I like (John Wesley’s mother) Susanna Wesley’s comments way back in 1725. They still apply today:

“Take this rule: whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes off your relish of spiritual things; in short, whatever increases the strength and authority of your body over your mind, that thing is sin to you, however innocent it may be in itself.”
— Susanna Wesley (Letter, June 8, 1725)

Sorry ’bout that. Let me rephrase that last paragraph. I left out a very important part of a sentence….

God convicts individuals differently. If He tells my heart or my spirit that something is morally not right, then I don’t do it. But personally….if my faith in God and my relationship with Him is so WEAK that a vampire movie, a little Bob Dylan music, or allowing my grandangels to dress up like a pirate or ballerina to have fun trick or treating for candy at my house WOULD DESTROY MY RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM; then I have a lot of work to do. Hope you all still love me.

Love yaz much,
Connie

Personally, I remember having a similar discussion about Sesame Street with Tammy a couple of years ago. Because of the Monster Content/Theme, she preferred not to show her grand kids this show. Now, every time I watch it, I think about what she said and it is easy to think – Huh? It’s Sesame Street!

But it does bring up a point: Are the monsters portrayed on Sesame Street any different than the vampires in Twilight or the wizards in Harry Potter? You know, I guess they’re not since they are both figures used in stories that promote evil- but is there a separation point between them where it’s okay? Maybe…

I have seen many of the Harry Potter Movies and can say the first two (and maybe the third) were very simple and “happy” films, just like Sesame Street. They were cute! And I enjoyed them. But as the series progressed the content became very demonic and made me feel uncomfortable. I could see exactly where people would start to be concerned about the content and it’s evil undertones. And – just to note – I have never felt this way watching Elmo!

But I think of Scientology. I remember Sonny talking about how the levels (as you get into it) lead closer to the devil. So, in a sense, one could make the argument that, just like Scientology, Harry Potter movies are leading people toward evil, especially as the content becomes more “dark”.

But getting back to Sesame Street – Just because I don’t see the similarities like I did in Harry Potter (related to evil) does that mean it’s any different? Simply because of the content and it’s relevance to evil (the monsters) should I refrain from watching it or keep my kids from seeing Cookie Monster or Telly?

I guess I would say this: I agree with what Heath and Connie both say but would add to it by saying I would be cautious about how I let myself become involved with the story. Some people take it to such an extreme that they actually believe that it’s real. This is where I think the problem occurs. This is where entertainment becomes truly dangerous in any format – music, movies, books.

But I think that a person’s faith actually does dictate how a person reacts to these movies. A person who has a good relationship with God shouldn’t have to worry about whether JK Rowling (a believer in witchcraft I believe) is trying to destroy their relationship with God through a few books. If I listen to anything and it sounds wrong, then it probably is. It’s truly a battle of free will.

But will I continue to let Alyssa and Sara watch Sesame Street? Yes for one reason – If I listen to it and don’t see the monsters, then the content is educational and positive. There is no mention of evil (except Oscar and he’s just grouchy) and it’s a great medium for children. But as they get older, I will have to work hard to make sure that if they do see the Harry Potter or Twilight movies (or even Star Wars for that matter) that they know that it really is make believe – God isn’t. :jump:

I will admit that I have read the Harry Potter books and I did enjoy them. I have watched different shows on TV with witches, vampires and demon hunters. Would I allow my grandbabies to watch them , no. But if we are going to ban these movies and books because of the brazen way that they represent evil then I think we should be looking more towards alot of the shows that have the appearance of good but they do more damage. For example we have Seventh Heaven that was about a preacher and his family, but yet God was hardly ever mentioned and when he was it was to show that He loved them no matter what and your actions and lifestyles were fine. How about Touched By an Angel and even old shows like Hogans Hero’s and MASH.
I would hazard a guess that just about anything on TV or any book, except the Bible, could lead you down the wrong path if you allow it. The most important thing in all of this is no matter what the context, anything that pulls you away from God and your relationship with him is wrong whether it is Harry Potter or Joel Olstean

As I was writing my comment(s) on this subject, I was referring only to myself. My children are 29 and 34. They watch what they want.

My grandangels are a different story. My oldest who is nine was just this year allowed to watch Harry Potter. He is old enough now to know that there are “no good witches”. Those are his parents’ rules and I respect them. The two youngest grandangels are still trying to keep up with Spongebob and Dora. However, they have the movie “The Wizzard of Oz”, and many of our childhood fairy tales include witches. I watched them and read them, but never wanted to be one when I grew up.

I personally would not expose them to a vampire movie simply because I don’t want them to be scared or have nightmares. The oldest does know that people try to live like vampires, but they are not real. Also a parent rule which I respect.

Just an after thought.

Love and Peace to all

I monitor what my kids watch. I try to not let them watch anything that might scare them but I have decided that if I was to try to take everything away from them that they will rebel later. I have watched it happen before. We live in this world and have to deal with things in this world. I try to explain to my kids to the best of my ability what is real and not real on tv. My 7 year tells her friends this movie or that movie is fake. She knows that harry potter and similar movies are not real. She also knows that their are some people out there that really think that they can do things like that from the movie. My 4 year old is a little different and a boy so he thinks it is cool but he is knows it is not real and he pretends. I know people that will watch star wars but not wizard of oz. What is the difference? Neithier one is about God. I watch certain movies that I know people disagree with and I also read books many people disagree with. I think if movies or books or even sports interfere with your relationship with God you should stop doing them. During the day if I have time to watch tv I stop and think to myself, “Wait I could read my Bible instead”, and I do, then I watch tv. I try to put God first and I am getting better at that, but sometimes the world (temptation)interferes.

