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***Not about half the Old Testament, what with the murder and incest and stuff that's in there***

Quite a bit different in that the OT clearly portrays those actions as sin and shows their consequences. Most modern entertainment doesn't recognize the existence of "consequences".

***I don't read horror, or romances, because I don't think they're good for me.***

So you ARE making judgment calls. Difference is you make your call based on what YOU think in good for you.

***I don't form my life around whatever I last read or saw on tv.****

No one is immune to culture. I'll bet you are more acclimatized to homosexuality than you were 15 years ago.

Heh... well, fifteen years ago I was seven and didn't know what "homosexuality" was, so maybe so. If you mean "I think it's just jolly and ok", then no. I'm not more acclimatized.

Harry Potter has been huge for over six years. That's enough time for these oh-so-influenceable 12 to 14 year olds to grow up and start hitting real life. So where are all the new little pagans? Why aren't we reading weekly about demon worshippers setting fire to churches? There's no wiccan explosion out there.

When these threads start I always feel a bit torn. Growing up, I loved reading sci fi (and still do to an extent), but it was later when I realized what some of the authors were trying to subtly push. Take "Time Enough for Love". At one time, I loved that story about Lazarus long and his romp through the ages. When I was asked by my wife's cousin for an acceptable author for her 12 year old boy, I thought of Heinlein, Asimov, and others that I had so enjoyed in my youth. Then I picked up my worn copies of a few Heinlein books, and realized that the culture and life style he promoted in those books may be interesting, but it sure isn't Christian. It glorified sex, selfishness, and continually degraded any reference to religion. What really hit me was in college I ran into people who used the same type words and reasoning to justify similar lifestyles that Heinlein portrayed. Books effect people, epically kids. Look that the historical propaganda some time. Even when people knew it was fake, it still worked to a point (a lie told often enough...). Parents should be picky about the stuff their kids take in. It shapes them, and can start them down a path. How many people have found Christ because of a book. CS Lewis said "If a young man wants to remain an atheist, he can't be to careful with the books he reads." Why do we assume it doesn't go the other way also.