It is sinful to enjoy certain TV shows?

[AmbroseSJ]

My thoughts are that it would not be sinful per se. IOW, it is doubtful that the network shows would actually cause you to have impure thoughts. But what is worse, to me anyway, is the tone of immorality that pervades the shows. (I’m thinking 2 1/2 men esp.) It glorifies sinfulness and immorality in as many ways as possible. I believe this sort of show has a tendency to actually numb or deaden the Catholic conscience. If that is true, then shows that do such things are evil indeed. One particularly worries about their effects on young adolescents and teens.

 

[Lorrie]

Avoiding every single POSSIBLE occasion of sin really doesn’t work in life. It is our job to have a strong enough in our faith and have a clear enough sense of right and wrong to be able to filter out the imperfections of the everyday world.

 

[Jack17]

My thoughts are that it would not be sinful per se. IOW, it is doubtful that the network shows would actually cause you to have impure thoughts. But what is worse, to me anyway, is the tone of immorality that pervades the shows. (I’m thinking 2 1/2 men esp.) It glorifies sinfulness and immorality in as many ways as possible. I believe this sort of show has a tendency to actually numb or deaden the Catholic conscience. If that is true, then shows that do such things are evil indeed. One particularly worries about their effects on young adolescents and teens.

I’m going to watch that show when it’s on, I have never even notice or watch that show until it was mention repeatedly.

 

[vz71]

I disagree, you’re insulting a whole field of people based on this logic; actors, directors, television audience, and more… which is silly.

There’s more danger and temptations in the real world than on television.

You are confusing what we can control with what we cannot control.

The only channels void of any “morality issue” is Catholic shows, weather station, and some cartoons.

Interesting coincidence that the channels on my own TV are limited to that and a few rare exceptions…

 

[mkingdomlvr]

Okay, I’ve been quietly watching this thread unfold and trying to keep my mouth shut, but now I really feel I have to speak up. Some of the attitudes in this thread convey the exact reason that drew me away from the church. Some of you are speaking so puritanically that you are losing your Christlike-ness. To say that somebody is a hell-bound sinner for watching a prime-time television show is not only ludicrous, but drop-dead wrong. There is absolutely no sin in watching or being entertained by a TV program. The WORST that it might be is an occasion of sin–only if you are weak enough to let the show corrupt your morals. Personally I have watched all the shows that Asker has mentioned, and I do not feel guilty because I have a clear sense of right and wrong, and it is not going to be polluted by a reference to pre-marital sex or an innocuous four-letter word (dmn, hll, *****, and b*stard are basically the worst you’ll hear in a sitcom). If your morality is in such a weak state that these things will cause you to sin then you really have a big problem, because the real world that we all have to live in contains MUCH more unpleasantness. If we fall into the trap of avoiding every little thing that may cause an impure thought, then we are just out to give ourselves headaches. We could take it a step further and say women shouldn’t watch sports because they may find the athletes to be handsome and it may lead to an impure thought. Men shouldn’t have followed the 2008 election because Sarah Palin was an attractive woman and it may have led to an impure thought. Avoiding every single POSSIBLE occasion of sin really doesn’t work in life. It is our job to have a strong enough in our faith and have a clear enough sense of right and wrong to be able to filter out the imperfections of the everyday world.

P.S.-- Portrait, I really don’t know where you got the idea that we are called by God to hate the world and everything in it…I highly doubt that you interpreted that Bible verse correctly. This viewpoint is really a terrible way to live your life, especially if you are a Christian. I will pray that you lighten up and find a kinder way to serve God and live life. It may be wise for you to seek professional help to clear up your mentality.

I agree, sometimes when I read comments here I wonder how folks get through the day.

 

[vz71]

Personally I have watched all the shows that Asker has mentioned, and I do not feel guilty because I have a clear sense of right and wrong, and it is not going to be polluted by a reference to pre-marital sex or an innocuous four-letter word (dmn, hll, *****, and b*stard are basically the worst you’ll hear in a sitcom).

When did these words become innocuous?

Seems to me that only a few years ago these words were not heard on regular broadcast TV. Then someone started slipping them in, and gradually the public became used to it.
Now the language is expected.

Isn’t this another example of slow erosion of morality?

 

[Maria65]

I make it easy on myself. I stopped watching TV years ago.

And I find I don’t miss it at all.

 

[mkingdomlvr]

When did these words become innocuous?

Seems to me that only a few years ago these words were not heard on regular broadcast TV. Then someone started slipping them in, and gradually the public became used to it.
Now the language is expected.

Isn’t this another example of slow erosion of morality?

But don’t you still know they are wrong? Just because I hear a word, or see behavior on TV doesn’t mean that I’m going to run right out and engage in it myself.

