Horror Movies

[Alison_P]

Is it a sin to watch Horror movies? I admit that I tend to watch them sometimes and actually enjoy watching some of them, of course for entertainment purposes only but lately, I guess you could say that since I decided to recommit my life to Christ, I have been unsure about whether I should keep watching them or not. As much as I enjoy watching some Horror movies, apart of me feels that it's not something that our Lord would approve of and that it would displease God. Are my instincts about Horror movies right or am I just overthinking it? 

[enoob57]

If you can fit this into a horror movie  

Phil 4:8

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
KJV

[Neighbor]

1 hour ago, Alison_P said:

Is it a sin to watch Horror movies? I admit that I tend to watch them sometimes and actually enjoy watching some of them, of course for entertainment purposes only but lately, I guess you could say that since I decided to recommit my life to Christ, I have been unsure about whether I should keep watching them or not. As much as I enjoy watching some Horror movies, apart of me feels that it's not something that our Lord would approve of and that it would displease God. Are my instincts about Horror movies right or am I just overthinking it? 

Good and interesting subject to consider.

Personal opinion is that it depends on whether there is  any "socially redeeming value" in the tale. if it is without any value, does not have a moral code to champion then yes it is rather sinful an indulgence.

Horror is an element of many a good story or even poetry, but exhibiting that which is sin simply for the sake of being able to do so  seems to me to be a sin as great as what is being depicted.

The idea of advertising on tv for general public of all ages young children including scenes of humans  eating  other humans body parts is to me a terrible sin. So to watch it in my opinion  is likely  encouraging  more of the same sin.

I do think the key element that turns a good tale into a sin is the lack of a strong moral code message. I absolutely refuse to watch any  presentation that uses autopsies as entertainment for example. I unfortunately have seen in real life far too many horrors unfold to the death of it's unfortunate victims and the endless anguish of surviving family and friends to be entertained by it.

Seems to me what is called horror today lacks good sense and tells no good tale, instead it is just exhibitionism  of vulgarities and outright demonically motivated and/or human depravity lead sin. Yes, I guess I do think it is participation in sin to watch and thus encourage more such presentations to be produced. I say that with appreciation of  the horror component in good tales and famous works of literature and even film or current video.

 

It will be interesting to me to read what others have in the way of reaction to what is being produced today as horror tales, especially in comparison to  the horrors of what may be considered more classical writings which involve horrors.

[Neighbor]

Not everything rises to the grandness or quality of some short tales, like  The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving, or even The Time machine by H.G. Wells, The word of God has much that is horror within it, horror that is reality. The thing it seems to me is again that redeeming value, is there any within the story, the tale, the account, the Bible prophesy even? Or is it just salaciousness? 

And if it is salacious, a perversion that denigrates and or perverts what God has created for good,  is reading it or watching a presentation of it a sin?  It will be for me, for it raises my own internal alert system that something is bad wrong here in the message being sent to me. May not be the case for others, but it sure is for me.

[LadyKay]

1 hour ago, Alison_P said:

I have been unsure about whether I should keep watching them or not.

This is a personal thing. It is all about how God directs your life. As for me, I do not feel that watching a horror movie is a sin. I did enjoy them more when I was younger. Now that I am old, I find myself making fun of the ridicules stupid things that the characters do in them to get themselves killed. It is almost laughable.  Anyway, rather or not it is a sin depends on what is going on in the movie, and how you feel the movie is effecting you. Is it leading you to sin?  If you  have a  conviction about it, then maybe it is something God dose not want you to do.    Well that is my take on this matter. 

[Guest]

True horror unsettles my spirit. Anything that does that I avoid. I guess you get used to it the more you watch it and it become entertaining. I guess it would be like watching porn in my opinion. You get used to it and ignore the Holy Spirit long enough that He stops admonishing you. Again, just my opinion.

[Debp]

I don't watch horror movies but I do sometimes enjoy a well done suspense or mystery movie.   I don't like anything gory but enjoy following a good plot and trying to figure out the culprit!  I guess it's because of all those Nancy Drew books I read as a kid!

[JoeChan82]

Let me tell you something I did recently.  I subscribed to Pure Flix.  This is a video streaming service that has only family and Christian content.  Now I watch it as much as anything.  There is no profanity, no raunchy jokes, no nudity and some of it is evangelistic!  You don't have to mute or pause the show if the grandchildren come over, because it is good, clean stuff.  

The horror movies that I have seen have witches, spirits, Satan.  Hang all that. Replace it with some wholesome shows.  Hope that helps.

[Mike 2]

Take a look at Romans 14 about causing others to stumble.

Also ,  1C0r 8:1 and on says that eating meat offered to idols is ....just meat. If you can see it as such then it is just food.  But...

When doing that someone who has weaker faith may still see it as a sin and you may lead them to eat that meat, not just simply as food but as they see it, as an offering to an idol....to them they see it as sinning and you have led them into sin, even though you yourself are not sinning.....not a good example for you to set.

I think if you are concerned in any way at all about whether what you are doing is a good thing or not you need to step back from it and really look at the negatives in taking part. Something is obviously nudging you and your spirit is feeling it. That's a good thing, you just need to discern now.

Both passages use meat as an example but the principle can be applied to anything we do.

Blessings