Oh what about Where The Red Fern Grows? That movie is one of my favorites ever! We rented it about 6 months ago and the girls saw it for the first time. No matter how many times I see that movie I always cry at the end.
Coming in late...do I still get some cookies??? lol. I thought I was strict on movies until I read this thread. LOL. There are certian lines that cannot be crossed. I am not into most of the movies aimed at kids like Happy Feet and Shrek. I just don't care for the crude humor. I can't really say it is harmful. My kids, my dh and I discuss a lot of what is in movies so even if the content is questionable they get an explanation. My limits are the sex stuff, making fun of the bible or God....oh geesh...depicting witchcraft as harmless fun or glamorizing it....stuff like that. I noticed some objected to Pirates and Spiderman. I love those movies! lol. My kids have seen them all...or all that are on dvd. I did skip the one kiss in Spiderman though...it was a bit racey I thought..LOL. I also like Spongebob, though we hardly ever watch it. My family loves Star Wars. We loved National Treasure. I do allow some Barbie movies. My dh and I loved the Lord of the Rings movies but the kids have not seen them. My kids saw Fantastic Four. I think we cut out a scene or two...I think...I don't remember. I have allowed most Disney movies. However, the new movies aimed at kids are so full of adult stuff that we stay away from those. My kids are pretty solid in the Word and seem to have shown a great amount of discernment. THe same themes and ideas that would evoke a worldly or carnal thought in me is not in them. I have seen my kids stand pretty firmly on what they believe and what lines up with the bible. There are movies aimed at their age they reject due to content. In fact, there are a few things it seems my dd is more strict on than me. LOL. This is not to say that they can be exposed with no fear of them stumbling. I just think the triggers of carnality are different for different people based on their lives and exposure. I want to keep my kids innocent of evil as the bible teaches without running the risk of having extra bibical standards. I just make sure I view movies first and discuss things in the movies we watch. In fact, much of what we see is used to teach biblical lessons. I don't even go by ratings. There are G movies I would not allow but PG 13 movies like Star Wars 3 that I have. My dh and I simply view movies first and then allow them to see them. We did take them to see the Incredibles before seeing it first. However, I read the review on Screen It and Unplugged. I had no problem with that movie. I also don't have a problem with most violence. Anyway, I do think we need to careful with what we allow our children to view. When it comes down to it we all want the same things we are just convicted in different areas. When in doubt I don't allow the movie or the tv show. For a long time my kids were not allowed to see Spongebob, Hannah Montana, or Drake and Josh because I had not seen them. Now they are allowed to watch all three. I think the key for my family is just not to watch a lot of movies or tv. Oh...and my kids love that Suite Life of Zach and Cody. Honestly, I would worry more about the influence of real life people and friends than movies. At least in the movies and tv I can be there to explain everything. lol. Now...please understand...I do think it is highly important to guard our eyes and be innocent of evil...I don't allow ANY dragons or vampires or anything that trivializes the Lord. If I feel the least bit convicted to not allow the movie or show I do not. I just think we all have different trigger points.
I hope to explain my position carefully, knowing that we all "see through a glass darkly." Though I hold certain views firmly, I want to be willing to let go of them when shown more of the truth or a better way of looking at things. So, I'll be happy to answer your question, but it's not about you or any other person here. Your and my opinions about Veggie Tales may differ, but my respect is high for your diligence in teaching what you think is the very best. 1. Veggie Tales aren't very accurate, for one thing. Yes, they are "tales," or fables, but not the Word of God. They mix fact with fiction, and unless parents are very diligent to point out where they depart from the Biblical narratives, the children almost certainly will not be able to pick this up themselves. 2. What's the point of giving cucumbers and peppers names that belong to real people? Why not let people be people with their own foibles, idiosyncrasies, and failures as well as their own heroism? There's plenty of entertainment in that! 3. Cartoons like this put the Bible on the level of pretend and "make believe." Children know that veggies don't talk; so in their minds, maybe all of it is fake. I mean, how can they decide which part is and which part isn't? Don't get me wrong. Fiction has its place. Aesop's fables, for example do a fine job in teaching certain life lessons. The difference is that we know that they are fables (pretend stories) which are trying to teach a lesson. With the Veggies, how is a child supposed to discern exactly what is pretend and what is "Bible?" If Veggies are all pretend except for the "truths" they highlight and only somewhat related to Bible stories, it seems to me that it would be better to use other names and not imply that they are Bible stories at all. Veggie Tales fictionalize the Bible. 4. The Divine plan for the human race is noble, glorious, powerful, and exquisitely executed in righteousness in the minutest detail by our wise and loving God. It is impossible, IMHO, for vegetable caricatures to adequately portray those awesome qualities. Entertaining? Yes. Teaching good lessons? Possibly. Inspiring awe and worship of a Holy God? Hardly. And accurately introducing the Word of God? No. Thank you for wanting to hear my HO. I am honored that you asked me, Becky.
