Author Topic: Television - EXCELLENT ARTICLE! A Must Read! (Read 104156 times)

Adesto · « **Reply #1 on:** October 22, 2007, 02:45:42 PM »

I find this topic fascinating because I've heard so much about TV both positive and negative for many years. We have never had TV at my family home and so in a way it's never been an issue for me- I have no strong feelings about it one way or another, except that obviously staying plugged into the TV is a bad thing if you're watching cruddy shows etc. When I had my own place in university with mates we had a TV and I can't say I ever watched anything enjoyable apart from reruns of movies, which aren't really TV at all.

I guess there are two cases to be made against TV. One is the fact that people waste a heck of a lot of time watching rubbish TV, a lot of which is insidious (I'm thinking of UK TV here, I'm not a prude, but a lot of morning TV here I would turn off because its so immoral) and as Catholics we should safeguard our homes against occasions of sin. I honestly think TV can be an occasion of sin (and often is) because not only are there many blatently immoral images and adverts on there, but because even the airtime which is not immediately offensive is filled with an atheistic and purely materialistic sentiment. It's like a constant barrage of drivel

The other reason is that TV drains kids (and adults!) of imagination. Books, even radio are "hot" media because they require one to engage actively with the mind. TV and movies are "cold" media because all the work is done for you. Nothing wrong with a good movie, but exercising choice power in watching a DVD or going to the cinema is very different from sitting in front of the TV and watching soaps. I know that's almost a philosophical point and doesn't smack of hardcore "resisting evil" but I think it's an important one too.

Dulcamara · « **Reply #2 on:** February 26, 2008, 09:09:23 PM »

Quote from: Anne De Guigne

This is why I try to not watch television, or at least make rosaries while I do it.

>nods< Unless perhaps you can actually find the rare one or two occasional movies worth watching. There are some religious movies, for instance, that were pretty well done. (Like Miracle of Fatima or The Song of Bernadette... both older but pretty good.) I guess it depends, too, on what you are putting on the tv set.

But television (literal, that is excluding movies) I think has gotten to the point where it's basically no good at all. I don't even watch the news anymore. There's just so much garbage on it.

Hopefully the people praying those rosaries you make will help salvage our modern situation (being a world of sin more or less).

Caio di Corea · « **Reply #3 on:** February 28, 2009, 09:03:38 PM »

Important passage

Quote

Over the last 30 years, they have come to look at their television sets and the images on the screen as reality. You put something on television and it becomes reality. If the world outside the television set contradicts the images, people start changing the world to make it more like the images and sounds of their television.

spouse of Jesus · « **Reply #4 on:** May 06, 2009, 10:38:48 PM »

What you said is true. But is there any remedy for those who were TV addicts before they give it up forever? What I mean is this: How can such people get rid of all of the effects of TV on their minds? (both conscious and unconscious)

Lybus · « **Reply #5 on:** May 11, 2009, 07:01:37 AM »

I'm sure the subconscious mind would discard information that contradicted itself. Just read enough books, do puzzles, learn a new sport, travel places, etc until all the excess of watching TV has been shoved away. If you begin pouring water into a cup of filth, eventually the filth will go over the brim and will wash out, leaving pure water.

spouse of Jesus · « **Reply #6 on:** May 11, 2009, 08:38:07 AM »

Thanks

RomanCatholic1953 · « **Reply #7 on:** September 25, 2009, 11:14:01 PM »

The Television is the tool of the devil. Always say the Rosary. Stay away from the near occasion of sin.
The TV is full of sin, and has corrupted three generations
of people into pagan life styles, that will lead them into
hell fire.

greenhill · « **Reply #8 on:** November 08, 2009, 07:09:39 AM »

I have no TV. It gives me nothing, made me impatient and itchy, and it is mostly lies, filth, violence or senseless "entertainment".
There are always better things to do

i.e. useful work, reading the bible, praying, saying the rosary, reading good, improving books, sleeping, exercise, thinking

:reading:

:smash-pc:

:tv-disturbed: :devil2:

greenhill · « **Reply #9 on:** November 19, 2009, 01:08:19 PM »

Quote from: RomanCatholic1953

The Television is the tool of the devil. Always say the Rosary. Stay away from the near occasion of sin.
The TV is full of sin, and has corrupted three generations
of people into pagan life styles, that will lead them into
hell fire.

True! When I was a kid in England, we had a lot of American shows on TV. I used to think that all Americans were like Lucy, Mr Ed, my favourite martian, Dick van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore and Endora. That´s why I became a Communist!

littlerose · « **Reply #10 on:** January 15, 2010, 05:48:36 PM »

One of the worst things about my last job was that my boss was addicted to television. It was a live-in position so there was no escaping. She was actually freaked out that I could spend time without the tv on. To me, it is like having a pet demon in the house. I couldn't think while that thing was jabbering. Even when we stuck to a "safe" channel, they'd suddenly run a violent and sacrilegious or obscene commercial.

I now have no tv connection at all. Have not even turned on the one I own, which is connected to a dvd player, because I watch movies on my computer. I love being able to choose movies like books and I don't miss any news, because I have the radio on for the local report and I can pick up stories online.

Thurifer · « **Reply #11 on:** January 15, 2010, 07:26:42 PM »

Quote from: littlerose

To me, it is like having a pet demon in the house. I couldn't think while that thing was jabbering. Even when we stuck to a "safe" channel, they'd suddenly run a violent and sacrilegious or obscene commercial.

Aside from the violence, sacrilige, and obscenity, which I agree with you on, that constant jabbering and noise which you describe is spot on. It is like a pet demon. I first noticed it when hearing it in the background when talking on the telephone to friends or family. From that realization I couldn't stand it to be on in my own house.

EcceAgnusDei · « **Reply #12 on:** March 17, 2010, 02:32:36 PM »

I'm so glad you posted this. I've been trying to get away from watching TV shows for a while but it's been proving to be difficult. I got rid of the TV in my room but I know where to find what I want to watch online so I end up watching TV on the computer. I think it is such a waste of my time but I keep doing it every day!! I find that if I don't do that when I get home I don't know what to do. It's like I'm lost if I'm not glued to my computer. Maybe what I need to do is remove the computer too!

Belloc · « **Reply #13 on:** March 17, 2010, 02:39:04 PM »

Quote from: greenhill

Quote from: RomanCatholic1953
The Television is the tool of the devil. Always say the Rosary. Stay away from the near occasion of sin.
The TV is full of sin, and has corrupted three generations
of people into pagan life styles, that will lead them into
hell fire.

True! When I was a kid in England, we had a lot of American shows on TV. I used to think that all Americans were like Lucy, Mr Ed, my favourite martian, Dick van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore and Endora. That´s why I became a Communist!

even worse, yrs later, in 70's, all people thought we were like JR Ewing......geesh.....

Tradycja · « **Reply #14 on:** April 06, 2010, 07:27:08 AM »

Great article. I agree 100 percent. I haven't watched television in 2 years.

One thing I have found is that my relatives say things such as "They said on TV that you shouldn't eat such and such a food" or "They said on TV that this politician is wrong..." etc. To which I always respond, "WHO said it? Who is this proverbial THEY".

It no longer matters to people WHO said it, just that it was said on TV. The TV is like a person to them.