Do we need a Christian media?

ShotgunPaddy

Do we need TV and Radio stations with a Christian ethos? Would you support a TV station that censors violent and pornographic programming for example?

PDN

ShotgunPaddy wrote: »

Do we need TV and Radio stations with a Christian ethos? Would you support a TV station that censors violent and pornographic programming for example?

I think real Christian television would be good - ie news items of interest to Christians and good documentaries on Christian subjects, rather than simply showing broadcasts of moneygrubbing preachers like they do on GODTV.

Children's TV stations should censor out violence or pornography, but beyond that I prefer to make my own decisions about what not to watch, rather than someone else doing it for me.

chozometroid

If you have to watch a censored version of something for it to be acceptable to watch, it probably isn't something you should be watching.

As for Christianity/religion-related television, I'm all for it. The programming should be original, though, and should not include softened versions of the violence and sex that Satan uses to captivate the masses.

homer911

There were plans to lauch a national Christian Radio station in Ireland, but I dont know what happened to it

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=141458

Last I heard they had offices in Sandyford..

Mark Hamill

ShotgunPaddy wrote: »

Would you support a TV station that censors violent and pornographic programming for example?

You would have to censor a lot of topics to do with the bible though, as a lot of them deal heavily with violence.

Tim Robbins

ShotgunPaddy wrote: »

Do we need TV and Radio stations with a Christian ethos? Would you support a TV station that censors violent and pornographic programming for example?

'The Passion' by Mel Gibson is probably the most violent movie I have ever seen.

Saint Ruth

Tim Robbins wrote: »

'The Passion' by Mel Gibson is probably the most violent movie I have ever seen.

No one can doubt that.

So, no, I don't think that violence in films is always bad.
Saving Private Ryan is profoundly violent, but unChristian? I don't think so.

Gratuitous violence is a different story of course...but I don't think either of those films are gratuitous...

Soul Winner

ShotgunPaddy wrote: »

Do we need TV and Radio stations with a Christian ethos?

'Need'? Well yes. I think a University type Christian Television Network would be great. With teachers who actually know what they are talking about. Teachers who have university degrees in subjects like Theology, History, Church History and who know the clear message of what the Bible teaches -that without faith it is impossible to please God.

What we don't need is a denominationally biased TV channel trying to warp everyone's brain to conform to the way they perceive Christianity to be. No robe wearing pride, tradition bashing or beating people up over their sins. Stick to the book, and if something contradicts thus saith the Word then bin it.

Saint Ruth

Soul Winner wrote: »

What we don't need is a denominationally biased TV channel trying to warp everyone's brain to conform to the way they perceive Christianity to be. No robe wearing pride, tradition bashing or beating people up over their sins. Stick to the book, and if something contradicts thus saith the Word then bin it.

Well there is a denominationally biased TV channel, the "Eternal Word Television Network, Global Catholic Network". It's on my Chorus NTL.

It doesn't try to "warp everyone's brain" and does not beat "people up over their sins" (and the notion that EWTN is like that is quite funny).

Tim Robbins

Saint Ruth wrote: »

No one can doubt that.

So, no, I don't think that violence in films is always bad.
Saving Private Ryan is profoundly violent, but unChristian? I don't think so.

Gratuitous violence is a different story of course...but I don't think either of those films are gratuitous...

'The Passion' most definetly is. I have never seen so much blood from one person in any movie. In fact, I am sure the human average is exceeded several times over.

Saint Ruth

Tim Robbins wrote: »

'The Passion' most definetly is. I have never seen so much blood from one person in any movie. In fact, I am sure the human average is exceeded several times over.

I don't think it' gratuitous.

There was a reason for it, to show the suffernig that Jesus willingly endured to save mankind.

Sure, you can think that the whole story is a load of rubbish, but that doesn't make it gratuitous.

Just like Saving Private Ryan. I've never seen so much viceral and brutal violence as in the first 30 mins of that film, but it was not without reason...

Tim Robbins

Saint Ruth wrote: »

I don't think it' gratuitous.

There was a reason for it, to show the suffernig that Jesus willingly endured to save mankind.

Sure, you can think that the whole story is a load of rubbish, but that doesn't make it gratuitous.

Sure you could think that someone could have that amount of blood in their body and be beaten but that doesn't mean it isn't gratuitous.

I have asthma attacks where if it wasn't for medical attention I probably would have died. Should I video them and stick them up on youtube?

Just like Saving Private Ryan. I've never seen so much viceral and brutal violence as in the first 30 mins of that film, but it was not without reason...

Probably not as many anti-semitic undertones though...

Saint Ruth

Tim Robbins wrote: »

Sure you could think that someone could have that amount of blood in their body and be beaten but that doesn't mean it isn't gratuitous.

The human body has 5-6 litres of blood.

