Angel feeds interest in the occult?

[RandyGiles]

I was watching "The 700 Club" today and they were talking about how today's culture draws children to the occult and Wicca. Although Harry Potter took most of the heat, the report did mention Angel:

Experts say that interest in the occult is fed by video games, Internet sites and popular TV shows like "Charmed" and "Angel." Both programs regularly feature plots that revolve around demons and the occult.

It was pretty much what I expected from "The 700 Club" (with fewer death threats to supreme court justices), but it made me wonder if there are any christians who watch the show. I would like to hear your feelings about this if you do.

You can see an article on this at the CBN website here.

 

[Guestage_87]

YEah, I'm somewhat religious, some might call me a christian. And the truth is, most of the christian community likes to blame popular culture for the reason that youth are turning their eyes from God or school or whatever instead of actually focusing on being good parents. So of courses alot of their focus will be on shows with the occult involved. I'm not a traitor to my religion, it's just the way the christian community works, scape goating (every religion has their flaws, Hypocrisy just so happens to be the flaws that christians have) As a believer in that religion and as a fan of Joss Whedon's (A proffessional atheist) writing, I find no harm in Angel or Buffy. Half of the Bible revolves around demons and the such anyways. In fact, I find his shows very moral and very close to being biblical. YEah, Buffy had a practicing witch on the show, but look what dabbling into the black arts did to Willow in the end, she turned evil. And what stopped her from destroying the world? Not another powerful witch or the slayer, but the love of Xander, again very moral. Same goes for Angel, one reality in the joss verse is that he glorifies nothing, demons aren't glorified neither are the humans who fight them, everyone has their sins, another similaritie to the christian beliefs. And also, most of the people saying this stuff about Angel, are televangelist, the worst kind of christian. For every Minister who has never seen Buffy or Angel but still say it's evil, their's a minister who waits til the kids go to bed and watches the same shows we watch and finds some of the more spiritual aspects on the show, I knew a couple who actually felt the same about Buffy and Angel as I do, they don't let the kids watch because they think they might get too scared, that's all.

 

[RandyGiles]

Thank you. Although I did not really expect anyone to support what The 700 Club was saying, I am glad that you feel the way you do. I personally have little faith in religion, but I respect those like you who practice their religion without feeling the need to force it onto others. Fanatics like Pat Robertson who ask people to pray for the death of politicians are the reason that I have so little faith in religion. All ranting aside, I think that the show's underlying messages are clearly morally sound even by Christian standards, and religious groups should actually watch the show before they call it Satanic and corrupting.

While we are on the subject, I would just like to say how much joy it brings me to see these fanatics complain about Harry Potter being mandatory reading in schools when the Bible has been for years. We are reading the Bible "as literature" and not as a religious endorsement, so why not Harry Potter? Oh, how the tables have turned. 🙂

 

[Doyle]

Not to get all self-referential, but you might want to check out my thread in Inside Out:

https://www.buffy-boards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8344

You'll find in Commonweal magazine, referenced there, a source of discussion much more intelligent than the 700 Club.

 

[Mr. Pointy]

Hostile17,

You hit the nail on the head with the use of the term "scapegoat". It seems to me that "authority" figures (priests, government ministers etc - you all know who they are😉) are very quick with the kneejerk reactions against things they don't understand and are quick to blame "unsavoury" (to them) elements of pop culture for causing them. I'm pleased to see a more rational point of view from the Christian perspective.

Again guys, I think you are right in saying that morality is portrayed extremely well (in an almost "religious" way in fact) in the Buffyverse, the Simpsons, Harry Potter books and almost any other example these right-wing fanatics care to name (unlike their own hate-filled, twisted take on humanity). I would like to think that, although I'm not a Christian (bought up in a C of E environment though), I'm a more strongly moral person than some of these people who act in the name of religion (and we can all think of some examples from different religions - not just Christianity)

I think (yet to see the whole film) Michael Moore made this point well in "Bowling for Colombine" - blaming the tragedy there on those kid's liking for heavy metal music makes as much sense as blaming the fact that they both liked going bowling (ie. no sense at all).

It does my middle-aged heart good to see that you youngsters seem to have your heads screwed on the right way round 🙂

 

[Faithy]

Buffy minus Religion

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2002/136/31.0.html

that is an article called "don't let your kids watch buffy the vampire slayer (but you can tape it after they go to bed)" written by a Christian author.

I am a Christian, and I like Buffy, I see it as entertainment, and it's well written, not meant to be taken literally. It is after all a tv show, not a religion. I think people make to big of a deal about some of these things. The whole garbage in garbage out defense. But I believe that if people raise their kids up properly, that even Christian, yes I said Christian, kids can watch and enjoy secular shows without being tainted, or pulled into the occult. I pretty much agree with what Hostile 17 said, and just thought I would add my opinions and that link. Take care all..
Ciao