# How dangerous is Christian television? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 8, 2004, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dangerous-is-christian-television/278831 "2004-12-08T22:38:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dangerous-is-christian-television/278831/21 "2004-12-09T00:15:30Z")
One thing great about television, I have yet to find one that doesn’t have a channel changer and/or and power on/off switch. Viewing of any program is OPTIONAL. Even if a parental unit is controlling said options (which to some extent I hope they certainly are). Just because the programming doesn’t agree with your beliefs, you want to silence it? What does that say about you? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dangerous-is-christian-television/278831/22 "2004-12-09T00:18:22Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > I think he just mentioned EWTN as one of the Christian stations on his cable lineup. Although if you listen to Mother Angelica long enough, you start to wonder if Vatican II actually happened. > > _cowers in corner_ Can’t sleep…scary, ancient, one-eyed nun will eat me! Can’t sleep…scary, ancient, one-eyed nun will eat me! Can’t sleep… Oh tell me about it! I lucked out-I went to Catholic school when it was still post-Vatican II, guitar-Mass, crunchy-granola, Oscar Romero, Liberation Theology style. The priest who taught our Confirmation class, while conservative on areas like sex and all that (of course), liked to shoot hoops with us and listened to U2 and watched _Married…With Children_. When my sister was taking classes, the priest (And they were both named Fr. John, go figure!), was a devotee of Mother Angelica and kept causing problems in our parish because he wanted to go back to the old school, perfumy incense and candles, etc. Didn’t make a lot of friends there, to put it mildly. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dangerous-is-christian-television/278831/23 "2004-12-09T00:45:35Z")
> [@flickster](#): > > Just because the programming doesn’t agree with your beliefs, you want to silence it? What does that say about you? That I don’t want crap taught to impressionable children? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dangerous-is-christian-television/278831/24 "2004-12-09T01:00:53Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > That I don’t want crap taught to impressionable children? And seriously, honestly…how does that attitude make you any better than the folks on the other side of that gulf who do that same thing? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dangerous-is-christian-television/278831/25 "2004-12-09T01:10:12Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > That I don’t want crap taught to impressionable children? Hey, as long as they change the channel to “Promiscuous Idiots Island”, I can’t say this keeps me up nights. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dangerous-is-christian-television/278831/26 "2004-12-09T01:16:41Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > That’s the Catholic network, and Catholicism supports evolution and science. Christ, what are we coming to…next thing you know they’ll be ordaining women or letting priests have sex or something… ---
**Author:** ![yBeayf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/e274bd/32.png) [@yBeayf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yBeayf)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dangerous-is-christian-television/278831/27 "2004-12-09T01:21:16Z")
> [@](#): > > Although if you listen to Mother Angelica long enough, you start to wonder if Vatican II actually happened. Or she could just be following what Vatican II actually said (the same Vatican II that changed none of the church’s moral teachings, said that Gregorian chant is the preferred form of sacred music, that the pipe organ is the preferred musical instrument,and that Latin should be preserved and the faithful made familiar with it), rather than what certain dissidents thought it should have said. ---
**Author:** ![Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/regallag_the_axe/32/445_2.png) [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regallag_The_Axe)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dangerous-is-christian-television/278831/28 "2004-12-09T01:48:14Z")
Chrisrtian TV at home is \*really \*spread out, \*not \*in between popular networks. And, parents should tell their children that _most of TV_ not just televangelism is crap. Hell, when I was 16, my parents still were tellin me that the crap on TV wasn’t real life. Oh and BTW, hearing creationists rant makes my ears bleed. \*Seeing \*them rant makes my brain fall out through my eyes. (And let tell you it’s a pain in the ass to get back in there.) ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dangerous-is-christian-television/278831/29 "2004-12-09T01:56:50Z")
It’s not Christian television that’s dangerous, it’s Christianity. It’s sort of a cultural repository of ignorance, bigotry and superstition. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dangerous-is-christian-television/278831/30 "2004-12-09T02:00:03Z")
> [@Splanky](#): > > …The next program it came to atheism. It spoke of how Communism brought atheism and their “evil” beliefs… I fail to see the problem with that. Communism hasn’t exactly been a good thing for those poor bastards forced to live under it. Regardless, my parents limited my television viewing when I was young. If you feel that televison, even ‘Christian’ television, is going to turn your little ankle-biter into Jim Jones, don’t let them watch television, or block those channels you don’t want them to see. Personally, I’d be more concerned about kids watching MTV or other mind-rot. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dangerous-is-christian-television/278831/31 "2004-12-09T02:01:16Z")
