Suggestive material?

[newbie9]

I was looking through an examination of conscience and I found the following: “Have I watched suggestive movies, TV programs, or Internet pornography or permitted my children to do so?”

Not the last two are extremely obvious and I have no questions about, but what exactly would be a “suggestive” movie or TV program? It seems like they’re lumping anything that could have some immorality in it (which unfortunately is a whole lot) with pornography which seems like a rather extreme jump.

 

[Anthony_V]

Intention in this case is as important as would be discretion oddly enough. You can’t find many good movies out there that don’t have any deliberate sexuality (hidden or un-hidden) throughout. If you watch a movie without the intention of watching it for THAT purpose, then It wouldn’t be so much an issue… given that you aren’t receptive to that kind of stuff and are fast-forward-trigger-happy. You can’t get around that on any pornographic or such movies however since that’s what they’re about. Might as well throw them out!

If you will, let me remind you of something:
Sexuality is not “bad and dirty or taboo”. That’s what society wants you to think so you can get that edge that you’re doing something you’re not supposed to! It is such a beautiful gift from God that we have to hold it in supreme value-- it’s worth more than any “edge” or “buzz”! When you have a movie that is rather suggestive in nature, the beauty of sexuality is diminished and less fruitful/spiritual; Sexuality is made to mimic the relationship between us and God, so without God, it’s pointless nonsense.

 

[JRKH]

I agree with Anthony that intent is a large issue here.

However, I think intent can relate to “supporting” suggestive programming as well as intent to derive pleasure…
By Choosing to purchase, or to watch on TV or in a theatre, such programming, those who make and promote it gain support. Thus we add our “vote” in support of the general decline of quality and morality in entertainment.

So I think that if we are honest about these things, we need to say that we should avoid such programming on general principle and not try to define it too narrowly.

Peace
James

 

[newbie9]

Intention in this case is as important as would be discretion oddly enough. You can’t find many good movies out there that don’t have any deliberate sexuality (hidden or un-hidden) throughout. If you watch a movie without the intention of watching it for THAT purpose, then It wouldn’t be so much an issue… given that you aren’t receptive to that kind of stuff and are fast-forward-trigger-happy. You can’t get around that on any pornographic or such movies however since that’s what they’re about. Might as well throw them out!

This makes perfect sense to me and is how I have been approaching things like this. I was just confused by the appearance in the examination of conscience.

 

[Anthony_V]

This makes perfect sense to me and is how I have been approaching things like this. I was just confused by the appearance in the examination of conscience.

So then, it would be sinful if you watch a movie with suggestive material for the purpose (or being one of the purposes) of watching the material.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

This makes perfect sense to me and is how I have been approaching things like this. I was just confused by the appearance in the examination of conscience.

Well I’ve read a few versions of the examination and I can tell you that not all are pretty well thought out and well-written. Personally, I consult the CCC instead. It’s more elaborate.

 

[valentino]

A parent has to have a right moral conscience.Those who don’t may watch programs that are sinful.How can one instruct his child if he doesn’t know what’s sinful?It kind of a sad state of affairs.

 

[JRKH]

A parent has to have a right moral conscience.Those who don’t may watch programs that are sinful.How can one instruct his child if he doesn’t know what’s sinful?It kind of a sad state of affairs.

If I may suggest - To know if something is sinful, simply ask yourself if you think God wants you to do, or watch, or buy, or talk, or think or whatever, the particular thing.
If the answer is that you believe God would prefer you did not, then it’s a pretty good bet that it is a sin.

Something that has helped me in this understanding is learning wht actual Greek and Hebrew terms and definitions for what we translate as Sin in English. They are:
Chata’ (Hebrew)
to sin, miss, miss the way, go wrong, incur guilt, forfeit, purify from uncleanness
Hamartano, (Greek)
To be without a share in; to miss the mark; to err, be mistaken; to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honor; to do or go wrong; to wander from the law of God, violate God’s law, sin

The portions underlined were to me the most interesting parts.
Jesus describes the path to salvation as narrow while the path to perdition is wide. He also tells us to “enter through the narrow gate”.
This, along with the definitions above, got me thinking of how heaven is our “goal” and our “target”. Think of an Archery target. When trying to hit the target that is where the focus must be and all else avoided - as error - as missing the mark (Hamartano or Sin). If I remain focused on God, on Love, on Heaven then I am focused on the target and everything else is irrelevant at best and too distracting at worst.

I find it hard to explain, but it allows me to take my focus off of not sinning and keep my focus on God.

I hope this helps others too.

Peace
James

 

[francisca]

In my opinion sexual jokes in movies or stand ups are risky for children. Example: some episodes of desperate housewife. These jokes gives negative effects on how children sees sexuality, marriage, human relation.

Violent sexual scenes are risky too. Horrors and terrors and extreme amount of blood are bad even for adults.

I do not go by “sin” in daily life, I go with whether something is “damaging” or “harmful”. My strategies are “age” and “the right time” and “the right contexts”.

Adults have more references to know which one is the joke and which one is the truth. Even so, some movies can pervert adults too. As adults we can be “aware” that the excitement in the movies are for the sake of the movie itself. But children need to be reminded constantly that in real life “things are different”.

 

[JRKH]

In my opinion sexual jokes in movies or stand ups are risky for children. Example: some episodes of desperate housewife. These jokes gives negative effects on how children sees sexuality, marriage, human relation.

Violent sexual scenes are risky too. Horrors and terrors and extreme amount of blood are bad even for adults.

I do not go by “sin” in daily life, I go with whether something is “damaging” or “harmful”. My strategies are “age” and “the right time” and “the right contexts”.

Adults have more references to know which one is the joke and which one is the truth. Even so, some movies can pervert adults too. As adults we can be “aware” that the excitement in the movies are for the sake of the movie itself. But children need to be reminded constantly that in real life “things are different”.

This is very good advice.
If you look at my previous post talking about the Greek and Hebrew terms commonly tranlated as “sin”, it’s easy to see how your strategy is much more properly focused toward the goal.

Peace
James

 

[francisca]

Thank’s

I like what you said below :

Think of an Archery target. When trying to hit the target that is where the focus must be and all else avoided - as error - as missing the mark (Hamartano or Sin). If I remain focused on God, on Love, on Heaven then I am focused on the target and everything else is irrelevant at best and too distracting at worst.

Solid

I find it hard to explain, but it allows me to take my focus off of not sinning and keep my focus on God.

Yes. The bible say that if we believe in Jesus Christ then we have the Holy Spirit who will guide us to the truth. But this Spirit do not think like the world. So sometimes it is hard to explain.