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Is anyone else sickened by TV shows that present religions and different cultures in a severely bad light? Right now on A&E there's a show on satanism and how it has ruined people's lives. I'm not a satanist, but I know a bit about it, and I know for a fact that what this show is presenting as fact is completely wrong.
What are your views on this, for any religion or group?

I am a all around religous person but I love Satanism and people always portray it poorly. If you read the eleven rules on my profile it explains a lot. I do get sickened by those shows who take a coule crazy freaks who say they are satanists andsay we are all like them.

This show isn't even talking to real satanists. It's talking to people who claim to have been used and had to sacrifice babies to Satan. That's messed up. I have seen one show on TLC that actually used facts, but only that one.

I just turned on my T.V. and I'm watching it. It seems stupid. Not the the religion! But the show! I never really was a religious person, but I believe in God. I admit I have my doubts now and then, but I believe in Him. As far as other religions, I respect other people's beliefs. I won't "force" them into Chistianality like the people at my school.

Thank you for that. I do try to keep an open mind as much as possible since too many others are closed minded.

I haven't watched tv in so many years, this show sounds horrible.

Sadly, I used to think the same thing about satanism until I actually went to Basic with a satanist. It happens everywhere though, misrepresentation of peoples religion. It is mostly perpetrated, from what I have seen, by catholocism and christianity, but they are victims of it from time to time as well. And almost every religion has done their share. Except maybe Buhddism. But anyway, it's sad, but no point really in paying attention to it. Hell, people still think I have to dance half naked around a fire in order to do anything at all in my religion. I just laugh and let them believe. Anyone with common sense will brush aside the shell of lies to see the truth.

The children at my school are constantly on my friends back about him not believing in God or Heaven. They won't take no for an answer! They offer to pay him to go to church, they are so pathetic. They have no respect towards him at all. Then after they try and force God into his soul, they turn cruel and call him names and pick on him. It's rather pathetic of them. I try and tell them to leave him the fuck alone, but it's no use.
They don't understand that no one can be forced to believe in something. They are the reason I will never do that to anyone. Everyone needs to just respect each others religions and leave it at that.
I'm saying this for my friends sake.

I agree with every statement so far. People should read about Anton LaVey. He was a genius. Musically and Morally brilliant. I truly love almost all religions. Religions are like spokes on a wheel...They all lead to the same place. This very reason is why I got rid of my cable and do not watch TV.

This is the first time I have watched TV in a long time, but it would figure that I would turn it on to find that crap being shown.

it is through the decline of stimulating content that i have quit watching t.v. i even contemplat allowing ym kids (when i have them) i watch it. it is either intellectually lacking, superficial, impractical. or based on erroneus thought.

i have even gone so far as to feel that the world would be a much better place without it.

in all reality, how many problems are resolved so perfectly and so quickly as portrayed on t.v.?

and the advertising soemtimes leads me to wonder what some people are thinking.

watching videos in class is really hard for me because i counterpoint it.

i watched a video called "virus of violence" where a "converened parent" said that she didnt want her kids to grow up to be horrible people, so she allowed them to play violent video games and shoot paper plates in the backyard. umm... duh? the video made the point that violent media plays a big role in violent people... ^rants for a while longer^

sorry... it just really pisses me off... being an individualist and all....

it is through the decline of stimulating content that i have quit watching t.v. i even contemplat allowing ym kids (when i have them) i watch it. it is either intellectually lacking, superficial, impractical. or based on erroneus thought.

i have even gone so far as to feel that the world would be a much better place without it.

in all reality, how many problems are resolved so perfectly and so quickly as portrayed on t.v.?

and the advertising soemtimes leads me to wonder what some people are thinking.

watching videos in class is really hard for me because i counterpoint it.

i watched a video called "virus of violence" where a "converened parent" said that she didnt want her kids to grow up to be horrible people, so she allowed them to play violent video games and shoot paper plates in the backyard. umm... duh? the video made the point that violent media plays a big role in violent people... ^rants for a while longer^

sorry... it just really pisses me off... being an ^existential^ individualist and all....

