If you want to see some interesting logic bring up the subject of what shows can be watched by a good Christian kid, specifically when it comes to any kind of magic. Different parents have different limitations on which cartoons they allow, but it's even more interesting which cartoons get the axe.
The reasoning is pretty simple. The Old Testament has admonitions against witchcraft and its related arts. The basic issue was that witches could divine the future, speak to the dead, and cast curses, all of which were forbidden activities. As mankind has advanced so have the powers of witches, adding enchantments, illusions, and even shape-shifting. As such, they have become targets of pretty much everyone, religious and otherwise.
With the return to prominence of the pagan religions, witchcraft has been given a more positive spin, and Hollywood has glommed onto the "good witch" as its "great new concept". The concept allows studios to have powerful female protagonists, making it a fun concept when they do it right. Interestingly, the liberated version, especially in terms of sex, has become popular in adult programming while the purity and female power aspects make it popular for girls.
However, none of this counts when it comes to religious right. All that matters is that the characters use magic, and magic is forbidden. As such these shows are placed on the restricted list, but the listing is arbitrary. A number of different beings make the list as well, from the obvious such as demons and sorcerers, but not others that use magic, such as fairies, unicorns, and even werewolves. The irony is that most of these creatures come from the Catholic Church's archives, from when they compiled various stories from around the globe.
However, the list of forbidden entertainments is hardly consistent. Although the general goal is to eliminate those programs that make the supernatural look good, there are a lot of shows that still make the cut. Interestingly, those shows that make the cut have supernatural powers as intrinsic to the critter, such as fairies, unicorns, and even talking animals, even though individual family may include them.
Basically, while I understand the reasons for not desiring to expose their children to the supernatural, especially a glamorized version of it, I just find it interesting that there are a number of exceptions to the rule. I find this encouraging, as it means that there is some thought going into the decision. I just wish it were more consistent, and more all or nothing.
The reasoning is pretty simple. The Old Testament has admonitions against witchcraft and its related arts. The basic issue was that witches could divine the future, speak to the dead, and cast curses, all of which were forbidden activities. As mankind has advanced so have the powers of witches, adding enchantments, illusions, and even shape-shifting. As such, they have become targets of pretty much everyone, religious and otherwise.
With the return to prominence of the pagan religions, witchcraft has been given a more positive spin, and Hollywood has glommed onto the "good witch" as its "great new concept". The concept allows studios to have powerful female protagonists, making it a fun concept when they do it right. Interestingly, the liberated version, especially in terms of sex, has become popular in adult programming while the purity and female power aspects make it popular for girls.
However, none of this counts when it comes to religious right. All that matters is that the characters use magic, and magic is forbidden. As such these shows are placed on the restricted list, but the listing is arbitrary. A number of different beings make the list as well, from the obvious such as demons and sorcerers, but not others that use magic, such as fairies, unicorns, and even werewolves. The irony is that most of these creatures come from the Catholic Church's archives, from when they compiled various stories from around the globe.
However, the list of forbidden entertainments is hardly consistent. Although the general goal is to eliminate those programs that make the supernatural look good, there are a lot of shows that still make the cut. Interestingly, those shows that make the cut have supernatural powers as intrinsic to the critter, such as fairies, unicorns, and even talking animals, even though individual family may include them.
Basically, while I understand the reasons for not desiring to expose their children to the supernatural, especially a glamorized version of it, I just find it interesting that there are a number of exceptions to the rule. I find this encouraging, as it means that there is some thought going into the decision. I just wish it were more consistent, and more all or nothing.
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