A Media Fast

[christianyouth]

I heard recently about a book that was released where a college professor encouraged his students to abstain from all forms of media. I can't recall the name of the book exactly, but I think it is called "Truth Decay" or something along that line. The students experienced HUGE intellectual and spiritual changes. So I was wondering, has anyone ever went on a media fast?

(also if anyone knows the name of the book or any studies done on this, that would be great).

God's Peace.
- Andy

 

[Ed Edwards]

I did not watch TV regularly (no soaps, no weeks series --
I did watch the occasional sports event and news specials
like the Cuban Crisis) from 1960 to 1976: 16 years,
ages 17 to 33.

I still prefer to get my news from a printed source
(where some thought can be given to what is written)
rather than TV.

There was a book written iby Marshall McLuhan
in 1964 called THE MEDIUM IS THE MESSAGE.
It is still true.

I don't consider my media fast to have been of
any intellectual and spiritual significance.
However, I'll share a few truths I found out
during my life:

1. Jesus is the answer
2. Truth is not words or statement -- Truth is Jesus
3. I can choose before God what to feel guilty
about and what not to feel guilty about (some people,
especially church people, get overworked and take
the 'easy' way out - control by guilt)

4. Still true:
Philipians 4:8 (KJV1611 Edition)::
Finally, brethren, whatsoeuer things are true,
whatsoeuer things are honest, whatsoeuer things are iust,
whatsoeuer things are pure, whatsoeuer things are louely,
whatsoeuer things are of good report:
if there bee any vertue, and if there bee any praise,
thinke on these things:

-Ed,
the former family member known as Andy

 

[Jkdbuck76]

Well, I did the opposite.....

At the end of 2007, I took many many many MANY days off work cuz I saved all my vacation days. This left me with plenty of time to watch the news in the morning and at noon and in the evenings at 6:00 and again at 11:00pm.

I was a much more miserable person as a result. I ranted more. Ignorance truly is bliss. I'd rather NOT see how many people killed their children. I'd rather NOT hear about the latest shooting. I'd rather NOT hear about the latest school teacher/ doctor / coach / clergy molesting kids. I'd rather NOT hear about yet another poor storeclerk get shot by hoodlums. I'd rather NOT hear about THE GREAT ELECTION OF 2008.

Being "informed" has its price indeed.

 

[Aaron]

Being "informed" has its price indeed.

Maybe part of your disillusionment is due to assming that the popular media actually informs anyone.

 

[MustardSeed]

As a former newspaper reporter, I fully recommend it!

 

[christianyouth]

As a former newspaper reporter, I fully recommend it!

Thanks, I'm starting it tomorrow. It's amazing how dependent on media I am, especially to fill my time. I really think that this is going to do me a lot of good, and maybe this will be a transition into a more disciplined, godly life.

 

[Ed Edwards]

Whatcha gonna do about Bulletin Boards media?

 

[just-want-peace]

The following quote prety well sums up the OP position!

The man who never looks into a newspaper is better informed than he who reads them, insomuch as he who knows nothing is nearer the truth than he whose mind is filled with falsehoods and errors. ~ Thomas Jefferson

 

[Rubato 1]

For my own sanity, I listen to national sports, but only to a few minutes of those east-biased blowhards. (Locals are MUCH better).

For my own safety, I listen to weather.

For my own convenience, I listen to traffic.

For my own Information, I listen to news about once or twice a week, and then only the first five-six minutes at the top of the hour.

I have little or no use for television.

I think I am as informed as the next person, and I know I am not as worried!

 

[dan e.]

A good book that relates to this is "Amusing Ourselves To Death"....Neil Postman? Is that the author's name?

 

[thomas not doubting]

I heard recently about a book that was released where a college professor encouraged his students to abstain from all forms of media. I can't recall the name of the book exactly, but I think it is called "Truth Decay" or something along that line.(snip)

(also if anyone knows the name of the book or any studies done on this, that would be great).

God's Peace.
- Andy

The name of the book is 'Truth Decay' by Dr. Douglas Groothuis.