^sorry if this posts twice^

What you folks need to understand is, what they air on television if for pure ratings. What appeals to people *most people that is* they will air it. No matter how true or untrue it is.

I'm a tv buff, I have no life so....lol

well i dont have cable but,. i hate it when the dont show 2 sides of storys. its sorta like a fox news trhing

I read about it in a book a friend of mine wrote-- actualyl spoke with some folks from the First Church of Satan. They seem very, very intelligent... not hokey.

i dont watch tv much but from what i know they always are berating the religions that are not chistainity. I dont see any thing wrong with Satanism or any other religion

I mean whats the point in downing someone elses religion if u know nothing about it

See its stuff like this that makes me glad that I try and give my children as much imput on all religions.. that we research things and look at all the good and bad information out there and make our own choices.

This is another example of why we do not watch alot of tv in our house... sighs..

there is so much false and misleading information out there, it does sicken me too. people always assume that anything having to do with Satan is evil and wrong because its going against "god", who represents good and happy things, right? the opposite of good is evil... not many people who worship god are willing to take the time to learn about the ways of the devil, and although people accept different religions alot more these days there will always be people talking about the things they dont understand in them.im sure it makes excellent ratings to have someone cry over being taken by the devil and how it ruined their lives...i dont think it will ever change. these people are just ignorant, consider yourself above them.

See it's stuff like this that I personally am just starting to not care about.... I will talk about religions but once someone starts to put down a religion because it is different that is when I say what ever and throw the towel in. So much today is based around religions and such that I just don't honestly take apart in the stuff that back talks others for it. Things like this just annoyed(sp) me enough to just stop caring when hate stuff comes into play.....

most people will never understand some religions until u have praticed them so i say dont judge them til u have practiced it

I study all religions- and I know that even though this program may sicken you- realize that people have warped it.

Radicals are in all religions and give a bad name to nearly all spiritual sects. That's why so many people fear it, just like many people fear Christianity- because of some people's practices.

Not all Mormons practice polygamy- but most of the documentaries you see show all the residents of Utah with numerous wives and molesting their daughters- but this is not true of all Mormons. Not all Christians dance around with snakes. Not all Muslims hate America.

This documentary spotlights warped people practicing what they call Satanism. It's good to be informed of what some people do. I love these documentaries- but my mind is strong enough to not label everyone as a warped radical. I judge people on how they present themselves and the way they interact. What attracts me to people is intelligence- and you can be my friend with any religious belief you choose, as long as I am repsected.

Much like Satanists- I believe in spiritual enrichment through my own work on myself, and that ultimately I am answerable to myself. But I also believe I answer to karma, and a God I cannot explain that's carried me through fire~ and I believe so much more I could never get it all in a single post here.

But this documentary- let the actions of these people sicken you... because these people are giving A&E a reason to document it this way. Knowledge is power- these people don't have it.

What bothers me more than all that is that many of the reputations that are given to Satanists and Left Hand Pathers come because you get real sickos justifying their criminal and disgusting behavior on these paths

Because these things aren't well known the mainstream picks it up and airs it. Sure there is some level of uneducation in regards to it all but these people that act out and become media targets do more harm than the religious bashing that is common place not just against us but against other organized religious sects as well.

It is usually an idiot or idiots on TV or in the news that ruins the reputation for a whole sect.

lol you brought up Polygamy and Mormonism, something I know a little about having been raised Mormon and living here of course. You don't hear about how the church sends donations and charity work, and all sorts of other things to people that have been hit by Katrina or the Tsunami, or really anything else.

No what makes the news is the pedophiliac crimes of the weirdos that call themselves Mormon. You might find in the articles that the church excommunicated them years ago for these things, or that they hold no real affiliation with the church, however that doesn't seem to grab the public's attention.

