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pickguard1
Guest
:thumbsup:
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:thumbsup:
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MrsHall
Guest
When it comes to those TV show characters, I think of it in terms of, “Would we invite these people to our home and let them talk/act like this?” That is in essence what is being done. These silly arguments about all the bad stuff in the world that we might encounter don’t hold a lot of water because you don’t bring that bad stuff home with you. When I was a girl I remember being asked, “Would you be embarrassed if Jesus walked into the room while the TV was on?” But He IS in the room. He sees what you’re watching and knows what you’re thinking. Very often, that thought is enough to make me turn that idiot box off and do something constructive. Like our parish priest says, the time you waste watching TV is time you won’t get back and it doesn’t do a blessed thing for your soul or anyone else’s.
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tjm190
Guest
Buy them a tivo
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Tosk
Guest
I hate watching tv with a puritanical Catholic with tivo. Just about every show gets edited so much it is hard to figure out what is going on. The same thing with movies. You try to figure out what is going on while they they skip or fast forward through everything that might be bad.
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pickguard1
Guest
Agreed. The only sitcom I watch now is The Office because of it’s superior wittiness. It’s like a live version of the Dilbert cartoons.
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CeciliaS
Guest
Hello, all you dear people!!
My sister is a teacher of Theology and Religion (Catholic) and she sees the need, every once in a while, to read the most popular novels, watch the most popular tv shows, etc., not to absorb their questionable morality, obviously, but to understand and keep up with what the mainstream is thinking, in order to be able to relate to them. She can’t relate to her students if she has closed herself off, information-wise, from all the ideas that are poisoning their impressionable minds. We have to know what we are dealing with!
This might be a good lesson for us, too: yes, it is good, great, and helpful to us in an individual sense, for us to limit questionable tv shows, not expose ourselves to things that go against our Christian way of life… certainly young people would benefit from grossly limiting all the junk that is out there for them to see…but as ADULTS, we can be of greater effect, in converting others, if we at least understand “where they are coming from”, meaning that we need to be informed, instead of closing ourselves off from the mainstream world.
CeciliaS
My sister is a teacher of Theology and Religion (Catholic) and she sees the need, every once in a while, to read the most popular novels, watch the most popular tv shows, etc., not to absorb their questionable morality, obviously, but to understand and keep up with what the mainstream is thinking, in order to be able to relate to them. She can’t relate to her students if she has closed herself off, information-wise, from all the ideas that are poisoning their impressionable minds. We have to know what we are dealing with!
This might be a good lesson for us, too: yes, it is good, great, and helpful to us in an individual sense, for us to limit questionable tv shows, not expose ourselves to things that go against our Christian way of life… certainly young people would benefit from grossly limiting all the junk that is out there for them to see…but as ADULTS, we can be of greater effect, in converting others, if we at least understand “where they are coming from”, meaning that we need to be informed, instead of closing ourselves off from the mainstream world.
CeciliaS
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Serap
Guest
I agree, so long as we ourselves do not become desenstized and led to sin ourselves. Watching Megan Fox is not a good thing for a male to do if he’s weak and easily tempted.
Sorry guys to bring her up again. Yeah, she’s hot, but she’s also dangerous
You may want to ask why they even bother to watch the show.
If there is so much objectionable material that they lose the story line editing it out, then perhaps they should not be attempting to watch in the first place.
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pickguard1
Guest
agreed and agreedSorry guys to bring her up again. Yeah, she’s hot, but she’s also dangerous
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Tosk
Guest
too bad she is such a lousy actor. Was anyone actually able to sit through Transformers? I don’t believe it matters to any of the men who seem to be in love with her but she is a terrible actor.agreed and agreed
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mikebenson
Guest
Alright–this has gone far enough…I feel as though I need to lay down a line here.
Let me first say that I consider myself a good Christian.
I am a 20 year old college student. I live with my parents. We go to church every Saturday evening. In two years of college I have never missed a day of school. I maintain a 3.8 GPA.
I enjoy a few beers from time to time. I do not ever go out drinking. When I drink, I am under my parents roof. I do not get so sloshed that I lose my senses, but I may watch a ballgame with my father and feel a buzz.
I watch network television shows. Everybody Loves Raymond, Frasier, Seinfeld, and yes, even Two and a Half Men. I watch these shows for entertainment and humor. I do not watch these shows for role models or as a guide on how to live my life.
I have masturbated in the past and still do occasionally. I try to resist temptation but I do fall occasionally. While I do think that masturbation should be avoided as best you can, I do not consider myself a hell-bound sinner for gratifying myself once and a while. Again, I do not seek it out–but self-gratification is HUMAN NATURE which we all succumb to from time to time.
I sometimes go out with my buds and have a good time (perfectly sober, I might add). We sometimes flirt with girls and hang out with them. We even kiss a few girls from time to time. No, we are not out looking for wives, which is what some puritanicals here say is the only time to go out dating. We are out having fun and I don’t think that is wrong.
