Entertaining America – The Staggering Cost in Dollars and Lives

By:Rev. Michael Bresciani

Movies are now produced at costs that rival the gross national product of some small nations. Media including TV, music, internet, games, and casual cell phone use cost as much as it would to feed nearly every person in Africa. But there is another cost that cannot be calculated in dollars.

It seems like a competition between film producers that has no top end. The Da Vinci code cost a whopping $125,000,000 while Harry Potter cost $150,000,000. The Chronicles of Narnia comes in at 180,000,000 but falls short of the heaping price tag for King Kong which was $207,000,000. This is big money but after all it is only money.

All media has a by product that costs far more than money, they all pedal influence. That product costs more than the unsuspecting American may ever know and in many instances is more than they want to know. It is hard to believe that the debate about how media influences our young still rages. Hollywood remains aloof while it awaits the final definitive scientific study that proves that our children are worse off for the influence of media. Their fear is that a final answer would at last make them culpable. If they really cared perhaps they’d be willing to give up the cost of the next big movie to do a study of their own, say about $200,000,000. Not likely you say? You would be right about that.

It takes no rocket science to look at Hollywood’s record. It is hard to deny the effect even if you can vociferously defend the cause. The effect is the raping of the minds of our youth and people with a low capacity to discern what is moral, decent, safe, and in some cases healthy. While Hollywood still insists that not all the facts are in on this subject lets peruse what is known about it.

Children see between eight and ten thousand murders on TV and films before they graduate from elementary school. Add to that upwards of one hundred thousand acts of violence and aggression. These figures are doubled by the time they are eighteen. Actors and movie makers claim they can’t make the connection between those pictures and the behavior of our children even while countless studies and reports have concluded in no uncertain terms that they do adversely affect our children.

Do the sponsors ascribe to the movie producers view of how much their movies, TV programs and games influence youth or the weak minded? Not for a second. If they did they would not foot the average $10,000 dollar a minute cost of producing a commercial. They would not pay upwards of $500,000 for a thirty second spot on the next TV broadcast of the Super Bowl. As Hollywood waits for science to prove whether their wrecking young minds the sponsors are using the humble science of mathematics to influence the buying habits of millions of people throughout the world. Put another way, can a thirty second spot influence millions of consumers while one hour and a half of murder, pummeling, dismemberment and slaughter have no effect on a young persons mind and spirit? I think we all need to do the math here!

Studies don’t need to prove what has run parallel in equal and direct proportion to the pro-active influence Hollywood has had on our children and our children’s collective behavior. Hollywood pushes sex and close behind that rape, molestation and pornography run rampant. Switch to violence and kids start killing each other at an alarming rate. Witness Columbine and similar incidents. All the best minds in education and science are debating what if any the negative influences of a few sharply defined and explicit images have on our children. As if it was just not possible to find a real and tangible connection. An obscure Chinese man only one generation behind us was not so naļve. Mao Tse-tung mustered the youth of the most populated country in the world in a revolutionary rage that brought to dust centuries of previous dynasties and culture. He did this with a little book full of comic figures. A far cry from TV and films but this little doctrinal comic book nevertheless raised the youthful ire of an entire continent to act in unison against everything the Chinese once held dear. Why didn’t someone tell Chairman Mao that youth wouldn’t be influenced by his little picture book? Maybe someone from Hollywood should have volunteered to tell him that he should wait until the definitive study was in from the halls of science. They could have saved an entire nation from the ensuing mayhem. Another not likely goes here.

Not just hiding behind their feigned ignorance of the facts, Hollywood often resorts to the old “It’s just entertainment” excuse to wrangle out of any responsibility. I doubt that “I didn’t know the gun was loaded” will make a very good defense when all the dust has settled. I received an e-mail recently from someone who took exception to an article I wrote on Dan Brown’s movie The Da Vinci Code. He said “Surely you must be joking when you ask how so many people can “believe” what’s in the Da Vinci code. Putting aside the fact that I have seen no numbers on how many people actually do believe what’s in Dan Brown’s entertaining bit of historical fiction, I find what he has written no more or less believable than another bit of historical fiction has been translated and retranslated by countless authors over the centuries”

Twenty four major translations later the book I believe he was referring to still has only one main message. Last time I looked it was the same as it was in the first century, put simply “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” John 3:16 Hollywood’s message should be this immovable, this hopeful, and this comforting. On last check I heard only death, sex, and mayhem coming from the entertainment bunch.

Whether someone believes in the bible or not it doesn’t alter the fact that the best Hollywood has ever done cannot make up for the wholesale damage it does to the collective psyche of a nation. But let’s get more specific. If even one life is adversely affected in the flimsy name of entertainment isn’t that one too many? Or have we become so comfortable with statistics that we can allow media to ruin the lives of just a few people, because after all it’s just a few. Is it OK to accept the percentages or are all people equally important in this land where Abraham Lincoln dared to think that all men are indeed created equal.

