Those That Find Sin in Everything

[RinoaHeartilly]

Who else has visited one of those extremist websites that find sin or evil in everything? I recently found the website womenofgrace.com, and it seems that the purpose of their posts seem to be to just point out the ‘new-age evil’ in pretty much everything. From T.V. shows (Pokémon, Disney shows) to kids’ games (Yu-Gi-Oh, Magic: The Gathering) to books (Harry Potter, Magic Tree House series). Half the time these posts don’t even have Bible/Catechism quotes to back up their points of view.
Thoughts on these websites?

 

[Cricket2]

I have not heard of this web site. However, I think I may have heard about some of their ideas via news reports or outside comments.

Sometimes I think such groups are getting carried away. Now, I have seen cartoons I would never let a child watch, and partly because of a little one we watch. When my sister and I try to find her things to watch we are shocked at some of the choices out there. I for example, do not approve of “Sponge Bob Square Pants.” So we don’t let her watch that when she is with us.

But these are personal choices to make and we have to screen things carefully. Still finding sin in almost every venue out there is another sort of extremism, and that usually is a bad sign.

 

[LoveGod102]

I have not heard of this web site. However, I think I may have heard about some of their ideas via news reports or outside comments.

Sometimes I think such groups are getting carried away. Now, I have seen cartoons I would never let a child watch, and partly because of a little one we watch. When my sister and I try to find her things to watch we are shocked at some of the choices out there. I for example, do not approve of “Sponge Bob Square Pants.” So we don’t let her watch that when she is with us.

But these are personal choices to make and we have to screen things carefully. Still finding sin in almost every venue out there is another sort of extremism, and that usually is a bad sign.

Can I ask why you disapprove of Spongebob? Just curious. I know my mom has issue with some of the rude things they say that my little sister has innocently repeated.

 

[LoveGod102]

I recently found the website womenofgrace.com, and it seems that the purpose of their posts seem to be to just point out the ‘new-age evil’ in pretty much everything. From T.V. shows (Pokémon, Disney shows) to kids’ games (Yu-Gi-Oh, Magic: The Gathering) to books (Harry Potter, Magic Tree House series). Half the time these posts don’t even have Bible/Catechism quotes to back up their points of view.

I’ve seen their talk show on EWTN, and it never seemed a problem to me, although they have perhaps gotten a little carried a little carried away on one or two issues. As for the new-age threat, it a very valid threat that people need to know about. However, from first glance at their website, that certainly doesn’t seem to be the only thing they focus on, or even the main thing. And secular media, including books, is full of immorality. That doesn’t mean that we should avoid them all, but that we should be wary of what we do read, watch and listen to so we aren’t lead into sin, and that we should be well catechized so we can recognize when something that is portrayed as good or neutral, is actually an evil. Them warning of the content of certain media items, IMHO, is a good thing. Although, from your post, it sounds if they are blurring the lines between fantasy magic (pretend magic) and occult magic (magic that be done in real life), which is not a good thing, if that’s the case.

 

[RC_Sojourner]

Well, I don’t know much about that website, but Women of Grace is a tv show that appears on EWTN, if you didn’t already know. Anyways, they are lay people so they can’t definitively say anything about what is sinful, they’re just giving their opinions (which may be well formed, or not).

I don’t personally think any of the things you mentioned is sinful. But then again, I don’t really partake in any of those things either. *.

But, Christians do have a duty to call sin what it is: sin. But, they can go about it in good and bad ways. Maybe these women and that website do that. If you think so, then stop going to it.

The fact that your post deals solely with forms of entertainment is interesting. I was going to say that the Church no longer makes definitive statements on movies, but then I found that it still does:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Conference_of_Catholic_Bishops%27_Office_for_Film_and_Broadcasting

Anyways, I doubt they comment on every TV show, and certainly not card games. I think every parent should use their own judgment. Most Examinations of Conscience make several references to reflect on what you read and what you watch or otherwise entertain yourselves with. Such as this one:
catholicnewsagency.com/resources/sacraments/reconciliation/examination-of-conscience/*

 

[RinoaHeartilly]

I have not heard of this web site. However, I think I may have heard about some of their ideas via news reports or outside comments.