They see the worst parts of the story run with it and then insist that the Mormons are all like that. It's kind of irritating. I have a little brother that is on his mission in Brazil. I have always hoped that he doesn't get crap or abused because of the morons out there that play at the religion that he faithfully practices.

I'm not going to pretend I know much about Satanism, because I don't.

However- it's just like anything else.

How often do you watch the news and hear the good things that happened. Or pick up a newspaper or magazine and read a 'feel good' story. Not very often. Don't get me wrong, there is the occasional story about someone who did something selfless, etc. But for the most part- it's not good.

Unfortunately- bad is what sells. Sounds to me like they were looking for ratings, not truth.

It is not often that you will find sheer truth in the news, if ever.

Surprisingly- if you check out Satanism in wikipedia, their explanation is pretty valid and unbiased.

wikipedia kicks ass :-)

If you look up "Dark Spirituality" in Wikipedia aside from my own material on it of course of which somehow is mysteriously linked, they have a great definition of what I follow. I don't think I will be making any news though...

Thank you for that

I do not like to see the media at all LOL, must less when they are trashing a religion, especially one the they do not understand in the first place.

NEVER TRUST THE TELEVISION.

RESIST THE LURE OF THE CATHODE RAY AND IT'S INSIDIOUS PROPAGANDA.

Sigh, propaganda and the lure of ratings - how so many subjects are warped and twisted... not to mention how people's interviews are twisted out of proportion, and/or taken out of context to suit their own agenda with the show - NOT the truth.

i have to agree with almost all of you so far. i don't know much about satanism so therefore i don't judge it or those who practice it. i guess a good saying would be to each his own. and the t.v. thing i feel is mainly for ratings and it is another way for the media to force feed people their ideas on a certain religion and it is shady that they don't tell both sides of a story. i think in a way its also a way for christianity to be shoved down peoples throats. i'm not saying i don't believe in God but i agree with some of you that i just do not like it when people try to make you practice their religion opposed to one you choose to practice. and they turn around and treat you badly when you do not succumb to their ways.

There are two types of Satanism.

The ld fashioned Satanism,the one with the rituals and taht can ruin your life and the Neo-Stanism the one of Anton Lavey.

Therefore there's soem truth in that programme.

At least you don't live in Malta where in a programme it was said that all those who listen to metal are Satanists and nowadays we can't go out without getting bad looks and get called nasty names!!!!

They are confusing "devil-worshippers" with Satanists...not the same thing. You'd think they'd do some research...

Actually there are probably just as many if not more sects of satanism than there are sects of Christianity.

Yes what most can't get is that there is not only Lavey's Satanism...-_-

I know of people who ruined there life because of Satanism.

However in Tv Programmes things are always exagerated like they associate metal with satanism,the wiccan symbol,the anarchy symbol etc....

Thank you all for your wonderful input. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one that hates TV and its lies.

You wanna know how bad that show got? It said towards the end that if you loved your parents then they were Satanists and were using that power to make you love them, so therefore you must completely cut off all ties to them. What a load of crap!

Actually it was kind of showing how a Christian preacher was warping the love between parent and child- saying it was Satanic because they were too close... and trying to make this lady believe other things had happened to her as a child that didn't. I was 'half-watching' it as I was on VR last night. You had to read into it, They were talking about how some people blame Satanism on a lot of things when it actually isn't the case.

what scares me most is how really closed minded are people...once i had an argumant as poeple sustained for example that satanists worship satan and they sacrifice babies..i told them..no its about self worship and they dont do that actually...they called me dumb....'of course its about satan what the hell you are stupid?' ....i rolled my eyes and left them to their blessed ignorance...why wasting my time on them after all?

even the fact that im wiccan = im an evil witch btw....*rolls eyes again* BLESSED IGNORANCE!

Wow, I am so glad I don't watch much T.V at all. I prefer reading or listening to music, but at any rate, I don't believe in any religion myself, but I am very tolerant and am willing to listen, just as long as it is not pushed onto me. Portraying something that is popular and very controversial in an incorrect manner should never be done. Even though it's a missinformed television show it's still putting a group of peoples beliefs down and condeming them. That is wrong. Anything that condems anyone or wrongly portrays something due to misinformation should be left well alone.

