tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196630391794341478.post748464496100618075..comments2024-03-27T06:28:06.962-05:00Comments on Homeward Bound: You are what you eat...and hear, see, and readChrisBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04611311820554248004noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196630391794341478.post-52546553812410383172007-08-12T13:32:00.000-05:002007-08-12T13:32:00.000-05:00Danny, I haven't heard that about the Nazis and pr...Danny, I haven't heard that about the Nazis and propaganda, but it wouldn't really surprise me. In the past I spent a lot of time hanging around online with skeptics, and even though I knew they were the "enemy," I found myself picking up some of their thought patterns. <BR/><BR/>I think you can minimize the damage if you're aware and consciously trying to counter it, but you're going to be battle scarred. But if you're <I>also</I> immersing yourself in good things, it will help insulate you from the bad. <BR/><BR/>But in the end, I think you're right that it's best to minimize your exposure.ChrisBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04611311820554248004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196630391794341478.post-557542813627996392007-08-12T01:23:00.000-05:002007-08-12T01:23:00.000-05:00Chris,I agree with your reply. Thanks for clarify...Chris,<BR/><BR/>I agree with your reply. Thanks for clarifying.Jonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13533252542115553519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196630391794341478.post-77334949089878930712007-08-11T13:19:00.000-05:002007-08-11T13:19:00.000-05:00Something to keep in mind as observers of our cult...Something to keep in mind as observers of our culture, especially through the medium of TV and the arts I think, is that it IS impacting us. Take The Simpsons for example, I can’t remember the name of the Christian guy that lives next door, but his identity is probably that of an evangelical Christian. I remember his character as being a happy and genuinely good guy, but I think that they whitewash him with just enough lampooning so as not to appear out-right antagonistic toward Christianity; but still to cause the many Christians that tune in to desire not to be like him. In the end this mentally puts Christians on the defensive in their interaction with the world as they try NOT to be the caricature that they have been portrayed as on TV. The only real way, I believe, to avoid this is to avoid exposure. It is my understanding that the Nazis conducted studies on the impact of propaganda and concluded that even if the person being subjected to the propaganda knew that it was propaganda, it would still produce its desired impact on a person’s mind. To prove this point, listen as conservatives defend President Bush. You know that a defense is forth-coming when you hear the words: “He has made mistakes”, or “he hasn’t done everything right” and then the “but” and a defense. I never hear those words before any other president. Are we to believe that every other president has NOT made mistakes, or are we simply responding to seven years of Bush bashing propaganda?<BR/><BR/>This is a great post and I agree with it. I don’t think that a person can’t be a Christian AND watch TV. I don’t think a person is a better Christian if he doesn’t watch TV. I also think that there is merit to examining our culture through this medium. But I also think that one must realize that we are not equipped to digest a constant and frequent dosage, nor should we delude ourselves into thinking that even the smallest dosage is not having an impact on our minds.Danny Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15006024707303951009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196630391794341478.post-27574987194741355182007-08-10T19:37:00.000-05:002007-08-10T19:37:00.000-05:00As I said above, "I’m not advocating cutting ourse...As I said above, "I’m not advocating cutting ourselves off completely from our culture." We should engage our culture, but we should do it carefully, thoughtfully, and prayerfully -- which sounds like what you're doing. <BR/><BR/>At the same time, we have to be careful that we don't spend so much time "examining" the culture that we forget to immerse ourselves in good things. If we're not careful, we will have nothing with which to compare and contrast our culture.<BR/><BR/>I think it's an error to spend too much time with wordly things. (Some do it blindly; some do it deluding themselves that they're "studying" the culture.) The opposite error is to be so separated from the culture that you can't communicate with it. Missionaries have to learn the culture so they can communicate. But they have to be immersed in the truth so they have something to communicate. That's the balance I want us all to seek.ChrisBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04611311820554248004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196630391794341478.post-22101477421478271392007-08-10T17:12:00.000-05:002007-08-10T17:12:00.000-05:00Let me ask you this: Is it wrong to exegete the cu...Let me ask you this: Is it wrong to exegete the culture, then? What I mean is, I watch some TV and read non-Christian books. I don't think I do it to excess, but as I watch, listen and read I am constantly comparing these inputs to God's word, in order to determine what is good and what is garbage. <BR/><BR/>Where does this type of observation fall, with respect to your post?Jonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13533252542115553519noreply@blogger.com