Sometimes I think such groups are getting carried away. Now, I have seen cartoons I would never let a child watch, and partly because of a little one we watch. When my sister and I try to find her things to watch we are shocked at some of the choices out there. I for example, do not approve of “Sponge Bob Square Pants.” So we don’t let her watch that when she is with us.

But these are personal choices to make and we have to screen things carefully. Still finding sin in almost every venue out there is another sort of extremism, and that usually is a bad sign.

A good response. I agree that we should monitor what we expose ourselves to, and I also think we should do so without reading too deeply into things.
Also, why do you not approve of SpongeBob, if you don’t mind my asking? I know the newer episodes are pretty gross but the older ones are fairly clean if I remember correctly.

 

[RinoaHeartilly]

I’ve seen their talk show on EWTN, and it never seemed a problem to me, although they have perhaps gotten a little carried a little carried away on one or two issues. As for the new-age threat, it a very valid threat that people need to know about. However, from first glance at their website, that certainly doesn’t seem to be the only thing they focus on, or even the main thing. And secular media, including books, is full of immorality. That doesn’t mean that we should avoid them all, but that we should be wary of what we do read, watch and listen to so we aren’t lead into sin, and that we should be well catechized so we can recognize when something that is portrayed as good or neutral, is actually an evil. Them warning of the content of certain media items, IMHO, is a good thing. Although, from your post, it sounds if they are blurring the lines between fantasy magic (pretend magic) and occult magic (magic that be done in real life), which is not a good thing, if that’s the case.

I agree, new-age material is a threat, and we should defintely make sure we aren’t exposing ourselves to spiritually unhealthy media. It is also a good thing that they are warning people about pontentially dangerous media, but from the several blogs I’ve read, the writers are indeed blurring the lines between fantasy and occult magic. Saying that
Pokemon will lead children to perform occult rituals just seems to cause unnecessary
panic, in my opinion.

 

[RinoaHeartilly]

Well, I don’t know much about that website, but Women of Grace is a tv show that appears on EWTN, if you didn’t already know. Anyways, they are lay people so they can’t definitively say anything about what is sinful, they’re just giving their opinions (which may be well formed, or not).

I don’t personally think any of the things you mentioned is sinful. But then again, I don’t really partake in any of those things either. *.

But, Christians do have a duty to call sin what it is: sin. But, they can go about it in good and bad ways. Maybe these women and that website do that. If you think so, then stop going to it.

The fact that your post deals solely with forms of entertainment is interesting. I was going to say that the Church no longer makes definitive statements on movies, but then I found that it still does:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Conference_of_Catholic_Bishops%27_Office_for_Film_and_Broadcasting*

Anyways, I doubt they comment on every TV show, and certainly not card games. I think every parent should use their own judgment. Most Examinations of Conscience make several references to reflect on what you read and what you watch or otherwise entertain yourselves with. Such as this one:
catholicnewsagency.com/resources/sacraments/reconciliation/examination-of-conscience/

I didn’t know this was a show, actually.
And yes, Christians do have a duty to call out sin, and I commend these women for spending so much time giving advice to help others. I just think that some of their posts read too deeply into certain media and can cause unnecessary fear and paranoia among
families.
I also didn’t know that the Church still made statements on movies, very cool. And that Examination of Conscience is very helpful, just bookmarked it.

 

[Cricket2]

Can I ask why you disapprove of Spongebob? Just curious. I know my mom has issue with some of the rude things they say that my little sister has innocently repeated.

It is due to the rude comments and attitudes depicted. I think it encourages nasty attitudes and behavior that are not appropriate for a child to imitate.