From the Pastor’s Keyboard: We are what we eat?
Some time ago, a friend’s son told us that his father and he were researching the effects of violence-themed media and video games on the attitudes and actions of those who are exposed to them on a regular basis. This research was in response to the teen’s desire to buy a particularly violent video game to play with his friends.
Violence in media, gaming and music as encouragement for violent actions in society has been a topic of discussion and research for many years. Concern grows whenever there are incidents like the shootings at Columbine, Colorado in 1999, the 2007 massacre at Virginia Tech, the 2011 Norway bombing in Oslo and subsequent massacre of 85 children attending an island summer camp, or the more recent midnight military-style attack on movie-goers in an Aurora, Colorado in which the gunman killed 12 and injured at least 50.
Sissela Bok’s recent book, Mayhem: Violence As Public Entertainment takes on this issue. Focusing on violent media and its effect on the American national character, she admits that obtaining a clear answer is a vexing problem. However, she:
“…reassures the public that the amount of violence portrayed in mass media affects its audience in different ways, representing only one factor that contributes to violence in society at large.”
(from http://www.florin.com/authors/bok-mayhem.html)
On one hand, what Bok concludes is quite true. There are always a variety of factors that affect the actions or decisions of humans: family relationships, self-esteem, religious indoctrination, personal experience with violence or violent acts such as abuse or bullying, psychological health, etc. This was certainly true for the Columbine duo that attacked their school mates. The VA Tech gunman certainly had psychological problems. The shootings In Norway and in the recent incident at the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin were attributed to the extremist views of the gunmen.
On the other hand, it’s difficult not to consider how the violence we see, hear, read about, or participate in daily through news media, radio and TV talk shows, movies, popular music, books and gaming affects our thoughts and actions in other areas of our lives. We’re inundated with it. We consume it. We support it by buying the video games, by purchasing the action figures for our children, and by making movies like Dark Knight Rises mega hits.
During the summer months, word and worship focused on Jesus as the “Bread of Life.” In John 6:56, Jesus says, “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me and I in them….so whoever eats me will live because of me.” Jesus calls those who believe to concentrate their whole lives on him, on his word of love and forgiveness, on his call to service on behalf of others and on his gifts of life and salvation given through the sharing of the sacraments with the community of faith.
What is the source of your daily nourishment? If your diet has become slanted toward the worldly emphasis on violence, you may be in danger of the effects of spiritual malnourishment. Join your sisters and brothers at Zion each week as we gather to receive the heavenly food that only Jesus can provide. Jesus invites you to come and be with him, to consume his love and grace through hearing and studying his word, and to be nourished by his life of peace and blessing through worship. As the old saying goes, “You are what you eat.” Come to the feast!
DID YOU KNOW?
According to the Huffington Post online edition for August 12, “Hundreds of people who gathered at a Sikh temple in suburban Milwaukee spoke of unity, strength and rebirth during the first Sunday service there since a gunman killed six people before fatally shooting himself.” The shooting occurred on August 5.
Sikhism is a relatively new religion that is derived from the teachings of The Ten Gurus whose teachings and writings began in the 1600’s. It has no relationship with Islam.
This is a monotheistic faith “…preaching the existence of only one God, and teaching ideals that may be universally accepted today and in the future: honesty, compassion, humility, piety, social commitment, and most of all tolerance for other religions.”
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