Movie convictions

[Blessed_Mommy]

Just wondering if anyone else has convictions over what type of movie they allow themselves to watch.

I used to watch anything, but after becoming a Christian six years ago, I have begun to feel more and more convicted over what I watch. Movies with nudity, violence, cursing, evil themes, sorcery-type themes, and blasphemous themes really bother me. Unfortunately, this doesn't leave much for my viewing pleasure! LOL. Oh well!

Anyone else?

 

[Kellen]

I just don't want to watch films about graphic murder nuts like teen killer films.I watched one and won't watch them again.

 

[SuzQ]

I find myself thinking that a movie I loved as a kid would be great for MY kids to see. Then I realize how BAD they are, now that I share your Christian beliefs, too. A recent example is "The Breakfast Club"! I loved that movie, one of my all-time faves. I thought about letting my 14-year-old son watch it when they started running it here & there. Then I realized how bad the language was, talking about losing virginity, the pot-smoking, and I smacked myself for even considering it!

As a believer, we do have to be careful what we allow our eyes to see. Images can be "tatooed" on the brain for the rest of your life, unfortunately.

On a somewhat related note - I remember reading a year or so ago about how a pre-election Will Smith joked around that "I-Robot" was about the "Religious Right Wing" deceiving & controlling the world. Same thing with a liberal George Lucas & Revenge of the Sith (The "Republic" is evil?? LOL!). Offensive to conservatives & we should boycott those movies, right? Well, I saw both those movies with my teenager, keeping those comments in mind. We loved the movies, as we allowed ourselves to be entertained by our perceiving just the OPPOSITE (about where the dangers of a non-believing world can lead us to, LOL! ).

 

[Blessed_Mommy]

I bought a TV Guardian so that I could watch movies without worrying too much about the language, and I did see IRobot, or at least part of it. My DVD player went out in the middle of watching it. I need to re-rent it now that I have a new DVD player.

 

[Kellen]

Hey,my Mom says we should watch this film alot,then she says "wait,nevermind".This happens alot more than she means to because she says the same thing that Suzy says.I'm going to know about things anyways,but somehow parents don't want to watch it with us.You guys need to watch it with us and just say,this isn't cool but really I see your point.

 

[Injured Soldier]

I'm not usually phased by what I see on movies, although I am aware if I got watch it with someone that has a problem with it, or younger children. But I also think as Christians in general, we are more tolerant of violence than sex on the big and small screen, and I'm no exception.

On a somewhat related note - I remember reading a year or so ago about how a pre-election Will Smith joked around that "I-Robot" was about the "Religious Right Wing" deceiving & controlling the world. Same thing with a liberal George Lucas & Revenge of the Sith (The "Republic" is evil?? LOL!). Offensive to conservatives & we should boycott those movies, right? Well, I saw both those movies with my teenager, keeping those comments in mind. We loved the movies, as we allowed ourselves to be entertained by our perceiving just the OPPOSITE (about where the dangers of a non-believing world can lead us to, LOL! ).

It may be just me, but I don't see the link between them being non-believers and their political views. Not all Christians are conservative, and not all liberals are non-believers (although I agree the two examples you used were). Both those examples are comments on political issues, religion has nothing to do with it. Am I missing something?

 

[Blessed_Mommy]

Kellen, I think that one of my responsibilities as a parent is to monitor what goes into my children's minds, including what they see on television or at the movies. I do watch with my children and explain when something happens that isn't right. But I don't want them to see certain things, and your parents probably feel the same.

 

[Blessed_Mommy]

I'm not usually phased by what I see on movies, although I am aware if I got watch it with someone that has a problem with it, or younger children. But I also think as Christians in general, we are more tolerant of violence than sex on the big and small screen, and I'm no exception.

This tolerance is what I consider "conditioning" where we have slowly become numb to what we see and hear on our televisions and at the movies. It's appalling how much evil has penetrated our lives in this way, and we consider it "no big deal." Things like homosexuality and violence. It's just sad that we as Christians don't try to monitor ourselves a little more than this.

 

[Injured Soldier]

This tolerance is what I consider "conditioning" where we have slowly become numb to what we see and hear on our televisions and at the movies. It's appalling how much evil has penetrated our lives in this way, and we consider it "no big deal." Things like homosexuality and violence. It's just sad that we as Christians don't try to monitor ourselves a little more than this.

