Hi Veen
Dungeons and Dragons
Awake 82 22nd March p27
Can someone who plays games like DungeonsandDragons be following this Bible counsel?—Proverbs 4:23..............
Indeed, the underlying assumption of DungeonsandDragons is that there is no one true God, only a universal struggle between the abstract forces of "good and evil, law and chaos," with their assorted champions. This is the sort of teaching long held by such enemies of Christianity as the Gnostics.
Dungeons
andDragons is permeated by the ideas of Satan the Devil, who has always championed greed, violence and demonism
Michael Jackson/Thriller
Awake 84 22nd May pp19-20 What About Music Videos
"I
WouldNeverDoItAgain!"In another popular video, Thriller, the performer is seen to transform first into a "cat person," then a dancing "monster." Evidently not wanting viewers to conclude that it promoted spiritism, the film begins with the disclaimer: "Due to my strong personal convictions, I wish to stress that this film in no way endorses a belief in the occult.—Michael Jackson." Nevertheless, it was so realistic that some who saw it admitted that they were horrified at first. What was this short film intended to convey? And how does the performer, Michael Jackson, feel about it in looking back?
"I would never do it again!" says Jackson. "I just intended to do a good, fun short film, not to purposely bring to the screen something to scare people or to do anything bad. I want to do what’s right. I would never do anything like that again." Why not? "Because a lot of people were offended by it," explains Jackson. "That makes me feel bad. I don’t want them to feel that way. I realize now that it wasn’t a good idea. I’ll never do a video like that again!" He continues: "In fact, I have blocked further distribution of the film over which I have control, including its release in some other countries. There’s all kinds of promotional stuff being proposed on Thriller. But I tell them, ‘No, no, no. I don’t want to do anything on Thriller.No more Thriller.’"
From the Same Article Re Sex
Regarding immoral sex, the Bible says: "Since you are God’s people, it is not right that any matters of sexual immorality or indecency or greed should even be mentioned among you." (Ephesians 5:3, 4, Today’sEnglishVersion) Since such things should not "even be mentioned among" God’s people, what do you think about videos that feature themes suggestive of sexual immorality?
Awake 74 8th Sept p9
The trend of television toward the "new morality" is also a disheartening one. Startled viewers have seen shows that deal with homosexuality and lesbianism. Full frontal nudity has appeared on stations of the Public Broadcasting System. Comedy shows often feature off-color humor. And what about the "soap operas"? The pamphlet TVandtheNewMorality observes: "Daytime soap operas deal frankly with adultery and casually show unmarried couples in bed together."
These programs may portray sexual immorality as a way of escape to avoid the frustrations of a wilted marital relationship. An unwary viewer could easily develop a feeling of identity with the characters portrayed and might seek similar solutions to his own problems. How unwise to expose oneself to such dangers in view of God’s stated position on sexual immorality as found, for example, at 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10: "Make no mistake: no fornicator, . . . none who are guilty either of adultery or of homosexual perversion, . . . will possess the kingdom of God"!—TheNewEnglishBible.
Basic Instinct
Awake 92 8th November pp 5-6
The
DangersofEntertainmentNot surprisingly, today’s entertainment reflects our era, often in its ugliest aspects. Sadistic violence, blatant immorality, and the lowest of human reactions—such as racism—all find their way into popular entertainment, contaminating it to varying degrees. On the extreme end of the spectrum, what should be entertainment is little more than pornography and filth. Consider some examples.
Movies:
At Hollywood’s highest honors, the Oscars, three of the men nominated in the "best actor" category this year had played psychopathic killers, all of whom kill very explicitly on screen. Reportedly one character bites a chunk out of a woman’s face as he rapes her. Financially, one of the year’s biggest hits was a movie called
BasicInstinct. Judging by the reviews, this title puts it mildly. The film opens with an explicit sex scene during which the woman stabs her tied-up lover repeatedly with an ice pick, spattering gore all over herself.
***
g837/8p.27ChristorE.T.?***Christ
orE.T.?E.T.—The
Extra-Terrestrial......................
Despite its seemingly Christian message, however, the movie subtly condones youthful misbehavior. In an early scene we find youths playing "Dungeons and Dragons" in a smoke-filled room with a lighted cigarette on the table. Later on, when E.T. gets drunk sampling beer, and Elliott in telepathic sympathy feels the effects, it is all portrayed as something cute. Further, some of the language used by these children is gross profanity. This, along with the supernatural aspects of the movie, has bothered many Christians.
Whether parents or their children see this movie is, of course, a matter of personal choice. But because of the movie’s great popularity, let us not forget that it becomes an effective vehicle for sugarcoating youthful conduct that is definitely wrong.
E.T.
may be a skillfully constructed and highly entertaining movie. But it provides no substitute for our True Friend, Jesus Christ, who saves us from this dying, wicked world. After all, E.T. is make-believe. Christ is reality
Saturday Night Fever
Awake 79 22nd March p10
Since the movie SaturdayNightFever has had so much to do with the phenomenal growth and spread of disco, let’s consider it. What kind of life-style does that movie feature and, in effect, promote?
"Saturday
NightFever"The main character of the movie lives for just one thing—to shine at the disco on Saturday night. The sexual escapades of the disco crowd are featured, including oral sex, which is performed out in the car during interludes to the dancing. The language is of the filthiest kind. Yet all of this is presented as normal—the way of life among those who go to discos. In a news article, "Why Teenagers Should Not See ‘Saturday Night Fever,’" New York psychologist Dr. Herbert Hoffman says:
"What Travolta and his friends are teaching teenage boys is to become sexually involved with girls without any romantic feelings whatsoever, to use girls as sex objects, to depersonalize the entire sexual experience.
"The ideas that teenagers will carry away with them from this movie can tragically damage their entire lives.
"Young boys will be out to ‘score’ with the opposite sex, with the idea that a relationship with a girl is an accomplishment to brag about to friends in order to enhance group standing.
"Young girls will be convinced either that promiscuity may be required to insure popularity, or that men are after ‘only one thing.’ In either case, their opportunity for deep and lasting emotional involvement is jeopardized.
"It’s a sick movie to allow susceptible teenagers to see."
Yet millions of youths around the world, often along with their parents, have flocked to this movie, making it one of the biggest box-office successes in history. As noted, it features what disco is all about. But so do other aspects of the disco scene
How
ChristiansShouldViewDiscoIS IT wise for Christians to go to discos? Is it wise for them to see such movies as SaturdayNightFever? In many households questions such as these have been topics of conversation, and have given rise to some concern.
Thomas Covenant