As for halloween I do not like it. My kids do it because I and my husband disagree about it. But we have come to the best comprise I can think of and that is they are not allowed to be anything scary, like witches or vampires. My kids also know why I do not like it and disagree with it. They also dress up at home all the time so dressing up is no big deal to them. They just want the candy.

My kids also believe in Santa but I do not make that big of deal over it. I make Christmas more about the birth of Jesus and family. On Christmas morning, before my kids get to go see what Santa has left them, we sing Happy Birthday to Jesus.

I try to raise my kids to the best of my ability. When they get older they will make their own choices. I try to guide them and show them what is right and what is wrong. My kids each made a “what am I thankful for turkey” today in their class. My 4 year old told his teachers he was thankful for God, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost. When they asked where he went to church he told them,”Where Jesus is.” He also told the church tonight he was thankful to God for giving him his sister, so she can pray for him when he has nightmares and scare away all the bad guys. And my 7 year old daughter wrote she is thankful for God loving her, loving this country, and making all the evil go away. She also put many more similar things she was thankful to God for. To me that shows I must be doing something right because my kids know who God is and how much He affects their lives.

I think we may not all agree on everything but we are human. We can only try to do the best we can. If I have questions I go to God for the answers. I ask him to help me with things. Everyone’s situation is different. Some of us have spouses that disagree with us on things. Some of us are single and have to make tough choices dealing with things in that nature. Some of us are married with no kids and some with grown kids. I believe if you pray to God and seek the answers He will help you find the answers but we have to listen. We will also fail. We are human but God does love us and will forgive us. He is the only one who really knows where your relationship with Him is and what you are dealing with and the decissions you have to make. He knows if and how hard you are trying to do. Trust Him to show you the way.

And Connie, I still love you.

When it comes to entertainment I have found I am more entertained by playing with Mya, Paige, Bailey ( my dog), by working around my yard and enjoying having a place of my own and seeing what ‘God’ has surprised me with. Yogi and I enjoy going out to the movies as a way to escape the demands on our time. When we can find one that is worth our time. It seems that these days movies are filled with the stuff I am not interested in listening to or seeing much less taking my family out to see. I like to watch shows on how to …. wether it’s fixing, planting, decorating, cooking or dressing when I am at home. Not that I apply all that I see mind you.

I really wish I could get Yogi interested in fishing. I use to fish all the time when I was younger and I really enjoyed it, but when Yogi and I go I am the one that has to bait the hook and take the fish off so it is not as much fun.

Entertainment for one could fall under the category of work to others I guess we all just seem to think of the TV as so user firendly that it surely wouldn’t cause me or my family harm–yeah right. If we don’t monitor what comes into our home on the one eyed monster (as my daddy used to call the tv), there is no telling what will be shown to our young ones. I can’t expect Mya to know right from wrong if she only sees me doing the right thing when she or someone else is looking.

It is all about CHARACTER what kind do we have? Are we Dr. Jeckle when we think someone is looking and Mr. Hyde when we think we are alone–We must always remember Jesus is always in the room.

John,

That could be as long an argument as the discussion about God’s omniscience.

Love you

I prayed long and hard before responding to this one!

For those of you who do not know, my mother was involved in witch craft. I was exposed to the spells, chanting, astral projection, just to name a few. She did some strange things when I was growing up and as a result of what I was exposed to, I did NOT allow my children nor do I allow my grandangels to watch, read, or participate in any of this stuff.

I have been criticized by friends and family on my stand against programs and reading material that promote magic, witches or deal with the evil side of the supernatural. I have been involved with deliverance sessions where my family members were demon possessed. For those of you who do not believe it, that’s fine, I was there and it is real! We need to be careful and not give the devil any doorway into our hearts and spirits.

We have an enemy and he wants nothing more than to destroy the body of Christ!!

Please read Deut 18:10-12 and consider the stakes. This word is clear about what we should and should not participate in. We are to have nothing to do with divination,(one who observes the times) (horoscopes),enchanter (someone who hypnotizes),charmer (one who consults with familiar spirits and finally necromancer (one who consults with the dead).

If anyone has seen ” Lion King” all of the above was present in this “innocent” movie.

My spirit was so disturbed after watching this.

As for the Harry Potter series, beware, this is an invitation and a training manual as an introduction to witchcraft. Everything portrayed in this series makes evil look innocent and harmless.

I do not watch many movies for the simple fact, most of them are laced with very subtle displays of evil. When my spirit is disturbed, I have learned to listen to that still small voice and say NO, I will not participate in that!

Do any of you remember the song we sang as children that said, “Be careful little eyes what you see, be careful little ears what you hear, be careful little hands what you do, be careful little mouth what you say, there’s a Father up above looking down in tender love so be careful little one not to stray”?

Even as adults, we need to monitor what we participate in. If it does not comply with God’s word, count me out! That includes, the books, movies and the music! Music that is filled with vulgar language and lyrics does not edify me and it does not glorify God!

I often wished for the fairy godmother to rescue me from the abuse and torment I endured. I am thankful I had a grandmother that taught me what I needed was JESUS!

Love and prayers,

Dee