Thursday, 24 July 2008
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Question of the Day: Watching Horror Movies
I love horror (or more specifically, ghost) movies. I love peeking through my closed eyelids at the unsuspecting, soon-to-be victims of a haunted house. I love squealing when the ethereal old lady with no pupils appears out of nowhere. I love styling my hair to look like the little ghost girl in The Ring during nights when I'm bored and feel like freaking out my younger siblings. Of course, I always retract my love when it's 2 AM and I'm sleeping with the lights on, afraid to leave the covers lest the ghost kids come out to play (*why* is it always the KIDS that get to me?!) At around 2:30, when I'm overwhelmed by the need to use the bathroom, I start bargaining with God to never watch a horror movie again as long as He shields my eyes with, I dunno, armies of angels or something...
An old family friend confronted the healthiness (or rather, the lack of it) of ghost movies with this question: "Why would you willingly expose yourself to something that God was gracious enough to not let you see in real life?" Most of us don't see demons or dead people on a regular basis - and probably for good reason. I'm seriously moderating my ghost movie intake now as I've realized that the fear, while motivating me to pray really fervently at when I'm tiptoeing toward the bathroom at 3 a.m., distracts me from quality conversation with God.
Do you watch horror/ghost movies? Have they harmed your spiritual life, or are you largely unaffected by them?
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Comments (43)
I don't watch horror movies but only because they aren't my kind of movies to watch.
I may watch them with a group of friends, otherwise I won't.
Personally I don't think it affects me spiritually, however, I can see how it might affect someone else.
I don't want scary movies for the most part. I don't like being scared or startled in any way shape or form.
I don't think that watching them really infuences me in my walk of faith, or robs of any time with God...but I could see how it might distract others!
I know some people that the scariest of movies don't even affect. It's amazing the difference from one to another.
I love a good vampire or zombie movie, but like you, at 2 a.m. I'm always wishing I hadn't watched it. I've had to cut them out of my life for good - garbage in, garbage out.
Anything that has to do with ghosts or the evil side winning (like the Ring or the Grudge), I refuse to even watch the commercials. If I'm at a theater and a preview like that comes on, I'm the adult sitting there with my hands over my eyes like a little kid!! Those images get burned into my mind, and they only reappear in the middle of the night or when I'm alone.
When I think of stuff like that, I have to return to Philippians 4:8: Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
I like horror movies. Can sit through them easily.
I don't obssess about them in any way though..
Generally I would say they don't affect me spiritually, but I could easily be wrong..
It's somethig I just don't think about..
Well, for me, I don't really like watching horror movies but I'm not afraid to jump in shock or suspense.
Our youth pastor has generally warned us to stay away from horror movies just because you expose yourself and your spirit to unnecessary fear and heart-pounding, which is very good advice. However, it's up to each of the brethren to draw his or her limits without taking God's law for granted.
I don't watch horror movies because I believe that spirits are transferrable. Just like the feeling you get when you listen to a really good preacher or annointed singer on the television and you feel the power of God moving through you. The enemy is able to connect to you this way too.
We have to be careful what we take in. Fear is not of God. He has not given us the spirit of fear so anything that causes us to fear has to be from the devil.
I used to watch these movies and didn't sleep for days! Especially that movie The Others. (lol) It affecteed me spriitually because as you said I was wasting time that could have been spent with God watching the devil's movies about murder, mutilation and all sorts of evil.
I used to love watching horror movies, but I've limited my intake simply because many of them are just too gory for me. I no longer find any thrill in watching someone get butchered. Good suspenseful horror movies like The Ring, I do tend to still watch. It's just silly fun and I don't take it all very seriously anymore, which is why either I don't watch or what I do watch is no longer quite so scary. I'l still watch classics like The Shining to watch a well-crafted movie, but it won't necessarily get under my skin.
I live them, but if they seem to me sacreligous, then I wont watch them. An example would be the stupidist movie Cabin Fever, I was completely disgusted after I saw it. They have not affected my spiritual life for that reason and the fact the I have knowledge, the knowledge that it is just entertainment. Only if you know the truth about life you're good, that how I look at it at least. Anyways, be well!
Philippians 4:8 KJV Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Romans 12:2 KJV And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
the "world system" - the popular culture and manner of thinking that is in rebellion against God - will try to conform us to its ungodly pattern, and that process must be resisted.
Be careful with what goes through your mind. Keep your mind clean.
I like cheesy B-movie monster flicks from the 1950s, but I suppose that doesn't really count.
@Pass_the_Aura@xanga - "I Married An Alien from Outer Space" is a can't-miss!
I don't watch scary/horror movies simply because I don't like being scared at all.
I like suspense films, like mystery movies or cop movies, but I don't like horror. I can't take sadistic violence very well. The images stick in my mind.
Isn't God so merciful in that He still comforts us even after we are freaked out by things we subject ourselves to?
i don't.
i think my family's more sensitive to spirits and that kind of stuff... i remember my mom seeing all her daughters watching "ghost" like a decade ago and she hated the thought of a ghost possessing someone to declare their love to someone else. i thought she was just being a bore, but then i watched "pan's labrynth" recently (which isn't a horror movie at all, but is just kinda dark and heavy), and i just felt this heaviness hover over me, and had nightmares and attacks when i was sleeping.
i don't watch them because for me, it's inviting dark spirits to come into my mind and taunt me when i'm sleeping. why would i willingly do that?