Media may indulge itself by touting the low percentage of people who actually did their worst because of the media’s influence, but is that acceptable. The media influenced Charles Manson through a Beatles song to engage in one of America’s goriest murders. John Hinckley influenced by a Jodie Foster movie tried to murder one of our most beloved presidents Mr. Ronald Reagan. In 1994 Oliver Stone released his movie “Natural Born Killers” after which a young couple from Oklahoma deeply inspired by that film went on a killing rampage. One person was killed and another was left paralyzed before they were stopped. This extreme behavior was undoubtedly caused by the media but it is tucked away in the Hollywood conscience by the soothing idea that it’s just a few extremist, just a very few people out of a nation of three hundred million souls. Let’s examine this kind of thinking.

In Luke 15:7 Jesus said “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth…” Conversely can anyone argue that if one sinner’s repentance brings joy, then one sinner’s final demise would bring sorrow? Would we try to placate God’s sorrow over the loss of one of the creatures he made in his image and offered his Sons life to redeem by saying it was just one or perhaps a few out of the whole bunch. If a woman had six children she loved dearly and you destroyed just one could she be assuaged or comforted by the fact that after all it is only one sixth of her family.

No, a whole nation is not likely to go awash because of the Da Vinci code movie. The God of this world will get whatever mileage he can squeeze out of it. Someone who is teetering between decision and indecision about Jesus Christ will be made to doubt. Some souls somewhere will start down a path to judgment because of this film. How many may do this is not certain. What is certain is that if only one is lost it is far too many.

To lead even one of God’s creatures to perdition has a price tag no one in media could ever imagine. The online Wikipedia encyclopedia has a list of over one hundred of Hollywood’s most expensive movies. Those top one hundred are in the list only because the spent $100,000,000 or more. Millions of people along with the media crowd have chosen to hide behind the old adage that “the Bible is open to too many interpretations.” I will offer yet one more interpretation for them to doubt. Luke 15:7 is clearly saying that in the end the price of all one hundred of the most expensive films cannot cover the loss of even one lost soul.

Digg del.icio.us Blink Stumble Spurl Reddit Netscape Furl

Article keywords: Hollywood, entertainment, Da Vinci, Harry Potter, Narnia, King Kong, Charles Manson, John Hinckley, Jodie Foster, Super Bowl, Beatles, Lincoln, Wikipedia, bible, Christ, sinner, lost, Ronald Reagan, Christian books, Oliver Stone, Oklahoma, prophet, message, images, explicit images, TV, media, Natural Born Killers, elementary school, youth, historical fiction

Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com

Rev Bresciani is the author of An American Prophet and His Message published by Xulon Press. He also has hundreds of articles online and in print. Please visit www.americanprophet.org

Top Religion and Spirituality Articles
1). Feng Shui Bathroom Wealth By : Mike Z. Wang Feng Shui has tried, true, and time tested wealth strategies that integrate theories based on Feng Shui Elements. Feng Shui colors and tools such as the Feng Shui Baguato provide followers the secret keys to lasting prosperity. If you did a Feng Shui Study, you would be fascinated by the relationship Feng Shui establishes between the bathroom and wealth.
2). SITTING ON THE BENCH FOR JESUS By : Irvin L. Rozier Many of God's servants are waiting on the bench for the Coach to put them in the game. They have prepared for the the day, time, and hour when the LOR
3). The Use of Mysticism in The Song of Songs By : Robert Bruce Baird The Use and Abuse of Mysticism in the Song of Songs:The incorporation of Aristotelian thought into the dogma of Catholicism was not the first
4). Differences: The Old and New Testament By : Christine Bettridge The Bible is a Book that has two main divisions in - the Old Testament and the New Testament. Even though there are these distinct parts of the Bible - it still has only one theme - redemption. This is necessary to understand because the whole Bible revolves around this theme, and some have said that there is a scarlet thread (of blood) that runs form cover to cover.
5). Bible Road Map - Or the Road Less Traveled By : Rev. Michael Bresciani In the last few years we have witnessed a woman who drowned her children just to keep her rich boyfriend. An ice skating competitor who had the legs of her top rival broken so she could win. We have seen a mother hire a hit man to eliminate her daughter’s competition in baton twirling championships. Another man destroyed his pregnant wife to be able to play the field, and live the life of a playboy.
6). God Has Pleasure When Christians Prosper By : Dr. Jay Snell God did not create us and then leave us to ourselves. He is very much interested in what happens to his children, the Abrahamic Seed Group. His interest in us caused Him to promise us healing, prosperity, family well being and salvation in the covenant He made with Abraham. (Gentile Christians are grafted into these Abrahamic blessing promises right along with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Israel.
7). My Prayer For Tonight By : CD Mohatta God. Thank you for the day today. God, I tried to do everything to the best of my abilities. I may have done few things right and others wrong. Please forgive me, my mistakes and please reward me for my successes if you so desire. God, I want to forget today and get up fresh tomorrow. I also want to forget all of my past. God, I want to love tomorrow as if it is my birthday.
8). Islam - Basic Beliefs and Concepts By : Mohamed Elsaied Islam is the most growing religion on earth, There is more than 2 Billion humans all over the world called Muslims. Islam Based on the Submission of human will to One God who is called in Arabic "Allah" The only One, The Superior and The Only Creator Of This Universe with no partners and all the existence under his own Control. Islam was the religion given to Adam The first Man on Earth who was created by God, not as fallen being.
9). Why Dreaming Is the Most Altruistic Thing By : Saleem Rana When we dream, we set into motion a whole sequence of causation that not only ennobles our own life, but that of other people as well. In fact, not to dream, not to act to fulfill it, and not to be true to yourself, is probably an act of selfishness.
10). Are we just physical beings? By : Shen Gerald Here's something that I have discovered: In the presence of a qigong or taiji master, a layperson may feel unusual, often discomforting sensations within their body. Some may feel giddy or develop stomachaches. Yet others may feel heat brewing within them. I know several qi-gong masters, so I am familiar with these sensations. How can somebody without.