There have been a lot of the movies mentioned on this thread. Several have said I love and watch this but I don't let my kids don't or I don't care for it but my kids do or we all watch it, etc., etc. We all have our own 'opinion' on movies and most of them have been interesting to read. That being said, LOL. I don't mind the Veggie Tales, has anyone seen The Lord of the Beans? Jen -I don't remember if anyone dies in The Fox and The Hound. I don't think they do? I think the guy on it is a fox hunter though.
That is one thing that I love here is that we can have conversations like this and most of the time no one gets offended. I think it is interesting to hear other opinions and get feedback whether we agree with it or not. Btw, watch out for the cookies if they are Nellie's oatmeal ones!! Praire Home, I wish that I were half as articulate as you are in your writing!! My sis sends me emails that make me cring when I think of how mine sound! I was laughing at yours because I could picture you going out of the room for your drink. I love it when someone writes in a way that I have a "visual" to go with what I'm reading. It is definitely a gift!
Prairie, I asked because I'm going through this situation at church and it's driving me nuts. I'm the director for our children's ministries, and I have trouble getting proper lessons for the 3's and 4's. I looked at a VT program and passed on it, but I'm sorry I did, because I think it wold have held their interest and they'd retain more. As far as fictionalizing the Bible stories..well, I never caught that, but they would learn more as they moved up in their classes. My thinking is, get their attention now, and build on that as they get older.
LOL!!! Did anyone notice Euph thinks we graduated to throwing fire bombs at each other?? He's grabbing a flame shield!! I guess we fried all the tomatoes onm that other thread!! LOL.
OK-OK! I wasn't going to respond to this thread anymore...only being that I 'could' think of 'several' movies, if I sat here long enough and pondered the thought...or checked amazon for lates releases and said, man that ones gonna suck...LOL. BECAUSE I just dropped my LARGE bag of unwanted dvd's out the door. So, there are no more in the house that I want to get rid of...well sometimes BUT What about my cookies...:shock:
We have that one. Many of the VeggieTales DVDs are Bible stories, but there are many that are take-offs on other things (Lord of the Beans, Sheerluck Holmes) and some that are more fables (Snoodle's Tale), etc. I think they are a good spot to start for young kids, and that as they grow older they do realize that the people in the Bible are real and were not vegetables. Just my opinion, though!
I have to say I agree with that. Although, I had never thought of that position before it was brought up several months ago. My kids have seen almost all the Veggie Tales. We, as a family, have always enjoyed them and will continue to do so. However, I think I will cut out the ones portraying real people. We loved King George and the Ducky. That was based on David but it was not David..ya know. You could watch that and then relate it the story of David to your kids. I am not fearful that my children will think that those in the bible are vegetables. That is just silly. It is a whole attitude I am trying to instill in my kids. We worship a Holy God whose holy and perfect Word should not be fictionalized or trivialized. Now do I think VT is harmful? No. Do I think those who allow their children to watch it are trying to trivialize the bible? No. I also reject nativity scenes made out of teddy bears or rubber duckies that you find in Oriental Trading Company. I reject tee shirts depicting Jesus as "cool"...I wish I could remember more details of those shirts that came out..maybe my point would be better made. lol. Anyhow, if I reject other things that IMHO, trivialize or fictionalize the awesome perfect Word of God than I guess VT would be a milder form of that. I am not saying I am right....nor am I going to lead a protest at my church against all the VT videos we have. lol. I guess, however, if VT ever showed baby Jesus as a french pea I would. lol. Ya know, there are many things that we as a society would never dare put in cartoon or veggie form out of respect for those involved. Can you imagine if they did a Veggie Holocost with that papa pea or whatever he is as Hitler and Bob as a Jew in a concentration refridgerator? What about Veitnam or Pearl Harbor? How can we have more respect for earthly men than the Holy God who created them? Now, I am not banning VT or anything. I love the Veggie Tales and so do my kids. However, our conviction about the Word of God in my house is so that it cannot be altered or changed in any way. So, if a story that claims to glorify the Lord is not accurate (altered) than it has no place in my home. I realize that from an adult perspective VT is nothing compared to some other things that willfully pervert the Word. However, for a child does it not set them up to accept other things that trivialize and or fictionalize the bible? My questions are me questioning myself and my point of view...to challenge me not you. I don't spend time thinking about VT. So, this is my thought process. If I am wrong...I am wrong...no problem. :love: :love: :love: :love:
This conversation is good for me, too. Everyone has valid points. It's an opportunity for us to consider other's thought processes--the "why" of the things others allow or don't allow, about things that seem pretty clear to us, ourselves. I so much appreciate being able to "eat the cookies together" instead of throwing them! Hey! I think some of them have some chips in them! Are they caramel or butterscotch or what? We have always only put raisins in, but these are good, too. Now, I'm going to have to look up those recipes again and try them, myself! In regular face-to-face groups, I tend to remain silent much of the time, because many people have not developed the skill or desire to want to understand where another person is coming from. Thank you for assuring me that I may have at least partially succeeded in not totally offending everyone. So I may just stay in the room and keep learning about the rest of you and your rationales. There are some eternal issues that I hope I will never compromise on, but on the topic of VT, I can stand here munching on cookies, listening to you all and nodding my head in agreement about much of what you say. Jennifer R, how about munching on some vegetables along with our cookies?! Deena, are you still in the kitchen? Ava, how much fun it was to see your thought-processes at work. I could almost hear you debating with yourself! Becky, you might very well be able to use some of the Veggies profitably for your little ones, and I hope you won't let this conversation rob you of any joy in doing so!