All I’ve ever seen of this 2.5 Men show is the commercials, and they make the show look so inane I can’t imagine why anyone watches it. My problem with TV is less about the morality and more about how most of the shows are embarrassingly lacking in intelligence.

 

[mikebenson]

Haha, thanks for the vote of support, Lorrie!

But seriously guys, I hope we all realize that the real world contains unpleasant things. The reason we have morality in the first place is so we are tough enough to not let these unpleasant things corrupt us. I can get on the subway right now and hear language FAR worse than anything I see on network television. Does this mean that I will become crude and throw this language around frivolously just because I hear it? No. As for pre-marital sex, it HAPPENS, that’s all there is to it. We are called to try to avoid it and resist the temptation–but there is a lot more failure than success in this particular arena. Whether you see it on TV or you see it in real life, it is up to you to resist your own temptation. I don’t know, but it seems to me if your spiritual skin is thin enough to be bothered by an instance of coarse language or pre-marital sex, then you have a lot of toughening up to do before you venture into the real world.

P.S.-- I am NOT trying to be a troll…but I feel as though I can express my views as a practicing Catholic on this forum. If you have read thru my posts, you probably have figured out that while I am a strict Christian and a very moral man, I also carry libertarian views when it comes to things like this. To me, being a Christian requires you to try to avoid sin, but it also requires a thick skin and the toughness to not be knocked down by every little thing in the world that MIGHT lead to sin.

 

[twhite]

It seems to me a little common sense and a well-formed conscience will go a long way in determining how to answer the original question.

What would Jesus do? It really is quite simple. We’re called to be Christ-like in all areas of our lives. We cannot presume to know what Jesus would do in all circumstances. With a well-formed conscience, when you’re faced with a choice of what TV show or movie to watch, relax, ask for guidance from the Holy Spirit and throw in some good ole common sense. You’ll get it figured out.

 

[Prodigal_Son]

It seems to me a little common sense and a well-formed conscience will go a long way in determining how to answer the original question.

What would Jesus do? It really is quite simple. We’re called to be Christ-like in all areas of our lives. We cannot presume to know what Jesus would do in all circumstances. With a well-formed conscience, when you’re faced with a choice of what TV show or movie to watch, relax, ask for guidance from the Holy Spirit and throw in some good ole common sense. You’ll get it figured out.

Well said!

 

[Portrait]

Okay, I’ve been quietly watching this thread unfold and trying to keep my mouth shut, but now I really feel I have to speak up. Some of the attitudes in this thread convey the exact reason that drew me away from the church. Some of you are speaking so puritanically that you are losing your Christlike-ness. To say that somebody is a hell-bound sinner for watching a prime-time television show is not only ludicrous, but drop-dead wrong. There is absolutely no sin in watching or being entertained by a TV program. The WORST that it might be is an occasion of sin–only if you are weak enough to let the show corrupt your morals. Personally I have watched all the shows that Asker has mentioned, and I do not feel guilty because I have a clear sense of right and wrong, and it is not going to be polluted by a reference to pre-marital sex or an innocuous four-letter word (dmn, hll, *****, and b*stard are basically the worst you’ll hear in a sitcom). If your morality is in such a weak state that these things will cause you to sin then you really have a big problem, because the real world that we all have to live in contains MUCH more unpleasantness. If we fall into the trap of avoiding every little thing that may cause an impure thought, then we are just out to give ourselves headaches. We could take it a step further and say women shouldn’t watch sports because they may find the athletes to be handsome and it may lead to an impure thought. Men shouldn’t have followed the 2008 election because Sarah Palin was an attractive woman and it may have led to an impure thought. Avoiding every single POSSIBLE occasion of sin really doesn’t work in life. It is our job to have a strong enough in our faith and have a clear enough sense of right and wrong to be able to filter out the imperfections of the everyday world.

P.S.-- Portrait, I really don’t know where you got the idea that we are called by God to hate the world and everything in it…I highly doubt that you interpreted that Bible verse correctly. This viewpoint is really a terrible way to live your life, especially if you are a Christian. I will pray that you lighten up and find a kinder way to serve God and live life. It may be wise for you to seek professional help to clear up your mentality.

Dear Mikebenson,

I think its important that we understand what St. John meant when he said “love not the world”. He is clearly not saying “…that we are called by God to hate the world and everything in it” and neither did I myself use such words in my thread.

By the “world” St. John means the world viewed as an evil system, organized under the dominion of Satan and not God; in the words of Bishop B.F. Westcott ‘the order of finite being regarded a apart from God’. It is this that is not to be loved. Viewed as people, of course, the world is to be loved; it is the godlessness of the world that is to be rejected and avoided. Now can any Christian really quarrel with this?

The Christian is to be neither conformed to, nor contaminated by the world; he or she is to be ‘unworldly’ without becoming ‘otherworldly’ - living in it without being of it so to speak.

Now part of being unworldly is to keep oneself pure and “unstained from the world” (James 1:27). Clearly there must be a perpetual striving after holiness in the midst of all the distracting and demoralizing influences of the world around us (and there are enough of them nowadays);we must keep ourselves pure. Surely this will entail being selective as to which TV Shows/films we watch. Unlike an underground train, which we might have to travel to work on each day, we do have a choice regarding which programmes we watch or which films we see; if these involve us being stained because of impure or impious content don’t we have an obligation to are all-holy God to avoid them? If this is an erroneous interpretation of Scripture then what is the correct one? It is the “pure in heart” who shall see God. Have any of us really pondered just what that means?

Yours affectionately

Portrait

 

[Booter]

I am a big seinfeld fan, have seen all the episodes numerous times, but now i tend to just stay away from the episodes that are over the top (the contest comes to mind). It doesn’t affect my morals though, although i gave it up last lent cause i watch the re-runs almost daily. The show is funny b/c jerry, kramer, george, and elaine are almost unrealistically despicable people, as pointed out in the last episode by the judge. The best episodes in seinfeld for me, are the one’s that point out real life situations (waitin for a table at a restaurant, losing your car in a parking lot, waitin for the cable guy). I can’t tell you how many moments i’ve had in my short life that remind me of seinfeld. So i just tend to flip the clicker when episodes are on that don’t appeal to me, like eliane looking for birth control or somethin like that, but in any case no boday looks at the characters as role models.

 

[vz71]

But seriously guys, I hope we all realize that the real world contains unpleasant things. The reason we have morality in the first place is so we are tough enough to not let these unpleasant things corrupt us.

I would agree, but that does not necessarily green light immoral television shows.
All this would indicate is that we should resist the immorality that we are exposed to every day.

The question remains of what we are to allow ourselves to be exposed to.
And perhaps our reach extends further then just ourselves. In watching a particular immoral show, we contribute to the popularity and the prevelance of the show.

I can get on the subway right now and hear language FAR worse than anything I see on network television. Does this mean that I will become crude and throw this language around frivolously just because I hear it? No.

But the difference is what you allow yourself to be exposed to and what you have no control over.
I survived a forest fire. I was exposed to an extreme amount of danger.
Perhaps I should actively seek out extreme danger now because I was exposed to far worse…
This logic makes little sense.

As for pre-marital sex, it HAPPENS, that’s all there is to it. We are called to try to avoid it and resist the temptation–but there is a lot more failure than success in this particular arena. Whether you see it on TV or you see it in real life, it is up to you to resist your own temptation. I don’t know, but it seems to me if your spiritual skin is thin enough to be bothered by an instance of coarse language or pre-marital sex, then you have a lot of toughening up to do before you venture into the real world.

Wrong, if you are not bothered by coarse language and pre-marital sex, then you have become desensitized to the immorality that is there.

And that is the real danger in many shows we see today. They make light of morality and do it in a subtle enough fashion that many do not even realize that they are no longer bothered by the immorality that is portrayed.

If a sin does not bother you, then you are more likely to commit it, and even less likely to ever confess it.

To me, being a Christian requires you to try to avoid sin, but it also requires a thick skin and the toughness to not be knocked down by every little thing in the world that MIGHT lead to sin.

Being knocked down and being bothered by are two different things.

 

[LilyM]

I would agree, but that does not necessarily green light immoral television shows.
All this would indicate is that we should resist the immorality that we are exposed to every day.

The question remains of what we are to allow ourselves to be exposed to.
And perhaps our reach extends further then just ourselves. In watching a particular immoral show, we contribute to the popularity and the prevelance of the show.

But the difference is what you allow yourself to be exposed to and what you have no control over.
I survived a forest fire. I was exposed to an extreme amount of danger.
Perhaps I should actively seek out extreme danger now because I was exposed to far worse…
This logic makes little sense.

Wrong, if you are not bothered by coarse language and pre-marital sex, then you have become desensitized to the immorality that is there.

And that is the real danger in many shows we see today. They make light of morality and do it in a subtle enough fashion that many do not even realize that they are no longer bothered by the immorality that is portrayed.

If a sin does not bother you, then you are more likely to commit it, and even less likely to ever confess it.

Being knocked down and being bothered by are two different things.

Amen to all of the above! Benson, do you think St Paul had a ‘thin skin’ or was somehow ignorant of the real world? If not, then why will you not at least listen to HIM when he tells you to flee temptation and to think only on what is good, true, noble, beautiful and so on.

