was my initial reasoning for it. Afterwards, when I would catch brief moments of it, the longer I was away from it, the clearer it was how vile it truly is. You don’t pick up on it if you are constantly watching it, and sadly, your discernment takes a back seat to it all.

The thing is, I run into more and more people from all walks of life that have opted to not have one, it’s a trend of sorts, and is a good one. I guess people are starting to have their fill of the tripe, and having to pay for it on top of it means eliminating that expense helps a bit with their budgets.

I wouldn’t jump the gun on thinking we are trying to follow some legalistic code about it, we simply are a bit more aware of what it’s about, especially these days, that’s all. It’s the same in my world in regards to the music I play, I used to be pretty heavily into metal, now, it’s a rare thing I’ll listen to it, and it’s again, back to the garbage in, garbage out, and it’s not so much the tone of the music, it’s the lyrics.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

Out of this group, how many of you have gone without tv for any volunteered extended period of time? As in simply shutting it off? How long was it? What did you do during it?

I have. I just watched stuff online. My computer has become my new TV and the internet, my new cable service provider. :whacky:

What’s even better is that there are NO COMMERCIALS!!! XD

Then again, there are some things I can only find on T.V. (Old movies, licensed shows that have been virtually pulled off the web, my favorite episodes of The Fairly-Odd Parents… wait did I just type out that last part? >_>;; )

 

[aspawloski4th]

This may surprise many here. While I do not wattch much tv, no one had better have any ideas of taking from me. I live in Grand Rapids Michigan. While that doesn’t compare to places like Oklahoma or Kansas for severe weather and tornados, we do get our fair share of severe weather here, and have experienced losses as a result of severe weather before. When tere are watches or warnings or a good chance of severe weather, I want my tv on and on either the local NBC or ABC affliates, so I can keep abrest of the weather. Growing up, because my family lived on one of the highest points in Grand Rapids in a house with very large picture windows, my parents wanted absolutely no surprises severe weatherwise. If I turned it to a channel not covering severe weather when there were watches or warning near by I got spanked, and the channel turned to the NBC channel by mom. I have problem saying thats the way I think everybody should be. In this day and age if you get caught with your pants down with severe weather( unless you are sleeping) it’s your fault, no excuses.

 

[puzzleannie]

It boils down to wasting our God-given time. Generally, we have an obligation to put our time to good use. There are some good programs on tv, and it is best to focus on those when we have the urge to relax and watch something.

is it any more or less “moral” to “waste” time in playing a sport or game, taking a walk, sitting by the lake staring at nothing, reading a light book or magazine, working a crossword puzzle, or surfing the net (CAF is always moral of course)?

 

[sidbrown]

is it any more or less “moral” to “waste” time in playing a sport or game, taking a walk, sitting by the lake staring at nothing, reading a light book or magazine, working a crossword puzzle, or surfing the net (CAF is always moral of course)?

It depends on the circumstance. Taking a walk is good exercise and promotes health and well being. Whereas I don;t see the benefit of being a couch potato and watching junk tv. However, there are good programs on TV, and they can be uplifting and enlightening.

 

[edwest2]

Watching TV can never be compared to an activity like walking.

When TV began to really take off in the 1950s and 1960s, there were strict standards. Certain words could not be said (George Carlin’s Those Words You Can’t Say On Television). Certain situations could not be shown. People were dressed modestly and behaved respectfully, even formally. TV was described as “a guest in your home.” For Christians, it reflected our beliefs. A man would appear on TV to tell viewers he was from the Standards and Practices Department. He assured everyone that they watched all of the programs, and commercials, to make certain they were “suitable for the entire family.”

1970s A hint of dysfunctionality, and sexual topics.

1980s The very evil J.R. Ewing, and his wife, Sue Ellen, drinking liquor straight out of the bottle while driving.

1990s Profanity and partial nudity on NYPD Blue.

They were “pushing the envelope” we were told. What envelope? “Pushing the envelope of what people find acceptable.” That’s what.

It took 40 years but the goal was to desensitize people. To make TV watching a habit - the first thing you did after coming home.

In the past, boy met girl, fell in love, and got married. Today, two attractive, wealthy people sit across from each other and talk about their ‘hook up’ from last night. It was “just sex.” Like going to the bathroom. Very, very sad that men and women are portrayed as simply using each other and it meant nothing.

A local major newspaper has a “singles” section called “Wild Hearts.” The heart has nothing whatsoever to do with it. This is obvious after reading the descriptions of what people are looking for… And, oh yeah, I want to turn on the radio and hear two guys talking, in lurid detail, about their last encounter with the opposite sex.

Don’t spend hours meditating in front of the TV. Most of it is bad. I suggest investing some time in whatever talent or ministry God has given you.

Peace,
Ed

 

[sidbrown]

Watching TV can never be compared to an activity like walking.

When TV began to really take off in the 1950s and 1960s, there were strict standards. Certain words could not be said (George Carlin’s Those Words You Can’t Say On Television). Certain situations could not be shown. People were dressed modestly and behaved respectfully, even formally. TV was described as “a guest in your home.” For Christians, it reflected our beliefs. A man would appear on TV to tell viewers he was from the Standards and Practices Department. He assured everyone that they watched all of the programs, and commercials, to make certain they were “suitable for the entire family.”

1970s A hint of dysfunctionality, and sexual topics.

1980s The very evil J.R. Ewing, and his wife, Sue Ellen, drinking liquor straight out of the bottle while driving.

1990s Profanity and partial nudity on NYPD Blue.

They were “pushing the envelope” we were told. What envelope? “Pushing the envelope of what people find acceptable.” That’s what.

It took 40 years but the goal was to desensitize people. To make TV watching a habit - the first thing you did after coming home.

In the past, boy met girl, fell in love, and got married. Today, two attractive, wealthy people sit across from each other and talk about their ‘hook up’ from last night. It was “just sex.” Like going to the bathroom. Very, very sad that men and women are portrayed as simply using each other and it meant nothing.

A local major newspaper has a “singles” section called “Wild Hearts.” The heart has nothing whatsoever to do with it. This is obvious after reading the descriptions of what people are looking for… And, oh yeah, I want to turn on the radio and hear two guys talking, in lurid detail, about their last encounter with the opposite sex.

Don’t spend hours meditating in front of the TV. Most of it is bad. I suggest investing some time in whatever talent or ministry God has given you.

Peace,
Ed

Yes, you are right. However, there are some good programs on EWTN, Nova, Discovery, and the History Channel, and others.