That is my story. As I said before, I consider myself a good Christian. I also try to be a good student, good son, good grandson, and good person. I am sure that some of you, maybe most of you, believe that I am a sinner and will probably go to hell if I were to die right now, but frankly I do not care. I am secure enough in my faith to believe that God knows that I have a good heart. I love Jesus and sincerely believe He loves me.
So maybe we should all kind of cool our jets with speaking of how immoral television shows are. Think about it–do you think Jesus is going to judge on what is in our hearts or what kind of shows we watch?
Let me first say that I consider myself a good Christian.
I am a 20 year old college student. I live with my parents. We go to church every Saturday evening. In two years of college I have never missed a day of school. I maintain a 3.8 GPA.
I enjoy a few beers from time to time. I do not ever go out drinking. When I drink, I am under my parents roof. I do not get so sloshed that I lose my senses, but I may watch a ballgame with my father and feel a buzz.
I watch network television shows. Everybody Loves Raymond, Frasier, Seinfeld, and yes, even Two and a Half Men. I watch these shows for entertainment and humor. I do not watch these shows for role models or as a guide on how to live my life.
I have masturbated in the past and still do occasionally. I try to resist temptation but I do fall occasionally. While I do think that masturbation should be avoided as best you can, I do not consider myself a hell-bound sinner for gratifying myself once and a while. Again, I do not seek it out–but self-gratification is HUMAN NATURE which we all succumb to from time to time.
I sometimes go out with my buds and have a good time (perfectly sober, I might add). We sometimes flirt with girls and hang out with them. We even kiss a few girls from time to time. No, we are not out looking for wives, which is what some puritanicals here say is the only time to go out dating. We are out having fun and I don’t think that is wrong.
That is my story. As I said before, I consider myself a good Christian. I also try to be a good student, good son, good grandson, and good person. I am sure that some of you, maybe most of you, believe that I am a sinner and will probably go to hell if I were to die right now, but frankly I do not care. I am secure enough in my faith to believe that God knows that I have a good heart. I love Jesus and sincerely believe He loves me.
So maybe we should all kind of cool our jets with speaking of how immoral television shows are. Think about it–do you think Jesus is going to judge on what is in our hearts or what kind of shows we watch?
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tjm190
Guest
You’re going to hell
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Prodigal_Son
Guest
Jesus doesn’t want us to be good. He wants us to be perfect.
If you don’t think this is true, READ THE BIBLE!
We’re not perfect, and that’s OK. But we shouldn’t think that the goal is to be “good”. Jesus had harsh words for good people – people who thought their actions were “acceptable” and “perfectly natural”. All sin in natural! (Again, read the Bible). But sin is bad for us.
Sin is the absence of perfection. It’s not about judging yourself, or stressing out about it. It’s just acknowledging that you’re not perfect, but you want to be perfect.
If you don’t think this is true, READ THE BIBLE!
We’re not perfect, and that’s OK. But we shouldn’t think that the goal is to be “good”. Jesus had harsh words for good people – people who thought their actions were “acceptable” and “perfectly natural”. All sin in natural! (Again, read the Bible). But sin is bad for us.
Sin is the absence of perfection. It’s not about judging yourself, or stressing out about it. It’s just acknowledging that you’re not perfect, but you want to be perfect.
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JamesLJ
Guest
Actually, this is inaccurate. Jesus does indeed call us to perfection (Be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect). The saints have written and taught about the path to perfection all throughout history. In order to “love Jesus, love one another and live a Christian life” one must pursue perfection, because until we’ve reached perfection, we can’t do any of those things “enough.” On paper, we are taught by the Church to pursue perfection. In practice (and the Church recognizes this, that’s why she gives us the sacrament of Reconciliation), we won’t reach perfection until we get to heaven. From where I sit, it seems that the questioner in this thread is asking the wrong question. It’s always fun to sit and speculate about whether this or that is sinful. It’s fun for us outsiders anyway. But for a person tortured by a scrupulous conscience, it’s not fun in the least. So to the original poster: Try not to ask yourself whether this or that is sinful. If it’s questionable, then ask, rather, Will this help me become perfect. My opinion on this matter is that it’s ok to enjoy TV shows as long as one doesn’t “feed in” to them, as we say in treatment. Don’t make yourself part of the show. Remember that sin is treating people like objects and objects like people, so to get sucked into the show by “feeding in” is giving an undue amount of honor to the show…uh-oh, I’m rambling…Let me cut this short. It’s ok to watch TV shows, even shows with slightly off-color humor and references, as long as you use the show to lead you to perfection. And think of perfection as living perfectly the fruits of the spirit, Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, Faithfulness, and Self-Control. Sit-coms can lead to all of these things if you let them. Good luck!
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pickguard1
Guest
Bad acting doesn’t make her ugly
But I bet there are plenty of other pretty but infinitely more talented actresses that they could have gotten for the role. It’s unfortunate that Transformers didn’t have someone better in the first installment so that Fox wouldn’t have had to be the automatic female costar in the second. 
