I just read a
post from a Christian who does not own a TV in her home and does not plan to purchase one anytime soon. Many of her reasons are faith-based; she argues that many programs promote un-Christian themes, and she feels that not having a television allows her to spend more time listening to God. She points to other reasons as well.
Here is her list:
1) It's easier—without the noise of the TV—to create an environment that helps me be still and quiet so that I can actually
hear from God!
2) I'd rather
live life than watch it! Same with sports. I'd rather play them than watch them.
3) In an insanely busy society, I can hardly
keep up with life and priorities as it is, without a television competing for my time and attention.
4)
My heart's dirty enough without pouring more filth into it.
5) Even the stuff that's not "dirty" is usually
counter to God's way of thinking. I want to love what He loves, hate what He hates, and think like He thinks.
6) I'd rather
talk to my friends and guests than vegging with them in front of a screen.
7) It's
easier to be content with singleness when I'm not constantly being bombarded with television's take on guys/relationships.
8)It
keeps me from comparing myself to women whose idea of beauty is perfectly unrealistic.
9) It gives me
more time to read the many, many great books out there.
10) It
saves money -- no monthly cable costs.
Although I respect her reasons, it would be quite a challenge for me to live without television. It's not that I'm addicted to any of the programs -- I watch television much less than other college students do. I know what programs are okay for me to watch, and I avoid those that challenge my Christian morality and values. I suppose I could call myself a wise TV viewer -- I never take anything I watch at face value or believe that it's absolute truth. I tend to evaluate the shows that I watch and think about what aspects I agree and disagree with. And despite the fact that I watch TV, I still set aside some special time to talk to God.
What do you think about this woman's decision to not have a television in her home? Would you be able to live without a television in your home?
Comments (68)
I've been considering this, but I know it would be really hard at first.
I think she has chosen " a more excellent way". I would like to do the same thing but this is a work in progress. But I would not be prescriptive for others
I think her decision is wonderful
I hardly watch TV, if I do, it's Food Network. XD I watched a LOT of cartoons back in the day though. I could live without cable, probably, but the set itself? No, I like videos too much.
I commend her reasoning and her commitment. Now that I'm a college student, I watch movies a lot more frequently, but growing up, we had a TV that got turned on about once every two months to watch a movie and the occasional serious times where we felt we should keep up with the news, such as 9/11. So it would be pretty easy for me to turn the TV off completely.
My boyfriend will be turning 20 soon and has not had a television in his home, ever. I know plenty of people like that...
Good for her.
In reading her list of 10, I think she makes the best case I've ever seen for not having t.v. by far. It's a personal decision, and it sounds like the right one for her. I watch very little television (although you could argue the internet is my t.v). My favorite show ended last season (BSG), Lost is ending this coming season, and there will never be good story telling on t.v. again. All shows will soon be hokey 'reality' shows. I may as well join her and unplug it for good.
I have TV's but no cable or any other service. I use them to watch DVD's only.
I already live partially this way. I really don't watch much television at all. When I do, it's a baseball game or Christian TV. Rarely do I watch anything else. She has good reasons here!!
I grew up without cable or even broadcast TV for most of my life. We grew up reading TONS of books simply because there wasn't much else to do, and I must say I'm very very grateful for that (even though the spoiled kid inside felt "deprived"). It's surprising how much of American conversation revolves around TV... and more than a little disturbing. A few months ago, our family got FIOS. We hardly watch TV even now, but we do spend most of our time on the internet (case in point).
For an exercise, our youth group went on a "media fast" as part of Lent one year. It's incredibly difficult (especially the part without internet), but well worth it.
I think her decision is perfectly valid. Why watch TV when there are so many other great things to do?
Personally, I can't stand TV and I rarely watch it. When I'm at my in-laws' house, I'll watch a little, but I rarely actually pay much attention to what's going on. They usually have political or educational shows on, anyway.
Come to think of it, I do pay pretty close attention to cooking shows when the Food Network is on, but, to me, those shows fall under the "educational" category. At least, the non-reality shows on the Food Network.
My husband's thoughts on TV almost mirror mine exactly. We have a TV set, but we never watch any shows on it. However, for my husband, that will change when "Lost," his favorite show, starts up its fall season. Honestly, the only thing we have a TV for is to play video games. We have cable, but that's only because our landlord provides it- even then, we've checked out the cable on just two occasions, for five minutes each time, in two months.
Part of the reason I don't watch TV is because I think most of the shows are stupid. There are some educational shows, like on the Discovery Channel and Food Network, that I want to watch sometimes, but it's not hard to find similar info on the internet. The rest of the reason for my semi-boycott of TV is that it tends to trigger very unhealthy eating disorder behaviors in me. Commercials are especially bad about bombarding viewers with images of paper-thin, "beautiful" women with bodies not unlike that of my preteen sister in law. It's seriously unhealthy for me.
I grew up most of my life without Cable, using the TV for movies and the occasional news. We have cable now, because my husband wants it, but if I could convince him to live without, I would. As it is, we only watch "educational" shows and the occasional prime time show we both like. But even those tend to be nerdy, lol. We avoid the reality/MTV/Sitcom group like it's the plague.
I personally believe TV really does rot your mind. It wasn't time with no gain. ~ L
I have a TV, but I don't have Cable (yay no monthly bills). So the only thing we use our TV for is for the DVD player.
I have a tremendously high amount of respect for this person for not watching TV. It can be a black-hole for your time and more often than not, it gets more time sacrificed before it than God does.
Good post.
This is not unusual, particularly among graduate students or people with hobbies.
I haven't owned a TV since I was 7. It's not really an issue. You have more time to do things and less distractions. And there is always Hulu
I am going to print this list and get my hubby to read it. I have been asking him to get rid of our tv for a couple of year now.. but he won't. I did not have a tv for about 10 years, and I miss the quiet.
I watched TV maybe once a month in college. If my wife didn't watch TV, I probably wouldn't watch the little bit that I do.
As far as her reasons, eh.
But how can she survive without watching TBN?
...Hmm. I may have a point there.
Sounds good. I especially like #2. We can watch people socialize and hang out and build relationships, or we can just go ahead and do it ourselves. Imagine if tv characters watched as much tv as many of us do... that would make for a boring show!
I've known of quite a few people who don't have tv's. I personally don't spend money on any special tv services like cable, but I can still easily forget there are other things for me to do with my time..
...like go on the internet...
Good, I have been living without it for several years, but my family needs it... Sigh~ That's why when I was living alone, I lived without TV. It was so easy, well, I have even lived without computer back then when I was younger, I used to draw a lot, play with my younger brother and went out; doing what kids should do, getting active and ready. In the future, when (or if) I have no need for a computer, I may well discard it and settle in one of the villages I can find. I have always wished for living a simple life, being closer to nature. When will this happen? Well, I don't know, even if I were to be single forever, even if I would live alone without a family. They don't want to live simple lives like that, I can't force them; but this is what I want. Simplicity, isn't it a great thing? I would be moving out anyway when the time comes. I just have to wait until that time comes, I don't mind whether it comes sooner or later, because I am sure that it will come!
I would live without tv, if my parents didnt have it in the house. I watch on a occaision but a lot of it doesnt really interest me...
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!
It's a neat thing to do. I've thought about trying it myself, but...I don't wanna. Lol.
My husband and I are both formally trained as actors. In particular, my husband feels led to be a part of the media/enterntainment industry. I have often struggled with whether or not I should continue to watch tv and movies, knowing that I would likely become out-of-touch with my own profession (to a certian extent). This is not to say that I think I need to watch everything, but to cut it out completely? I am not sure. I am still a work in progress.