My kids only watch super friendly TV like Clifford. My 8 yr old is super sensitive to ANY type of violence (Disney movies even!) so we don't do any.

I don't watch horror movies at all, but I do like suspense shows like CSI...like Martie I don't think of that as a murder show, but as a puzzle - figuring out "Who dun it." I also watch House for the same reason, figuring out "what dun it!"

The bible certainly has violent stories...babies were killed both in Moses time by Pharoah and in Jesus time by Herod. But we are to learn by these things. So I think watching violence for the sake of violence is wrong - - but learning through it is a little different. That's how I justify it anyway! Thanks.

My daughter, age 12, does not watch anything scary. Watching the movie Premonition did her in ... she couldn't sleep that night. I do not watch any scary movies or shows. Just not my thing. As a child I was afraid of staying alone and would leave all the lights on in the house. I guess that feeling has stayed with me so I opt for romantic or light shows.

Well~here's the deal! I don't know what the point of scary movies and shows or even books is so I don't do them. I tried reading the book "An Innocent Man" because Jimmy, who was a big John Grisham fan recommended it. Less than half way through, I was having nightmares, so I put it down and said "not worth it". I guess some folks just like the thrill of being on the edge of their seats. I would rather laugh than be scared. When my children were small, we didn't do anything scary, like monsters or anything gory, but I think times have changed and there is more out there now. CSI shows and Law and Order to me are not scary, just interesting who done its and how did they figure out who did it. I do think we have to figure out how what we put into our minds will affect or influence us and our lives . Great blog! Makes you think! Thanks Martie! LL

Have you been to a video store lately? Pretty scary. I'm convinced the dark side owns the store in our small town. There are endless ENDLESS horror flicks with the most graphic covers.
My 9 year old daughter and I have just started using Netflix because I can't get back to that video store before the due date. Grr.
My best friend recently visited the same video store. While standing in line she noticed pentagram necklaces on the two sales associates. She asked God was it significant? He answered when her rental totaled, no lie, $6.66. At any rate, it was her last visit and mine too.
I am hoping because we order on line that we make more effort to research and read reviews. She and I both prefer light, funny, and upbeat. I dig classics for real drama dahling. Oh my! Hitchcock was the master of suspense but his stuff can get kind of gruesome too ie Rear view window. I just liked that Gracie kept her clothes on and left at the end of the evening.
Suspense and mystery can be tricky with a fine line to what God tells us to stay clear of and not entertain. Admittedly, Harry Potter not my fave. C S Lewis, however, we read and watched the movie. This was great! In fact, the war scene was bloodless. What cartoons used to be in the 80's.
Haven't seen the new Nancy Drew, but my daughter is reading her grandmother's 1946 vintage out of print version. I was shocked, but she does take good care of it and that's between Nana and her.
We still like Veggie Tales. I have a crush on Bob the Tomatoe. Love him! There's some suspenseful scenes too. Can't think of them now.
Why do kids desire to be scared? Why would adults want to be entertained by murder mysteries? Sinful nature begging to be fed? I say starve that bag dog and feed the good.
I don't know about you, but I never forgot seeing Jaws and hated swimming in the ocean after that. I just don't want my kid making the same mistakes because the so called "everyone" group was seeing it.

When we were growing up, we really didn't go to a lot of movies. Later on, in the 50's, we got TV and we watched cowboy shows--where the good guy always won and he was the hero.

As we grew up, we saw "The Birds" or any Hitchcock movie; then came "Rosemary's Baby" and "The Exorcist." They would be considered tame today.

Now if I want something "scary", I go to the Hallmark Channel and watch Perry Mason. I have never been for blood and gore--life is scary enough.

Thanks for getting us thinking!

