New Light on Television Violence

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Scripture warns us that how we occupy our minds affects our behavior. Unfortunately, modern voices have said something else. They oppose the public expression of Christianity and decency because they say that it may have a negative effect upon people. At the same time, they tell us that when children study New Age religions, homosexuality and situation ethics at school or see violence on television, these influences will not have a negative effect upon them!

In recent years, parents have been subjected to conflicting "scientific findings" about the effect of television violence on children. Most Christian parents have had a clear sense that television violence has a bad effect on their children even if their children don't show any effects right after watching a violent program. New research clears up this seeming contradiction and supports what our Lord taught us. Researchers from the University of Illinois, showed that children who are already violent don't show much increase in their violent actions after watching violent television. Children who are not normally violent and who watch violence on television do not show much increase in violent behavior either, unless they are faced with a frustrating situation. Then, instead of reacting with little or no violence, they react with a much greater degree of violent behavior.

As the Lord who created us said, what we put into our minds will be reflected in our behavior.