WELCOME TO OUR SPECIAL SUNDAY SERIES CHRISTIANITY vs CULTURE

1. WELCOME TO OUR SPECIAL SUNDAY SERIES CHRISTIANITY vs CULTURE

2. The global impact of TV

4. YOU and THE TUBE Christian Perspectives on the Influence of TV By Rolan & Weng Monje

5. Malayo na rin ang narating ng TV

6. The good and the bad • TV: what a wonderful invention! • TV: now becoming a curse • We can keep the good while screening out the bad

7. Bakit natin pinaguusapan ito? • Because TV is so much part of culture • Because we may not be aware of how television affects us • So we may know how to counter the effects • Because the Bible calls us to be unlike the world and call others to repent

8. The Bible says Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. – Ro 12.1-2 NIV

9. The negative impact of TV - general • Materialism/consumerism • Sexual exploitation • Violence and rudeness • Lessened concentration • Inability to relax and meditate • Weakened social skills • Public health: obesity, radiation levels, CRTs as toxic waste

10. The negative impact of TV - kids #1 Desensitization to acts of violence #2 Normalizing sexual encounters #3 Emotional and relational instability #4 Materialistic outlook

11. #1 Desensitization to acts of violence • American Psychological Association: The average child will see 8,000 murders and 100,000 other violent acts before graduating from elementary school • Images of injury and death contributes to feelings of insecurity and distrust • Concept: window of reality • Violence breeds violence

12. Even Power Rangers? • D. Lebo & S. Keiser, educ specialists: MMPR is the most violent program ever produced for young children, averaging 200 acts of violence per hour. • According to studies, even non-aggressive girls are inspired towards injurious behavior.

13. From the experts: Queenie Chua, AMDU • (Inquirer, 6/10/07): Studies have shown that children exposed to violent films tend to imitate what they see. TV promotes unhealthy stereotypes, such as the shrewish mother-in-law who engages in the “sampalan” common in local soap operas.

14. The Bible says Let us have a genuine hatred for evil and a real devotion to good. - Ro 12.9b PME Blessed are the peacemakers: for they be called the children of God – Mt 5.9 KJV

15. #2 Normalizing sexual encounters • The average person (including kids) watches 14,000 sexual references on TV per year • Add to this suggestive language used • Even the daily news presents unsavory stories and sensitive issues • Most TV series (local or otherwise) introduce immorality in their plots

16. American pop TV

17. From the experts: K.C. Moran • International Communication Association, New Orleans, LA • Studied effect of Spanish telenovelas on Latina teenage girls …. data show qualitative support for a third person effect. The teenagers were sure there was no effect on them, but articulated potentially dangerous effects on others.

18. The Bible says Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. – 1 Co 6.18-20 NIV

19. #3 Emotional and relational instability • TV bombardment lowers EQ • Creates shorter attention spans • Pacing destroys training in patience • Promotes passive learning • New disorder “couch potato syndrome” related to obesity • Develops into laziness and aloofness

20. From the experts: Jane Healy • In her book “Failure to Connect," this learning specialist explains the effect of media "Children whose minds seem 'jumpy,' who respond indiscriminately to irrelevant noises, sights, or thoughts…. Too much sensory bombardment … Teachers believe that increased 'tuning out' by media-blunted brains is one factor in the growing epidemic of attention problems."

21. From the experts: Queenie Chua • (Inquirer article on TV effects,6/10/07) In the past five years, I have received so many requests to help attention-deficit-disordered kids in elementary and high schools that I no longer take on new cases.

22. From the experts: Aric Sigman • Sigman is an associate fellow of the British Psychological Society and a member of the Institute of Biology. • Revealed that excessive TV watching was linked to obesity, behavioral and sleeping problems in children. • Sigman calls TV watching a “major public health issue” and says that reducing TV viewing must be “the new priority for child health.”

23. From the experts: Columbia University,NY • College of Physicians and Surgeons, followed 700 children for a decade • Result: 14-year-olds who watched TV for more than 3 hrs daily were twice as likely not to finish school as those who watched for less than an hour. • The reason? Watching too much TV made activities such as homework and reading more boring and more difficult.

24. The Bible says Huwag maging tamad sa pagsusumikap; maningas sa espiritu; mapaglingkod sa Panginoon – Ro 12.11 TAB Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master – Rom 12.11 MSG

25. #4 Materialistic outlook • Both adults and esp kids are made to feel that they need the products to be happy; highlights unfulfilled desire • Commercials are designed to stimulate impatience • Wrong concepts of success, beauty, and love • For kids: the art of “whine-making”

26. From the experts: Dr. Diane Medved From her book “Saving Childhood”: TV trains us to feel satisfied with surfaces; to focus our adoration on characters who make the most appealing visual presentation, without a thought of their ethics or accomplishments

27. From the Bible The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. – 1 Sa 16.7b "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. – Mt 6.19-21

28. TIME TO RE-THINK SOME THINGS

29. For Parents • Generally, kids who watch much TV rely heavily on pictures than words, video than audio • Kids who love TV don’t like to read  they won’t like to read the Bible • Kids who love TV don’t like to listen  they won’t like to listen to sermons

30. From the experts: Dr. Fely Pado, UP • Dr. Felicitas Pado, president of the Reading Association of the Philippines Listening is the building block of reading, according to educators…the [listening] problem is observed globally to too much media exposure of children. • "We have media babies. They're used to viewing. So our pupils have poor listening skills."