I to am fed up with ridiculus tv shows and movies about religions. I am a satanist and have been since I was 14... It is unfortutnatley unavoidable that some people wil do all it takes to mock a large religion...I have had a debate with my local Christian priest about satanism, and he was not negative at all....

But it really does not matter what other people think or do, if you feel good about your religion ( no matter which ) ridiculus and childish opinions about it will not get to you as much. Most people fear what they do not understand and so it has been since the dawn of life.

That's society for you. No matter what we do, or say, there will ALWAYS be at least one person who will totally annihiliate the true meaning behind each religion preferrences.

I believe that whatever someones convictions are, make their own form of whatever religion they are basing their beliefs on. Satanism, Christianity, Buddism, Toaism, what ever your preference, it is no one else call to make, belittle, degrade or put down. I heard the rumor "Touched By An Angel" was cancelled from CBS due to metioning God in almost every episode. Through all religions, presecutions follow.

Not to mention that there is always some asshole who wants to get famous on Tv and brainwash people by doing the fake moralist and blaming others for the crappy things that happen in life.

I don't hate Tv I love it but am sick and tired to see these types of people.

i agree with all they symbols. i listen to HIM and some of you may know the heartagram...well just because it is in the shape of a "pentagram" (actually its a heart with a star added to it sometimes surrounded by a circle). well just because of the symbol the group itself and many who listen to them are considered to be satanists. when in actuality the symbol stands for love and hate...in a way like the yin yang. i think in a way i am more open to understanding other religions such as satanism, wicca, and others because i have always had an open mind. i've always been interested in reading and watching movies/tv's about various types of religions. and i guess in some ways no matter what a television tells me i am like most of you i'll watch it just to see what its about but it does not change my view of things. I was watching a show that just happened to come on last night as i was in the forum...well this lady was leading what some would see as a "bad" life? well some people she knew converted her to Christianity and they were rather persistent too. well she became this holy roller who shoved it down peoples throats. she was a phone operator for information. well every time she answered the phone she ask the preson "have you met jesus???" well needless to say in the end of the show her husband dies and she and her daughter decide to wait for God to take them to him. well they both decide it would be ok to go now since they were "saved". well the mom obviously nutty shoots the little girl...goes to shoot herself...and in the end don't kill herself because if she did she couldn't get into heaven. i know it was a tv show but those are the type of people i just cannot stand that shove their religion down your throat like its your breakfast. i also do not like the hipocrits that say for you to do one thing then do another. and in one way or another the show i watched was a bash on christianity to make it look bad so who knows who made the show and had the motive to make it look that bad. in all religions there are the good people who follow their beliefs and do as they say. and their are others who as i say are hipocrits who do not practice what they preach!

Once again I say:

NEVER TRUST THE TELEVISION.

RESIST THE LURE OF THE CATHODE RAY AND IT'S INSIDIOUS PROPAGANDA.

Follow your heart and your inner wisdom.

Ultimately, it is what *you* think that counts for your own life anyway.

you are right MINAMURRAY

TRUSTING TELEVISION IS THE WORST THING YOU CAN DO.

Follow your heart and your inner wisdom.

Ultimately, it is what *you* think that counts for your own life anyway.

well as we can see throughout this thread, there isn't just one belief being slammed by the media. stay true to your own beliefs, live as you believe and others temporarly (spelled wrong) blinded by television; will have their eyes opened.

its the fallacy of general steriotyping... (pardon my spelling..) but no matter what you do, when you do it, and who else does it, that steriotyping will always be there... but i guess you gotta roll with the punches

I find it is really sad that people that are of a different religion, are judged. I find that if somebody does not understand or know about a religion, they assume the worse. Or they believe what others have told them, instead of finding out for themselves.

Darkfantasywriter - good point made. I think it's easier for the general public to swallow the concept of "devil-worshippers" rather than trying to actually fathom what Satanism might be theorizing...