 

[browes]

I am a youth minister, and our youth group conducted a five day camp this past summer. I used one of Ron Luce's studies as part of our curriculum. The study recommended a media fast, and I thought it was a very interesting and good idea. So, I challenged about 40 youth to a week long media fast beginning from the time we left camp. You should have heard the moans and groans. You would have thought I challenged them to go without air. I can't remember all the particular "rules" of the media fast in the study, but here's what we did:

No reading except for the Bible or Bible study (this was summer, so no school books)
No music except for Christian music (hymns, CDs, radio stations)
No phones unless you have to call 911 or your mom (emphasis placed on cell phones)
No TV unless you're watching a Christian station or Christian movie

Basically, no media unless it's Christ centered.

And the most important part of the fast is they were supposed to focus on Christ during the time they would have normally been under the influence of "media."

Some buckled within a few hours. In fact, I talked to one of the youth boys a few days later and asked what he did when he got home, and he said, "watched a mooo.... ummmm nothing."

But there were a few that took it seriously. There were a few that had me call their cell phone so I could hear their messages stating that they wouldn't be answering the phone because they were on a media fast.

Overall, I think the media fast was fairly successful. I know it made them aware of the time and influence media has on us today. Most importantly, I think they realized how much time they waste on things other than God.

 

[Andy T.]

A good book that relates to this is "Amusing Ourselves To Death"....Neil Postman? Is that the author's name?

Yes, it is. That is a very thought-provoking book. I read it in college and also a few years ago. He makes some great points regarding our media culture.

 

[Joe]

Hi Andy

That's wonderful you and others have decided to go on a media fast.


Our family has been on a media fast for years now. It feels like being on vacation 24/7. You will be so much happier!
We watch no TV except weekly movies from Netflix. We have cell phones but I don't consider it media unless other features are activated aside from basic communication with one another.
The movies we do watch from Netflix are special, and much more enjoyable. Almost all movies are reviewed at plugged in to ensure they are pure. It's like Christmas each time they arrive. We fast forward the pre-views, unless it is a movie from a Christian Company. Before, even a good movie couldn't be enjoyed as I wanted to see an even better one right after.

Our "media fast" includes whatever it takes to keep our minds away from vulgarities, violence, porn (including racy magazine covers) and porn stories found in traditional magazines. We don't attend Motion Pictures because the pre-views prior to the movie are often a "surprise". Do not subscribe to any newspapers. Shop mainly at grocery stores which do not display racy magazine covers at checkouts. We eat organic so sometimes I need to shop at Bell Air but pay for my food at the coffee checkout area, not the regular checkouts where the racy magazines are.

Some people consider this a list of do not's. Frankly, it' the opposite. It takes effort to go out of your way to place your mind in harm's way to feed it stories of violence, fornication, adultery, swearing, idolitry, materialism etc...

The media is an addiction so it will be hard to overcome it at first. It's just like a drug. Some even pay good money for this junk via Satelitte or cable tv, as I once did. No matter how you try to watch only certain channels, the inappropriate commercials are still there. The internet is different. Hardly is there a time when an accident caused me to see something I shouldn't.
People who deliberately expose themselves to the things God has commanded us to abstain will be judged, as I will be for the ungodly things I do.

Even visiting a persons home with their tv on is quite often embarrassing. Funny, being so desensitized most never even notice the soft porn, gay agenda, or vulgarities on the television commercials.

From my experience, people who avoid the media are fairly well grounded in their value system. It shows in other area's of life as situations arise, they are often easily identifiable.

 

[christianyouth]

Joe, thank you so much for the response. It's encouraging to hear the benefits it has brought you in your life. I bet that now you have a lot more time to devote to other things that are more rewarding like reading or exercise.

You're so right when you say it is an addiction.

 

[KJVkid]

We watch no TV. We raised 8 kids like that and they are all serving the Lord today and are very aware of what's going on around them.

 

[Joe]

Joe, thank you so much for the response. It's encouraging to hear the benefits it has brought you in your life. I bet that now you have a lot more time to devote to other things that are more rewarding like reading or exercise.

You're so right when you say it is an addiction.

You're welcome :1_grouphug: