Some years ago, I enjoyed Isaac Asimov science fiction in print, mainly the Robots and Foundation series which eventually merged. It was thought-provoking and gave me an insight into Asimov’s atheistic worldview.

So part way through that reading ‘journey,’ I branched out into reading Frank Herbert’s ‘Dune’ series but gave up quickly as it was at gutter level by comparison, and I recall at one stage the author put into the mouth of one of his characters the question “are we just a bunch of voyeurs?”

I have no doubt his intention was to draw the sting from the reader’s own thoughts, because much of the series was sexual although purportedly not gratuitous.

Now Bill, your commentary has me wondering how much such literature prepared our minds to accept what we see all around us on TV, video, movie and billboard…

John Angelico, Melbourne

Shane Welsh

Ian Brearley, Canberra

Bernie Stocks

Victoria Rafferty

Lin Rauber, Melbourne

The particular Muggeridge reference is a useful one. But the trouble is, of course, that when MM was at the height of his TV fame (and when Bob Santamaria was at the height of his), the squalor of today’s TV was entirely unimaginable in either Britain or Australia. There was no cable TV. Theatrical censorship still prevailed, even if (after Lady Chatterley) literary censorship was down for the count. Even uttering a four-letter word on television caused outrage, as the career of Kenneth Tynan illustrates. It’s drawing a very long bow indeed for anyone to suggest that entirely contingent advice provided by MM in the 1960s could, or should, be considered normative in 2006.

In one circumstance, and in one alone, can I imagine the slightest room for improvement in TV. That would be if TV ownership became genuinely decentralised, so that pagan trash from the Murdoch and Packer empires no longer had a droit de seigneur over such ownership. (We won’t even go into ABC-style corruption.) But we all know that barring miraculous intervention, this decentralisation is impossible.

R J Stove, Melbourne

Yes I remember reading Muggeridge’s book, Christ and the Media quite some time ago. He certainly was pessimistic about the media in general, and TV in particular. Your, and his, assessment may well be correct. Yet I wonder if even television is not somehow redeemable. There have been some good things done with it, and I know of Christians working in the media. Some may feel called to seek to be salt and light in the darkness of modern media. How successful they are may be a moot point. But I guess I give them credit for trying.

But having said that, I largely agree. TV is very much a wasteland, and most of us should be spending a lot less time with it.

Regards
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch

I ask, in addition: ‘How much further down the septic tank do we have to go before Christians in general realise that television per se is one big mistake, and purge it altogether from our society?’

Muggeridge tried to redeem TV from within. He dismally failed, as it was inevitable that he would fail.

This is what a Catholic website has to say about those who’d bow the knee to the televisual Baal:

‘Television is harmful to every soul! It “changes the attitudes” of adults as well as those of children. The “news” is the most dangerous programme on television because it most effects how the viewer “thinks.” It forms opinions. The enemies of the Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ determine which “news” you will see and which will not be shown to you. These men also determine what “slant” will be given to the news that you are permitted to see. … They decide which issues can and cannot be debated. They decide which politicians are ‘in’ and which ‘out.’ They promote the perverse, anti-Christian, Communist ideology that permeates the Media. They decide which are the “good wars” and which the “bad wars”; who are the “heroes” and who are the “villains”. … David Rockefeller, Edgar Bronfman, Rupurt Murdoch and Summer Redstone are four of the media moguls grouped under the Standard of Lucifer who control your TV viewers’ minds. TV watchers are guilty of fraternising with the enemy of Our Lord Jesus Christ. “And Elias coming to all the people said: How long do you halt between two sides? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people did not answer him a word” [3 Kings 18:21]. Those of you who insist on keeping TV are also trying to keep a foot in both camps.’

Unless all Christians perceive that it won’t do the slightest good destroying Big Brother unless we destroy the TV culture which gave Big Brother birth, I fail to understand how they can call themselves Christians at all. I gave up TV five years ago, and there is no money in the world which would persuade me to reinstall that open sewer in my home.

R J Stove, Melbourne 

Oh Brother!! Big Brother is at it again! “Just having a little fun with mates” claim Camilla, John and Ashley. Interesting represenatation of “mateship”. I would just like to know, whatever happened to respect? But BB isn’t about respect, as it condones everything BUT Australian values. And it isn’t the first time. Why should this show be forced upon the Australian public? If people are crying out for the show to be axed (apart from politicians) and desire more appropriate entertainment, don’t accuse the issue of being censorship. What values are we instilling in our young adults? Shows like these unfortunately educate our teens and young adults in social conduct and values. It’s not about Australia’s “right to view”. I would throw all my rights aside if I knew that I was implementing values and principles that would develop the next generation rather than destroy it. Destroy the show before it destroys our future.

I’m 21 years old and I find this behaviour from “boys” my age distressful! I think I will go elsewhere (perhaps Italy) where I will find a gentleman! haha!
Danii Rizzo, Melbourne