Devil-worshippers can just be chalked up to misanthropes easy to be called upon for blame...

let's think about the West Memphis Three on that account...

hollywood in general sickens me. even those things which are supposed to be "reality" or factual are always twisted and warped in their portrayls.

i personally believe every religion and belief structure has some merit and truth even the darkest paths, and it always saddens me to see so much ignorance because so many things brough about from ignorance result in unjustified prejudice

it is really pathetic because shows like that dont even have true satanists on the shows, they normally get a few crazy people who give satanism a bad name

I hate the fact that the older generation think that satanists are goths. Or only goths worship satan. silly really

Most of the shows of this type are only interested in sensationalism.
-AD

i've read and watched so many things about the west memphis three. i don't think any of them had anything to do with the murders. it was just the way they looked, dressed, and what they believed, and the type of music they listened to that persecuted them. i've read that the boys that were killed...one or all of them were circumsized the way a doctor would do it...perfectly...and there was no way they could have done that to them. to this day i know damien is still in jail...what about the other two??

the only thing i watch on tv is 24
but ill have to check into that show

i found this on the west memphis three. it shows how what been called "satanic panic" took over and they are all in jail....for books they read, clothes, etc.... it says it below and i've posted the website for anyone interested:

Shortly after three eight-year-old boys were found mutilated and murdered in West Memphis, Arkansas, local newspapers stated the killers had been caught. The police assured the public that the three teenagers in custody were definitely responsible for these horrible crimes. Evidence?

The same police officers coerced an error-filled “confession” from Jessie Misskelley Jr., who is mentally handicapped. They subjected him to 12 hours of questioning without counsel or parental consent, audio-taping only two fragments totaling 46 minutes. Jessie recanted it that evening, but it was too late— Misskelley, Jason Baldwin and Damien Echols were all arrested on June 3, 1993, and convicted of murder in early 1994.

Although there was no physical evidence, murder weapon, motive, or connection to the victims, the prosecution pathetically resorted to presenting black hair and clothing, heavy metal t-shirts, and Stephen King novels as proof that the boys were sacrificed in a satanic cult ritual. Unfathomably, Echols was sentenced to death, Baldwin received life without parole, and Misskelley got life plus 40.

For over 12 years, The West Memphis Three have been imprisoned for crimes they didn’t commit. Echols waits in solitary confinement for the lethal injection our tax dollars will pay for. They were all condemned by their poverty, incompetent defense, satanic panic and a rush to judgment.

But there’s still hope for them, and you can help.
http://www.wm3.org/splash.php

me not sickened cause i don't belive in the devil or god but for the matter yes if there going to show the bad the should show the good on both kinds of ppl u shouldn't watch a&e tho cause thats all they do watch the history channel on stuff like that its alot better

Its sad that the people who work to put shows together are running out of ideas, so it's okay to pick on others religions. I thought we had freedom of religion in America? I don't understand why, people preach that it's stupid to fight for beliefs then, turn around and start making fun of someone's religion. This is why wars are started! There is a great misunderstanding! People aren't willing to study what they don't know, atleast most people, or the ones that do the TV shows. My goodness, know your facts before you go into shit. That's all I say.

i think if your gonna do a progam on a different religion you should definatly get your facts straight.

It has happened threw out history i.e. the witch trials and even before that. People fear what they do not know and they make it to be something worse then it is. From the satanists i know satanism doesnt even have to do with satan. so you see how ppl can blow something out of porportion.

The media has a great way of breeding fear and hate. It is so sad.

I watched the program on the A&E channel for about 30 minutes before I became too annoyed and bored to continue. Many of the so called experts (most therapists, who make a great deal of money "treating" regressive memory issues, spent a great deal time talking about the dangers of ritual child abuse at the hands of Satanists. The segment I found most interesting is the interview with the FBI agent who said, although he has been called in to consult on over 300 such cases, he has NEVER found conclusive evidence that would cooberate such abuse.