Of course the cheesy one liners from ALL of the robots are far worse than any of Megan Fox’s acting.
Correct, God will judge our hearts.
But given that what we expose ourselves to has a direct effect on the content of our hearts, we should exercise restraint.
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mikebenson
Guest
vz, Maybe TV has a direct effect on your heart, but to me TV is just that–TV. I have the ability to separate TV from reality.
I’m really starting to believe we are taking life a little too seriously around here. Looking at Megan Fox is a sin? Come on. How weak are you people?? Do you guys live real lives or are you all sitting in front of your computers day in, day out, scared to death of everything in the real world? I don’t understand how anybody here can go out, get jobs, get married, and raise children if you are shielding yourselves from EVERY LITTLE THING IN LIFE. There are a lot, lot, lot more serious things going on than network sitcoms. There are drug dealers, rapists, and murderers walking free in the world. I would much rather have my kid watch a sitcom with a four-letter word or rough joke than out there taking drugs or stealing or killing.
I don’t know anybody’s ages here–but it seems that none of you are adults who live lives. If you were, you would know that TV shows really aren’t that bad. All they are is something to do. You people making TV shows out to be some terrible sin against God that will send you to hell is just plain stupid.
What I see around here is the biggest reason that so many people are leaving the Catholic church. Puritanical extremists fill people’s heads up with telling them everything is sinful and normal people start to fear for their soul. Some of you should really consider this–because the Church isn’t gaining anybody with this sin and hell rhetoric.
I’m really starting to believe we are taking life a little too seriously around here. Looking at Megan Fox is a sin? Come on. How weak are you people?? Do you guys live real lives or are you all sitting in front of your computers day in, day out, scared to death of everything in the real world? I don’t understand how anybody here can go out, get jobs, get married, and raise children if you are shielding yourselves from EVERY LITTLE THING IN LIFE. There are a lot, lot, lot more serious things going on than network sitcoms. There are drug dealers, rapists, and murderers walking free in the world. I would much rather have my kid watch a sitcom with a four-letter word or rough joke than out there taking drugs or stealing or killing.
I don’t know anybody’s ages here–but it seems that none of you are adults who live lives. If you were, you would know that TV shows really aren’t that bad. All they are is something to do. You people making TV shows out to be some terrible sin against God that will send you to hell is just plain stupid.
What I see around here is the biggest reason that so many people are leaving the Catholic church. Puritanical extremists fill people’s heads up with telling them everything is sinful and normal people start to fear for their soul. Some of you should really consider this–because the Church isn’t gaining anybody with this sin and hell rhetoric.
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Serap
Guest
You’re missing the point, but I understand your feeling on this too. Re-read some of the posts and maybe you’ll get what people are trying to say.
No one is judging or saying that anyone is bad (except one off the cuff remark which was inappropriate).
Just imagine what Jesus would have done if He were watching seme of these shows. What would He think?
We all know what’s right and what’s wrong for us as individuals striving to follow Christ.
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mikebenson
Guest
Fine. I’ll never watch another sitcom again in my life because it may contain a reference to sex and God wouldn’t approve of this.
On that thought, I’ll never go to the beach again because I may see a woman in a sinful bikini and God wouldn’t apporve of this.
Taking it a step further, I’ll forget about politics and never watch Fox News again because the anchors are pretty and may cause an impure thought and God wouldn’t approve of this.
On that note, I’ll never watch sports again because I may root against the other team and God wouldn’t approve of this.
Next, I’ll never leave my house again because going out into the world is going to lead me to a sinful, dark, amoral place–so I’ll just be scared to death of everything in the world.
The best thing to do is to go up in my room, sit in a corner, and wait for death.
That’s a good Catholic life, I guess?
On that thought, I’ll never go to the beach again because I may see a woman in a sinful bikini and God wouldn’t apporve of this.
Taking it a step further, I’ll forget about politics and never watch Fox News again because the anchors are pretty and may cause an impure thought and God wouldn’t approve of this.
On that note, I’ll never watch sports again because I may root against the other team and God wouldn’t approve of this.
Next, I’ll never leave my house again because going out into the world is going to lead me to a sinful, dark, amoral place–so I’ll just be scared to death of everything in the world.
The best thing to do is to go up in my room, sit in a corner, and wait for death.
That’s a good Catholic life, I guess?
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BeckyFlynn08
Guest
I see the biggest reason why so many people are leaving the Catholic church is apathy to subjects such as this. We slowly allow sinful things to enter our lives- even as innocent as a TV show might sound- and we begin to accept these behaviors as “normal” and even entertaining… moral relativism is a scary thing! We may not be going to hell for watching a TV show, but it certainly does not help our chances.
The question to ask is “Does watching this show help me get to heaven?” If the answer is “no” then you need to ask yourself your reason for wanting to watch it. Since when was it entertaining to watch sinful behavior? I think the mature Catholic would realize that it is more holy not to allow these things to enter their lives. The Catholic with a well formed faith would see that watching shows of a sinful nature as entertainment won’t help them grow in holiness (what we are called to do!)
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