Love, Pat

I don't watch scary movies -- never have, never will. I used to like suspense -- Air Force One, The Fugitive, Witness -- (hmmmm! maybe it's just Harrison Ford) but I'm not much into that anymore either. Since I've gotten older, I've realized the world is a scary enough place. I can do without it in my entertainment. Maybe I've also gotten wiser. I do think it matters what we put into our minds and the minds of our kids. My husband and I went to see Spiderman earlier this year, and there were very young kids in the theater. That movie bothered me -- some of it I didn't watch (same with Jaws and Air Force One) -- I can't imagine taking a young child to that movie. I don't really watch any TV at all except an occasional episode of Jeopardy or a Hallmark movie -- partly because I don't have time and partly because there's nothing I want to watch. I'd much rather read a good book than watch anything on TV. As far as watching R-rated movies, I think Christians can depending, not so much on why it's rated R, but what the subject matter is. The R rating for nudity in Schindler's List, for example, isn't the same as an R rating for nudity in The Witness, nor is an R rating for violence in Saving Private Ryan the same as it is for violence in Die Hard. The Bible does include many R rated things, but they're for our edification, not our entertainment. Good topic, Martie!

I cannot watch scary movies and not be haunted by them later, either in the darkness, in my sleep or both. However, I am able to watch and thoroughly enjoy shows on Court TV like Forensic Files and Body of Evidence without any adverse effects. I have determined that it is the graphic dramatization of violence that causes the problem. Documentary style detective shows minimize the violence and focus on solving the crime. These shows always end with the good guys winning and the bad guys in jail...a perfect scenario to end the day with the foolish notion that "All is right with the world!"

I absolutely do not watch scary movies and never encouraged it with my children. I am amazed and saddened at the amount of violence and the graphic displays of murder that our culture seems to have become desensitized to. I don't see it as entertaining. I see it as a tool the enemy can use to slip into our thoughts with. Even if one is not aware, once that impression goes into your mind it is filed away, whether in your conscious or subconscious. One way or another, your mind dwells on it and I am a firm believer in dwelling on what is good, pure, lovely and pleasing to God. The enemy throws enough at us, why add to it with that kind of junk. I have to admit, TV watching is one of my soap boxes. I think far too much time is wasted in front of a television...more time than most even realize...Keep a TV log and count up the hours that could have been spent doing something valuable. If I watch TV, it is usually a cooking, decorating or craft show on the little TV in the kitchen as I'm cleaning up or cooking. My family enjoys watching some of the game shows,sports, and the old TV shows like Andy Griffith.

Hmmmmm, Good question. I like a good story to keep me guessing. I'll admit, I loved the Sixth Sense because it completley fooled me until the end. I'm not into horror at all, but I love suspense and well written plots. Our family enjoys story lines that take us out of ordinary life and places us somewhere different, all within the safety of reality. Usually I can tell within the first few minutes of a film whether or not it will be a good one, or if it is appropriate for the children. I think it boils down to personal taste, preference and conviction. If anything leaves you feeling negative inside, then I think that is a pretty good sign that the Holy Spirit is saying "Yuck!"

I am generally horrified as I walk up and down the aisles of my local Blockbuster. When my children are with me, of course they are fascinated looking at everything, which really horrifies me! I have a tender-hearted 8-year-old girl who often grabs me and hides her head as she is particularly horrified.

I am scared for this generation about entertainment in general. We are so focused on being entertained, in our cars, in airplaines and now we can walk around 24 hours a day with I-Pods plugged into our ears, ignoring the real people around us and tuning in to our Entertainment. It can become an idol very easily. I have a friend whose son failed his freshman year because he gave all his time to an online fantasy game...are we allowing our kids to be so conditioned by entertainment that this is how they spend their "freedom?"

That's a bit off-topic, back to Scary Movies and getting a little closer to home, I like L&O, CSI and 24. I have been known scrapbook & watch four (4) "24" episodes in-a-row, staying up until 3 A.M. (Really, who can stop? WHAT HAPPENS TO JACK NEXT?! How does he save the world in the next hour!?)

I am struck by these verses:

"Redeem the time, because the days are evil?"

"Whatever is true, whatever is right, whatever is noble, whatever is pure, lovely, excellent or praiseworthy, think about THESE things."

The violence in all these shows does not redeem the time, nor is it pure, lovely or excellent.

I am against horror movies. And yet I enjoyed "Sixth Sense." Where does suspense end and horror begin?

It's a serious issue, may God bless us with wisdom and insight so that we "eat, drink and watch TV/movies for the glory of God!"

Blessings,
Bernadette