But where do you draw the line? Not see movies at all? Get rid of the TV? Because most of things found there is about "conditioning" too.We'd have to go a long way to get away from advertising, and that is brainwashing. Where do we draw the line?

 

[Blessed_Mommy]

But where do you draw the line? Not see movies at all? Get rid of the TV? Because most of things found there is about "conditioning" too.We'd have to go a long way to get away from advertising, and that is brainwashing. Where do we draw the line?

I know, that's the hard part. Just about everything that comes on has something that's against Christianity. I don't have the answer to where to draw the line for everyone, but I know there are certain shows I can watch without feeling convicted, and then there are certain others that really bother my conscience. As in, would I watch this if Jesus were sitting next to me? Nope! Then I won't watch it.

I've been thinking of getting Sky Angel and getting rid of my cable, but then I won't receive local channels for news and such. But then all that's on the news is depressing. **sigh**

 

[MrsGnomeCrusher]

I am.

There are certain types of movies that I will not watch. Horror flicks. Slap-stick, vulgar comedies are another type. Movies where every other word is f-this or f-that and what not.

While violence, nudity, etc., I will watch depending on the movie and the type of movie that it is. However, if I had kids, or was watching around kids, I would monitor very closely.

 

[Sketcher]

I don't like sorecery themed movies or vulgar comedies (ie Road Trip). I don't like excessive gore. I do like action though.

My dad I think did a good job of monitoring/sharing movies with me as a kid. I watched a lot of old movies - John Wayne and that whole era. Indiana Jones, Star Wars, etc as well. When I was old enough, he loosened the restraints. Naturally, I got a good deal of action in, but no gratuitous violence. I didn't see any R rated movies until my teenage years. I became free to see PG-13 movies when I was 11. Of course, PG-13 is different now than it was back then and it has been ever since "Titanic."

Of course, you also need to talk to your kids and be involved with them spiritually. My parents also prayed with me and read me Bible stories as bedtime stories. They let me know that those were true. They also read me fables, and Greek mythologies. They let me know that those were myths, false. Strike a good balance with your kids and don't wait for Sunday mornings to get the positive stuff in them. And of course, pray with them and for them.

 

[Tamara77777]

I am very selective of what I have on TV when I have my grandkids here, I won't allow them to watch anything that is not rated well, and oppose anything that would affect them, scary movies. My husband loves horror movies, I called them ;horrible' movies. He knows I am not going to allow anything satanic in my home. and thankfully he respects that!

 

[JimmyKoKoPop]

John Wayne and that whole era. Indiana Jones, Star Wars, etc as well. When I was old enough, he loosened the restraints. Naturally, I got a good deal of action in, but no gratuitous violence.

I guess grauitous is an opinionated term, but a lot of John Wayne's movies are very violent, they just don't show much bloodshed or suffering.

Anyway, there aren't too many movies I won't watch. I suspect a number of movies I own would horrify a lot of people here. But, I avoid most art films. I find them to be empty films, with meanings that either aren't there or I don't understand.

 

[Sketcher]

I guess grauitous is an opinionated term, but a lot of John Wayne's movies are very violent, they just don't show much bloodshed or suffering.

Exactly. Enough action to put hair on your chest, while not desensitizing you to human pain and suffering.

 

[EmmaTheGreat]

When you become a Christian you'll be naturally sensitive to that kind of stuff because it stirrs and troubles your heart... mainly because you know better...

 

[shezshy]

I'm not sure I make a concious effort about satanic theme films,they just don't appeal to me.Anything like the omen,excorcist,etc just dont wanna waste my time with his stories

 

[JimmyKoKoPop]

Exactly. Enough action to put hair on your chest, while not desensitizing you to human pain and suffering.

Interesting way of looking at it. You could also say his films don't show the reality of violence, glorifying it in a certain way and making it look fun.

I wouldn't, though

 

[Sketcher]

I wouldn't either. And with modern movies, you'll get that plus the desensitization to gore and suffering. Besides, pretty much all of John Wayne's movies promote decent values, doing the right thing even though it is difficult.

 

[symphonyb]

I'm usually upset at some films I rent for me and my daughter to watch.The rating system was bad in the 80's.They need to review these 80's films,attach a new rating.