I don't see what the amount of blood has to do with anything.
Lots of programmes have los of blood: most recently, True Blood (when Sockie's grandma was murdered had the kitchen covered in blood), and of course Reservior Dogs and the bloody car in Pulp Fiction...

Do you object to all violent films? Or just this one?

Are you equally against Saw and Hostel?

Tim Robbins wrote: »

I have asthma attacks where if it wasn't for medical attention I probably would have died. Should I video them and stick them up on youtube?

If you put them up for a laugh, then it'd be gratuitous.

Tim Robbins

Saint Ruth wrote: »

Do you object to all violent films? Or just this one?

Yes most of them.

If you put them up for a laugh, then it'd be gratuitous.

You've a twisted sense of humour.

Saint Ruth

Tim Robbins wrote: »

You've a twisted sense of humour.

Sorry if you took that the wrong way. I didn't mean anything by it...

wolfsbane

chozometroid wrote: »

If you have to watch a censored version of something for it to be acceptable to watch, it probably isn't something you should be watching.

As for Christianity/religion-related television, I'm all for it. The programming should be original, though, and should not include softened versions of the violence and sex that Satan uses to captivate the masses.

I would appreciate someone censoring the nude scene in Starship Troopers, for example. The movie is an excellent political satire, and the nude scene is entirely unnecessary.

If a Christian programmer could offer material without the nudity, profanity or the glorification of violence, that would get my attention.

Fanny Cradock

My fear is the result would be a horribly amateur affair hosted by saccharine sweet happy people. Sort of like an episode of Barney minus the purple dinosaur. Then again, I'm a pessimist and cynic by nature!

If it doesn't engage with the world it is rather pointless.

wolfsbane

Fanny Cradock wrote: »

My fear is the result would be a horribly amateur affair hosted by saccharine sweet happy people. Sort of like an episode of Barney minus the purple dinosaur. Then again, I'm a pessimist and cynic by nature!

If it doesn't engage with the world it is rather pointless.

Yes, that is a real danger. But remember some of the histories and historical novels we already have - the Bible is no saccharine tale, and Pilgrim's Progress is weighty indeed. Uncle Tom's Cabin prepared a nation for war.

Authenticity is the thing, and it can be achieved without nudity and profanity.

Fanny Cradock

wolfsbane wrote: »

Authenticity is the thing, and it can be achieved without nudity and profanity.

Certainly! And yet a brief and ever so slightly obscure tale of caution follows.

Quite a few months back I was reading through reviews for an album I was thinking of getting. I just so happened upon a music blog that was written by a Christian. The band reviewed goes by the name of The New Pornographers - an inoffensive indie rock band. But so distasteful was the word "Pornographers" to this blogger that any mention was expunged and replaced by the less offensive alternative "Cinematographers".

wolfsbane

Fanny Cradock wrote: »

Certainly! And yet a brief and ever so slightly obscure tale of caution follows.

Quite a few months back I was reading through reviews for an album I was thinking of getting. I just so happened upon a music blog that was written by a Christian. The band reviewed goes by the name of The New Pornographers - an inoffensive indie rock band. But so distasteful was the word "Pornographers" to this blogger that any mention was expunged and replaced by the less offensive alternative "Cinematographers".

Excuse me while I cover the legs of my table!

prinz

If people are interested they should try Bollywood movies. Just like Hollywood with less of the unneccessary extras.


There are plenty of Christian movies, music etc if people want to enjoy. Censorship and/or compulsory viewing is not the way to go.

homer911

Fanny Cradock wrote: »

Certainly! And yet a brief and ever so slightly obscure tale of caution follows.

Quite a few months back I was reading through reviews for an album I was thinking of getting. I just so happened upon a music blog that was written by a Christian. The band reviewed goes by the name of The New Pornographers - an inoffensive indie rock band. But so distasteful was the word "Pornographers" to this blogger that any mention was expunged and replaced by the less offensive alternative "Cinematographers".

Perhaps the website is used by a audience of a certain age, in which case its possible their parents have parental controls deployed which would filter out the content and barred access?

population

I am genuinely confused by people giving out about "nudity". Doesn't the Bible say that we are all created in God's image??? I don't want kids watching people (oops! I broke the charter!) on tv but the whole shame and wrongness factor attatched to the beauty of the human body is surprising

wolfsbane

population wrote: »

I am genuinely confused by people giving out about "nudity". Doesn't the Bible say that we are all created in God's image??? I don't want kids watching people (oops! I broke the charter!) on tv but the whole shame and wrongness factor attatched to the beauty of the human body is surprising

Nudity lost its propriety when Adam sinned. It is now a reminder that we stand spiritually naked, in all our sin and shame, before the holy God.

God clothed the first sinners, with physical clothes, and He clothes all who trust in Him with spiritual clothes - the righteousness of Christ.

When man flaunts his nakedness he may feel liberated from out-dated notions, but it is just the freedom of the criminal who does what he likes.