Prairie, you did not offend me! Also, I am totally impressed at your ability to be so eloquent in the middle of the night! :lol:
I am very interested in everyone's view points and opinions. I am still standing in the kitchen listening and observing. I have just brought out choc. chip cookies and I would love to hear what everyone thinks about High School Musical. (My DKs used to love Veggie Tales when they were little and there was a show PBS called something like The Book of Virtues. They liked that as well.)
Okay- gingerly stepping in from the hallway... no one is throwing anything at the moment. (BTW- the cookies are good!) Anyway, here is my take on VeggieTales. VeggieTales are audio/visual stories. (The originals, not the watered down ones on tv now that can't use Qwerty because it is Bible verses...) I didn't disallow feltboard Bible stories because they are only 2-D and read by a Sunday School teacher. I allowed board pop-up books and flap books when they were little that showed Noah's ark and the animals, but my sons knew the animals weren't real behind the flaps. I think it is all a matter of perspective. When my children were little the VeggieTale movies were a way to introduce a concept (sharing, teasing, lying, being scared, etc) with a Christian perspective that my DH and I then had to reinforce. Who hasn't seen a puppet used in a children's Sunday school class? Who hasn't had ridiculous songs sung at camp? As long as they are not opposing your theology, they are a tool. (Again, in my opinion.) Not as eloquent as others, but that is my opinion. It is also one of those things like curriculum, that SOS works for some but not others, or Abeka-- it is math and lang arts, but different needs/wants for different families. As far as "High School Musical"- we love it in our house. The kids are dressed modestly (IMO), even if I can't personally stand those low-ride jeans. The songs are upbeat, and there is only one kiss on the check in the whole movie. No one dies (wow- in a Disney movie no less!), and even the "villains" are likable in that they aren't totally spiteful. (Did that make sense?) We can't wait for HSM #2. Thanks, MT3
I am enjoying the cookies also...anyone make a pot of coffee yet? I could use a cup or two with my cookies. Please don't misunderstand.....my remarks on VT had nothing to do with them not being real. I too was a Sunday School teacher and am now a junior church teacher. I use visual aids all the time. I love the VT shows on concepts like sharing and so forth. I also used felt boards. Of course the kids know the stuff is not real. My remarks spoke more to the idea that the stories were not accurate and may protray ACTUAL biblical people in a way that does not show we have an awesome holy Lord. We have a God that if his face is looked upon we fall dead. We have a God that created a heaven and earth. Our God is immeasurable. I only ask if showing actual scripture in an inaccurate way may take away from the concept of a holy God and a perfect Word. Just thought..and a valid point, IMO, lol. Another reason why I also consider this point valid is the respect we often show toward earthly men and events. If we see some things or characterzations as disrespectful to common man shouldn't we give MORE respect and honor to a Holy God? Or are the two not even in the same ballpark when we talk about VT? Maybe...I am really going through a thought process here...lol. Basically, does would God approve of seeing His Word protrayed in an inaccurate fashion by singing vegetables? That is what I am wrestling with. I don't want to fall into extra biblical standards as that is just as distasteful and diminishing the Word. I am trying to follow a line of logic...maybe logical? maybe not? Does anyone see at least what I am trying to say?? LOL. My family liked High School Musical. I thought it was adorable. We have seen it twice. Honestly, I am most impressed with Disney lately. I remember thinking years back that it was full of junk and not very good for kids. However, from the movies and tv shows I have seen, I must say they are pretty decent. MT3--I think you described HSM great! THat is exactly what I thought about it. Except for the no one dies part...I am not concerned about death being portrayed in movies. I guess it just depends on how it is portrayed. OH and does anyone mind if bake up some chocolate chip cookies? Maybe even a tall glass of organic skim milk...lol. Oh..after the coffee...lol...man we may be here all night long! PJ party!
Just to let everyone know - I'm not offended by anything anyone has said at all. I think is it so awesome that we can all come together here with so many different view points and openly talk about it!!!! I hope nothing I said has offended anyone either. Anyway moving right along...... I really like High School Musical. Samantha owns the movie and the soundtrack. My neices got to see it live at the Toyota Center here in Houston. By the way I just made a fresh pot of coffee and my peach cobbler is in the oven!!!
OK I am going to have to ask since my son is only 3. Is High School Musical a movie? I thought it was a TV show. Or is it both?