There aren't that many really horrific movies out there. Most of the good vampire/ghost/demon movies are actually action flicks- like Blade, Underworld, constantine- or suspense/thrillers- Dragonfly, The Sixth Sense- not horror films. A horror movie usually relies on one or more of the following three things:
1) Gore. The nastier the blood and guts, the more likely you are to be afraid of the person wreaking havoc.2) Surprise. Seriously, would the Anaconda have been nearly as scary if they had seen it from far away? Not to anyone besides those who are already afraid of snakes. Hitchcock made my sister afraid of Birds. Birds! Birds are not scary. Birds that randomly fly in to windows when everything's nice and come, those scare, and once they do, it becomes feasible that they are scary at other times.3) Childhood fears. The Exorcist came out when kids, whose parents had told them to be good for fear of the Devil, grew up and started watching movies. Most truly scary things are from the same mold- they come from folk stories, cultural superstitions, or actual looming threats.I don't watch movies with a lot of gore because I hate the sight of blood. I do love to be startled by a good suspense thriller, and I don't really have any childhood fears to be awakened. In general, I just don't think scary movies are all that scary.
Now, radio shows about the Chicken Heart that ate New York City- those are scary.
I don't watch horror movies of any sort, or indeed anything violent or depicting anything of the supernatural. I was brought up not to but of course once at an age it does become choice and it is something that I continue to follow as a 'rule' of sorts in my life.
My pastor once said, (weirdly enough I was just listening to the small ministry on my ipod yesterday when she spoke of it) that if you watch horrifically violent moves or horror movies and then find your spirit is disturbed by them, i.e nightmares or being 'haunted' by the images you've viewed days, weeks or even months later, don't be surprised. We bring it on ourselves so we shouldn't then be complaining about something we readily 'fed' into ourselves. We turn to God for comfort then readily slide in another DVD which is going to start the whole process off again.
Personally I've never understood the liking people have for horror movies and the likes, especially considering their reactions after it, like you said, being nervous about sleeping with the light off or even going to the bathroom in the middle of the night etc. Why do that to yourself?
I don't dig horror movies that much, due to the fact that I think most of them are horribly overrated. I don't see how this could affect anybodys relationship with God. It's fake, it's supposed to be entertainment. He's influencing you on what movies you watch?
This is another reason why I don't have a religion.
But I am sorry that you feel that way. :[ It's never cool to be scared.
@nita105 - I'm with you. It's called "demonic oppression" for a christian, and it is REAL. You are opening yourself to all kinds of unclean spirits when you watch this stuff. And.... if you are not uncomfortable when you do watch this stuff, you are becoming caloused.
Think I'm opinionated about this subject? You bet!
i think the problem with horror movies is when u specifically show them to very young children. as a five year old, i saw the exorcist, IT, the stand, hellraiser, and others. my dad was a huge horror movie buff, and he loved watching them with us. the only problem was that they gave me nightmares and i was afraid to go to the bathroom alone for a while!
i actually am kind of obssed with the horro movies i am always the first one to want to watch one out of my friends, and family...i always wonderd why i like to watch them and them when it becomes night i am having panic attacks and i cant sleep. but i am starting tfigure out it is just the devils way of tempting me into to creating this demonic desire..it is his way to ruin my life if you thnk about when you cannot not sleep at night and your worked up in a sweat thinking your imagine seeing ghost and stuff, by the time it becomes morning your not able to function, which is a hazard to your health. which is why i beleive the devil has a plan to destroy my life, health etc. because i long for the things i dont need whne i do watch that movie i cannot sleep almost for a week and if i continue to do things like this to my sprit it will corrupt it and it will also corruptu my health and i will slowly just die..so i have really got to get on my knees and pray..what do you think
I looooove Hitchcock films.
I never watch horror movies, for the exact reason you hate them in the wee hours of the morning. My imagination is overactive and scary enough as it is. I don't need to give it any ideas! Plus, with my insomnia, I'm often awake that late, anyway, so I'd be dooming myself to a lifetime of nearly nightly fear. No, thank you!
My opinion on the matter: I tend to think it's a really bad idea to put that kind of thing into one's mind to begin with, if only for your own sanity. There are enough bad things in the world without adding imaginary horrors.
Are you kidding me? You seriously believe that horror movies impede religious faith? Please tell me this is an insidious joke.
Give a thorough and intelligent explanation as to how horror movies could POSSIBLY be an impediment to "conversing with 'God'". Your "friend" claims that horror movies are made of "something that God was gracious enough to not let you see in real life". Right. I guess that explains the paranormal phenomena I've been privy to seeing, experiencing, and of course completely debunks the "Ghost Hunters". Congratulations!
Next thing you know, we'll be reading an article on the evils and dangers of practising stage magic (a la' David Copperfield) and how those who do practise it are messengers of Satan.
@DistantStarlight@xanga - Ah, but sometimes facing the imaginary horrors is a cathartic exercise. Personally, I'm so neurotic and strung out half the time that, honestly, I need something "unnatural" in my head. Granted, my dream lives have been far more... sinister and frightening, the last few years, but they will make for great movies someday. I believe Roosevelt said it best though: "We have nothing to fear, but fear itself."
Though, having a mask wearing, chain-saw wielding maniac behind you is a damn close second.
I watch horror movies rarely, but only because I don't feel they have the quality characters I enjoy watching in other movies. However, I love the Hannibal Lecter series, and other psychological thrillers. I don't believe horror movies could really have a negative effect on people spiritually.... I mean, if you guys are like me, you're so thankful to be alive and safe after it's over... where's the harm in that?