31. What about ‘educational’ shows?

32. What about ‘educational’ shows? • Still needs to be limited • Too much Disney, Dora, Sesame Street, and Blues Clues and kids find their teachers (and you) boring and unanimated • More education is developed in families with limited TV time • Case: kids in Notre Dame, Manila

33. From the experts: Dr. Dimitri Christakis (Children's Hospital and Medical Center in Seattle,2004) studied > 1,000 children. He found that kids aged 1-3 who watched TV or videos regularly faced a 10-percent increased risk in attention deficit problems when they reached age seven. The American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends that kids below the age of two not watch any TV or video at all.

34. Some sobering stats • Phil TV broadcast started in 1953, but the negative effects are practically the same as in the US • In a year, the average child spends 900 hours in school and nearly 1,023 hours in front of a TV. • High school graduate rate in Phils = 75.3%

35. More stats • Nielsen Media Research (Manila, yr 2006): Housewives who are 40 years old and above and children from two to 12 years old spent the most time watching TV …Two to 12 years old kids watched TV for an average of 3.9 hours a day • Mega Manila residents spent an average of 3.7 hours a day watching TV, an increase from the 3.6 hours that was registered in 2005

36. So, how should we respond?

37. Think about it • Lahat nung oras na yun sa harap ng TV!?

38. Think about it • In the average human life span, a person watches 10 years (around 1400 hrs of TV/yr) of uninterrupted TV time! • That’s more hours than anyone will ever spend working, more hours than all the schooling for a masters or doctoral degree, more hours than most people get to enjoy their families

39. Magisip ka, kapatid! • Imagine all that time lost… • 10 years…nakatapos ka na sana ng Ph.D., nakapagsimula at kumita sa negosyo, nagtatag ng NGO, natuto ng musical instrument or other skill, nakatulong sa daan-daang tao, nabasa mo na sana ang buong Bible 97 times!

40. Think about it • What do you want to be the greatest influence in your life? In the life of your kids (or future kids)? • How would you compare your TV/movie/video time and your Bible reading time? Your prayer time? • How many spiritual books have you read this year?

41. Who do you want to influence your kids?

42. A ‘Channel 23 Psalm’ The TV is my shepherd, I shall not want It’s make me to lie down on the sofa It tempts me away from the faith, it assaults my soul It leads me in the paths of sex and violence for the sponsors’ sake Yea, though I walk in the shadow of Christian responsibilities There will be no interruption For the TV is with me It’s cable and remote, they comfort me

43. Channel 23 Psalm It prepares a commercial for me In the presence of my worldliness It annoints my head with consumerism And my coveting runneth over Surely laziness and ignorance shall follow me all the days of my life And I shall dwell in the house, watching TV forever

44. Finally, corrective measures • Be convinced that TV has become a negative influence globally • Limit TV viewing time by choosing the shows you really want to see • Start making rules in your home • Talk to your household about it • Avoid meals in front of the TV • Go for only one TV per household

45. From the experts: Aric Sigman • Sigman also gives the following guidelines: 30 minutes to one hour maximum of TV watching for children aged 3 to 7, one hour for those aged 7 to 12, and one-and-a-half hours for those aged 12 to 15, and two hours for teenagers aged 16 and above, and even for adults. • This includes even educational shows.

46. Other pointers • Parents: don’t make TV a babysitter • Control the TV time(& video games) • Watch TV with your kids • Take time to plan for your kids • Take time to go out w/ your family • New moms: No TV for babies < 2yrs • Newlyweds – wait 3 mos – 1 yr before buying a TV

47. Some things we can do (even w/ kids) • Sing/learn songs • Listen to music • Take care of pets • Visit relatives • Help kids with HW/do household chores together • Learn a hobby or craft • Do a Bible study with someone • Clean up the closets/storeroom (!) • Start exercising (we all need it)

48. Some things we can do with our kids • Visit an orphanage • Make cards • Playing board games • Learning Pinoy games – piko, sungka • Grow a garden • Read a book; read books to your kids/pamangkins • More ideas at websites like www.trashyourtv.com

49. Labas tayo! • Visiting a relative • Visiting an orphanage/HOPE site • Various sports – swimming, badminton • Going to a park/playground/zoo • Biking/kite flying • Walking/pahangin lang • Eat out (kahit hindi mahal) • Planned family vacation every yr

50. Eto at iba pang mga material ay makikita sa www.addtoyourlearning.com