there is a lot of variety in what people think among Christians. I won't watch sex scenes in films. It would seem kind of pointless to decry pornography and then watch such. I think a lot of Christians hold similar views to these:
1. Watching such supports the actors/producers in their behavior
2. Sex is a private act meant for the marriage bed alone and shouldn't be viewed by others. Jewish culture as a whole would have agreed with this point, and Jesus called men to an even higher standard when he said that even to look on a woman with lust makes you guilty of sin (basically desiring sin is also a sin). However, I think Jesus was talking to married men, since he makes the specific point about calling it adultery. Nevertheless, I don't think much evidence would suggest Jesus thinks that unmarried men should be able to watch porn.
Though honestly I no longer worry as much about supporting such.
Nowadays I watch a bit more in films than I used to. But i remember the days before I changed my mind about such things; in those days i probably would have been pretty shocked to go to the movies with most of you. But I basically decided that I needed to make judgments whether movies had some overall point that meant it was worth the violence and swearing. I mean the real world is going to have violence and swearing, so I figured it isn't worthwhile for Christians to totally detach from society. That said, there are still a lot of movies I won't watch. Those that I consider completely pointless violence that isn't even meant to honestly portray warfare or isn't necessary to the story.
It's kinda funny that even though I watch more these days; I don't really know if i believe myself when I say I'm not supporting others in sinful behavior. I never actually found any arguments that suggested that it wasn't true. I just decided to view it as one of those moot points that my support will make no difference in. I mean pornography is the largest industry. I don't think Christians can change that.
I guess I'm saying that I view it as indirect support, different than supporting pornography directly. I mean, whether it be politics, or religion, or even academic spending, not all the money you give to others will be spent in ways you approve. I'm just trying to be realistic.
anyways, i'm rambling, just because of the memories.
Ether, I think you did as much as was necessary. You can't know exactly how sensitive people are until you ask or probe them. They should have been honest. Also, they may had the mentality that they could take it. But taking it doesn't mean it is any less painful. Maybe they hoped you couldn't notice. also, maybe they didn't trust you to be able to honor their wishes without going into childish ad hominem attacks on their beliefs and how stupid they are.
it bothers me a lot when people constantly use my Lord's name lightly. Nevertheless, I have learned to ignore it. I mean I even asked my friends directly to stop when I was younger, and learned that it was beyond their abilities.
i'm a cynic, so the next time a friend asked me if it bothered him, i answered truthfully and said that it did. He said, "oh, then I'll stop"...to which I replied, "you won't be able to"
kind of a ******* answer, but people talk in the same way that they hear around themselves. Yes, you can resist such urges, but even I will often think of the most common phrase that I have heard for a similar situation and have to hold myself back from using vulgar language or my lord's name in vain.
But I'm digressing again; back on topic. Christians don't want to make waves more than necessary. I made so many waves between 18-21, I typically just ignore people or walk out now rather than actually discuss things. It's a pain to have to get into discussions like these regularly. Regardless, it's their duty to tell you when something bothers them.
However, they may think like I did with one of my best friends, "We've known each other this long, and he still doesn't even know me even that well?"
/rant off
ps - if i was vague, i watch pretty much anything..blocking my eyes for things I think inappropriate. But I do probe my friends carefully before going to the movies with them. I would never go to the movies with them without looking it up online first. I guess the worst thing I saw for sex/violence recently was "the watchmen." Looking down for that long in front of nonchristian friends is kind of awkward to be honest. But there are parts of the movie that I enjoyed. The main character was about as cynical about the world as me, so it amused me in that sense.
So it's fitting that I end with his quote, though I wonder if I'm warning/berating myself:
"Never Compromise"