New Religion and Spirituality Articles
1). Magic Spells By : John Layton Magical spells rituals, their history and modern views on the practice of magic. A quick definition and an explanation on the origins of magic.
2). The Power Of Praise And Worship When Facing Infertility By : Veronica Anusionwu Copyright 2006 The Lord Word On Healing Publications Today I will love to share with you the importance of Praise and Worship in receiving your blessing from God. Do doctors tell you that you are infertile? Have low or no sperm count? Have you been told you are too old to have a baby? If you answered "Yes," I am here to tell you that health, happiness, and a new family have all already been guaranteed to you.
3). Guided Meditation To Make You Whole By : Carl Walker Guided meditation is a form of stress relief that is conducive to relaxing the whole body, in part by finding a way of peaceful and calming relaxation from within the body. Guided meditation may utilize soothing photographs or scenarios to enhance the ability of the mind to relax and guide the body to a point of relaxation so that the person in meditation can find a true sense of inner peace.
4). What is transpersonal psychology? By : Lana Marie Willie Transpersonal psychology is an integration of psychology and spirituality. It includes all realms of being human, including realms that go beyond words and perceptions. It includes the awareness that we are spiritual beings living in physical bodies. When salt and water are mixed the salt is not observable and no longer takes up space but can be tasted as part of the water.
5). Mighty Warrior Crushed Enemy By : Veronique Belmar Copyright 2006 Words of Life and Health Hell to Shun Heaven to Gain The streets are crowded, the shops are thriving, clubs filled with delights and pleasure. Immorality became the thing of the past and worldly pleasures took control. The sun shone, the rain poured, the wind blew, the lightning struck, the thunder roared, the earth quaked and the people rolled.
6). Did you know That Worry And Anxiety Can Lead To Infertility? By : Veronica Anusionwu Copyright 2006 The Lord Word On Healing Publications Worry and anxiety can lead to infertility by shutting down the body's system and causing it not to function properly. During my years of working with couples facing infertility I discovered that many couples who faced infertility were victims of worry, anxiety, and unforgiveness. I always deal with these issues first before anything else.
7). Prevailing prayer By : David Cooper It was September 1957, four young men began to pray regularly in a little school near Kells, Ireland. They persevered and prevailed in prayer, so someone was converted in January the next year. Following that, there was about one conversion every week. Twelve months later they had a weekly gathering of around fifty people at their meeting, and around a hundred other small prayer groups had sprung up in the area! They held a service the next year, which attracted a huge crowd, so they poured out onto the street.
8). Are We Approaching A New Era Soon? By : Shen Gerald Unless one is living on another planet, one would have most likely sensed that our world is changing rapidly. If you have been following my articles, you will know that I, at times, receive messages of a spiritual nature. Much of my dreams and visions had foretold personal and some global level occurrences. The following is part of a messaged dream that I had in September 2005: "In the dream, a huge leopard appeared and moved towards me.
9). 4 Gifts You Can Give To Christian Fathers On Father's Day By : Nicola Kennedy Father's Day for Christian fathers is a special time. Not only are they celebrating the fact that they are blessed to be fathers, but also are giving thanks for having their Father, the Lord. Getting a gift for Father’s Day for Christian fathers is as simple as going to your local religious store, located in many malls and churches. Some great gifts.
10). Are we just physical beings? By : Shen Gerald Here's something that I have discovered: In the presence of a qigong or taiji master, a layperson may feel unusual, often discomforting sensations within their body. Some may feel giddy or develop stomachaches. Yet others may feel heat brewing within them. I know several qi-gong masters, so I am familiar with these sensations. How can somebody without.