Media consumption

Pros of Mormonism from the perspective of the
Believer	Ex-believer
Watching good media is a way to keep Satan out of our homes. When thinking about media spiritually, Elder Ballard’s advice to not “allow evil influences to contaminate your own special spiritual environment” seems especially sound. Sister Dalton’s comments also seem spot on: “Few of us would invite perfect strangers into our homes to teach questionable values to our children while we are busy in another room. Yet in effect that’s what we are doing when we don’t monitor and participate in our children’s entertainment choices.” There harmful teachings in the media that children would not benefit from seeing.	The ex-believer  would probably agree that careful monitoring of media in the home has good benefits to children. Sister Dalton’s comments seem spot on: “Few of us would invite perfect strangers into our homes to teach questionable values to our children while we are busy in another room. Yet in effect that’s what we are doing when we don’t monitor and participate in our children’s entertainment choices.” There harmful teachings in the media that children would not benefit from seeing.

 

Cons of Mormonism from the perspective of the
Believer	Ex-believer
Many believing Mormons are often tempted by many of the TV shows and movies that would be considered off limits by most church standards.  They also feel guilty if they watch inappropriate media. Often, the believing member recognizes great entertainment value and even spiritual and educational value in media that has some violence, nudity, or rough language. Much of the deepest and most thought-provoking media is “R” rated or otherwise inappropriate by Mormon standards. Conversely, much of the appropriate media is bland. This can create some cognitive dissonance and can be awkward in that different believing member having different standards for what is appropriate. In the end, many members choose to sacrifice and give up watching media that might be questionable even thoughit is desirable. They are usually confident that the spiritual benefit of not watching outweighs whatever they missed out on by not watching.   Believing Mormons might feel socially awkward at times because of this, because media is also a big part of what people talk about. Limiting media consumption limits social interactions.	The ex-believer likely enjoys or at least recognizes great entertainment value and even spiritual and educational value in media that has some violence, nudity, or rough language. Much of the deepest and most thought-provoking media is “R” rated or otherwise inappropriate by Mormon standards. Conversely, much of the appropriate media is bland. Many Mormons who leave the church realize that it becomes easier to interact socially with other people, because media is also a big part of what people talk about. Limiting media consumption limits social interactions.