By the way - I’m nowhere near puritanical, I watch my fair share of sitcoms along with everyone else.

I’m a massive Seinfeld fan for starters. Yes those couple of episodes went too far, and I have better things to devote my limited time and attention to than gratuitous sexual references, so I just turn off the tv when there’s crud on it. I didn’t condemn the whole series just based on those couple of episodes.

There is a world of difference between a generally great show that occasionally crosses the line and one that just never had any line to begin with.

 

[Aiculik]

I once asked my priest similar question about books
here’s what he told me - it helped me a lot, not only with books, but also with TV shows, music etc., so maybe it might help to you as well:

“Wherever your heart warns you that “this book is not OK”, stop reading it - and don’t try to find excuses. But don’t throw all books containing sex scenes into one bag - don’t forget Bible also contains it! What matters is the autor’s approach, if he’s putting sex in every second page because he’s not able to make story interesting otherwise, or if it has a purpose. And what matters even more is your approach, why you read it, how you read it and what message you take from it. If you read it just because of sex scenes, and then you keep thinking about it, imagine it and so on, if all jokes and quotes you remember are those about sex, then something’s wrong. And it’s not *not *the book, I’m afraid.”

 

[Serap]

I just thought I’d jump in here. I’ve read through this thread and many of you are completely missing the point. First of all, Lily is not a puritan. She’s a very intelligent and well versed woman lawyer who has many very wise posts on CAF. I have learned a great deal from her and I’ve never found her to be holier-than-thou.

When we watch shows like Nip Tuck, 2.5 Men, Family Guy, etc…we are in fact desenstizing ourselves to sin even if it’s on a subconscious level. I recently watched the Bachelorette a few times and realized just how immoral that show is too, and it’s all fantasy…it’s not real…there are many single women who watch this and subconsciously begin to think that this show is a reality and hence…the desensitization and tendency to have sinful thoughts that can eventually lead to sinful actions.

Megan Fox…yes she’s beautiful…but what do men think when they look at her for a long period of time…and be honest guys…you think SEX. You’re human with human desires and it’s impossible to watch a movie with her in it without allowing Satan to penetrate your mind and think about having sex with her. It desensitizes you whether you like it or not and leads you to sin. You’re human. That’s why it’s better to do the responsible thing and avoid the movie if you can. You may fall to sin thinking about her when you’re alone and you know where that can lead if you allow Satan to tempt you.

I’m not a prude by any means…I admitted to watching the Bachelorette a couple of times last month ] I saw how stupid it was, but when I was single a decade ago, I would have longed for all that fantasy. It’s not porn, but it still would get my mind wondering to sinful places and possibly sinful actions if I had a moment of weakness.

That’s why we need to be aware of how T.V. is affecting our deeper conscience. If we are honest with ourselves, we will realize it on our own and not justify it on CAF. We all know it your hearts.

To say that we are sinners is a copout. We need to thrive to set an example for ourselves and the people we love around us. We should say to ourselves, “I want to make Jesus proud of me. I don’t want to hurt myself or those around me.”

 

[napoli426]

I am amazed that we can spend an hour watching a television program or even longer, but, then these same people don’t even have 5 minutes to offer our Lord in prayer. I would suggest to anyone to watch no more television then they spend in prayer. In other words, if you only have 5 minutes a day to pray…then 5 minutes of television.

We should not be addicted to all of the garbage on television. The only exception would be EWTN.

In Christ,

 

[Serap]

I am amazed that we can spend an hour watching a television program or even longer, but, then these same people don’t even have 5 minutes to offer our Lord in prayer. I would suggest to anyone to watch no more television then they spend in prayer. In other words, if you only have 5 minutes a day to pray…then 5 minutes of television.

We should not be addicted to all of the garbage on television. The only exception would be EWTN.

In Christ,

I have been watching “Little House on the Prairie” on Canada’s Christian channel every night at 7 p.m. My 2 year old also loves it. That show keeps making me cry it’s so sweet!!! Pregnancy harmones don’t help either

 

[Tosk]

Everybody seems to be focusing on shows with mild sexual innuendo when what really bothers me is all the senseless violence and cruelty that a lot of shows have. Also a lot of people seem to think the only allowable tv show channel is EWTN. I know several Catholics who will not even watch the weather or a cooking show because of objectionable commercials they might see but that but it seems too puritanical to me. There are a lot of good shows on tv that I love to watch like Dirty Jobs, Man vs. Wild, House, The Simpsons, and College Sports. If you are really trying to avoid bad stuff on tv don’t watch commercials and block any channels that have nothing but objectionable shows.