> [@Evil Captor](#): > > It’s not Christian television that’s dangerous, it’s Christianity. It’s sort of a cultural repository of ignorance, bigotry and superstition. Golly, doesn’t Christianity get the same Lefty righteous indignation as the Religion of Peace? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dangerous-is-christian-television/278831/32 "2004-12-09T02:02:20Z")
> [@Brutus](#): > > I fail to see the problem with that. Communism hasn’t exactly been a good thing for those poor bastards forced to live under it. You really believe that Marx invented atheism? Or are you just having trouble separating the lack of religious belief from the political/economic shitpile that is Communism? ---
**Author:** ![Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/regallag_the_axe/32/445_2.png) [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regallag_The_Axe)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dangerous-is-christian-television/278831/33 "2004-12-09T02:06:34Z")
> [@Evil Captor](#): > > It’s not Christian television that’s dangerous, it’s Christianity. It’s sort of a cultural repository of ignorance, bigotry and superstition. Only those whose who are stupid about it. I myself am a Christian, but am bigotted ignorant or superstitious (unlees you think that belief in God, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost makes one superstitious). This is because I _do not_ interpret the bible literally(see my above comment about creationists). The bible is a book, open to interpretation, that gives guide lines about how to live. The only part that is not realy up to interpretation is the Ten Commandments, but I don’t think those could be be constued as a “sort of a cultural repository of ignorance, bigotry and superstition.” ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dangerous-is-christian-television/278831/34 "2004-12-09T02:07:09Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > You really believe that Marx invented atheism? Or are you just having trouble separating the lack of religious belief from the political/economic shitpile that is Communism? If you dislike Communism because of the militant atheism that always seems to tag along, or because of the dehumanizing nature of State-controlled everything, I care little. There is plenty about Communism to dislike. Besides, what is your point? (If you have one, that is) ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dangerous-is-christian-television/278831/35 "2004-12-09T02:09:22Z")
Never mind, **Brutus**. Having a point, not having a point…it’s all moot when having a “discussion” with you, anyway. Pretend I didn’t even post a response up there. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dangerous-is-christian-television/278831/36 "2004-12-09T02:14:31Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Never mind, **Brutus**. Having a point, not having a point…it’s all moot when having a “discussion” with you, anyway. Pretend I didn’t even post a response up there. Right. I’ll ‘pretend’ you didn’t have a point. ---
**Author:** ![Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/regallag_the_axe/32/445_2.png) [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regallag_The_Axe)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dangerous-is-christian-television/278831/37 "2004-12-09T02:19:38Z")
[QUOTE=Regallag\_The\_Axe] Only those whose who are stupid about it. I myself am a Christian, but am \*\*NOT \*\*bigotted ignorant or superstitious… [QUOTE] \*\*Really \*\*need to proof read my posts! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dangerous-is-christian-television/278831/38 "2004-12-09T02:27:16Z")
> [@Brutus](#): > > If you dislike Communism because of the militant atheism that always seems to tag along, or because of the dehumanizing nature of State-controlled everything, I care little. There is plenty about Communism to dislike. > > Besides, what is your point? (If you have one, that is) I believe that Jayjay was challenging the idea that Communism “caused” atheism, or that atheism “causes” Communism. There was atheism before Marx & company, and not all atheists are Communists. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dangerous-is-christian-television/278831/39 "2004-12-09T02:32:00Z")
Hell, yes, bring it on! We already got atheist TV (well, you know, public access cable, sort of TV). Hindu TV, Moslem TV, Buddhist TV, Bahai TV, Bokononist TV, Jewish TV (pay-per-view, I assume), _The Cthulu Hour_, why not, the more the Maryier! Amish TV might present some technical difficulty… And let the little shits see _all_ of it. Or none of it. One, or the other. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dangerous-is-christian-television/278831/40 "2004-12-09T02:33:25Z")
> [@Valgard](#): > > I believe that Jayjay was challenging the idea that Communism “caused” atheism, or that atheism “causes” Communism. > > There was atheism before Marx & company, and not all atheists are Communists. Who said Communism ‘caused’ atheism? Or that they even came around at the same time? I don’t think it can be denied that Communism brings with it promotion of atheism. (In the real world, that is. I care not about what Communism theoretically says on the matter.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dangerous-is-christian-television/278831.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dangerous-is-christian-television/278831.md?page=3)