The program quickly followed his interview with a "reverend" who said Satanists have infiltrated every level of government to cover up crimes. The whole program is silly.

Yes I saw that. Funny how quickly they changed the tune...

you know Killer- A&E owns the History Channel and A&E is one of the best channels on television.

I think most of you lost the point of the show- they were not putting down Satanism- they were showing freaks on display- which included some odd Chrisitians as well. And you know what? They do come in all shapes, sizes, backgrounds, and religious preferences.

I stated all that in my previous posts- but as usual, many will never read an entire thread.

Your anger should be geared at the people that give the belief a bad wrap-

I understand that part, and my anger is partially directed there, but my anger is also directed to the fact that they purposefully focused on those individuals and not on anyone else.

I saw a focus on other than Satanists. At the end of it when the Christians were doing the 'excorcism' and they claimed the woman's relationship with her parents was Satanic because they were 'too close'- and they brainwashed her to believe events that never happened to her as a child...

I am wondering how in the hell I could have watched the same show some of you are describing- but I surely was. They were mocking these people, that's what I understood of it.

Although they did focus on some other whack-jobs... the documentary was about these specific people and their personal practices, so yes- they were supposed to focus on their Satanism. I am glad I saw it- because I don't want to run into those faces, that's for sure.

Did you think they were weird? Get mad at the fact they are calling their actions true Satanism. A whole legion of them, pretty off the wall- and most everyone who saw it was appauled. And they are because these people have strange practices.

I am also appauled that Japanese restaurants in the US nearly only serve Sushi- because that's is definitely not their most prized food in Japan. I am appauled that Taco Bell and most Mexican chains put American cheese on their tacos. I am appauled that idiots think just because I have 17 tattoos and 8 piercings that I am a 'good for nothing'- Hell, I don't drink or smoke.

It sucks that all those people went to A&E and said 'film us, this is what we are all about'.

We have prejudices in life because there really are people that give their sects a bad name.

The things with television is that it tries to please everyone... with that being impossible, it attempts to please the vast majority instead.

SO more unusual include showing other elements of life as minority and unusual. The media often cannot cope with the fact that not everyone has the same views.

TV never shows anything in its true light.

It never fails that the people putting on shows describing how bad one religion or belief is that others will turn around and do the same to them. Spirituality is found in one self, not in religion and if u believe in yourself who cares what others believe. Let people live their own lives and make their own choises. Dont air what u believe to be dirty laundry on anothers beliefs to make yourself feel better about your own inadequecies.

Sumarka-
That's a bit of an exhaggeration. Everything on television has some degree of vbias, but that doesn't mean that a lot of directors and documentarians are out to find the truth.

ARIDAI-
I think that's a very good point, it is often a case of the in and out-groups, however any sort of belief is of course as you said, a personal one.

Well said Imagesinwords, I too saw the focus on something other than what I would describe as a real "expose" of Satanism; again, it stood out to me that most of the hightlight and focus was spent on so-called regressive memory therapists, which has been proven time and again to be a sketchy "science" at best; outright fraud in many cases. I was hoping to actually see an informative show on Satanism, but this is the Arts and Entertainment network; the same cable network many of you will recall that showed the "documentary" of the Blair Witch prior to the films release, causing widespread confusion as to whether the movie was "real". Brilliant marketing. actually.

And this is also the same channel that had a very informative program on Vampires, and it was presented without any real bias at all, besides showing that vampires are not evil and that we truly are decent people.

Well, i am a religious person and frankly cannot see in any way shape or form of how satanism can be a good thing at all. Although i don't believe in the idea of religion cuz i really do believe that religions aren't needed. Never have known anything about satanism and i am really not interested in finding out either.

And that is entirely your choice.

From here on out- I can see something is going to stir. No matter how we feel about religions, we can't really voice it here in the forum- because we have to be respectful of other people.

People have expressed how the media warps everything- and a couple of us expressed it wasn't the religion being spotlighted, it was just some weirdo people with claims to it.