For many Christian parents, horror movies or even just less graphic movies that are scary can be difficult to navigate. Are kids finding pleasure in the evil and gore? Are there any benefits other than entertainment? Will this movie put ideas or images into my kid’s mind that won’t leave and that stir up fear?
In this episode, Kelly explores why people enjoy being scared, how frightening media affects children, and why not all scary stories share the same moral category. Some forms of horror make evil, human suffering, and gore the entertainment, while others present darkness only to reveal courage, justice, truth, sacrifice, and redemption. Using the Word of God, parents can apply a framework to evaluate scary / horror content with faithful and biblical discernment. It is possible to encounter evil in a story without enjoying or celebrating it. What questions can we ask ourselves to determine what a particular horror movie asks us to do with the evil and darkness it portrays?
Articles referenced:
(Why) Do You Like Scary Movies? A Review of the Empirical Research on Psychological Responses to Horror Films
Should I let my child watch scary movies?
My 11-year-old loves to watch horror videos on YouTube, should I be concerned?
Scripture referenced:
2 Corinthians 6:14
Romans 12:9
Psalm 101:3
Psalm 119:37
1 Corinthians 10:23
Isaiah 5:20
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