Dannah Stops by to Talk About "Twilight"
posted by Erin Davis on 12/13/08 | Twitter: @ErinGraffiti
Category: Media; ; 25 comments
As part of our focus on discernment, we’ve been talking about Twilight all week on the blog. If you’ve been following that conversation, you know that I’ve been upfront about the fact that I think this is a series you should stay away from. But, I don’t just want you to take my word for it. An important part of learning to discern, is listening to trustworthy voices, especially those individuals who are committed to pointing you toward God’s Truth. Dannah Gresh is one of those voices. Dannah is the co-author of Lies Young Women Believe. With two teenage girls at home, and lots of contact with young women through her ministry, Dannah is no stranger to Twilight. Here’s her take.
Erin: You have two teenage daughters at home, as a parent what are your thoughts about Twilight?
Dannah: " Well, my girls are feeling the same pressure every other teen girl out there is feeling. Lexi has a lot of friends going to see Twilight and/or reading the series. She really wants to see the movie. We have an open dialogue about it because I know she has to face her friends who have seen it and talk about it. So, we've been talking about the content and keeping up with everyone's opinions. My strong opinion is that it's a seductive movie in the sense of desensitizing viewers to demonic activity. We cannot be complacent about it.
Admittedly, I have not read the books or seen the movie. But I have read reviews and understand that there is a strong progression of both demonic power and sexual content in the book series. I consider the first book and the movie a "gateway" to content that is unquestionably harmful to a person's spirit."
Erin: Are there any lies that you feel like readers of this series might be exposed to?
Dannah: " It reminds me of Lie #6 in Lies Young Women Believe—"I've never been exposed to Satanic activity." That's a good chapter to read as girls think about this movie and book series. We think that we aren't really being exposed to Satan and his demonic forces. We tell ourselves, "It's just entertainment." But at some level it is destructive to our resolve and thought process. Do you really want to go there?"
Erin: What Truth would you use to counteract those lies?
Dannah: " I keep quoting a verse to Lexi (and it drives her a little crazy). It is Philippians 4:8. "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Is there virtue or praise or purity in this movie? You need to ask yourself that."
Erin: What guidelines do you use to discern whether a book or movie is a wise choice for you or your girls?
Dannah: " First of all, let me say that Bob (that’s Dannah’s hubby!) and I put ourselves through the same process as we do our kids. We say "no" to movies that we really want to see if we find the reviews reveal content that doesn't pass the Philippians 4:8 guideline. (And that's a lot of movies!) We trust Focus on the Family's Plugged-In Online a great deal. (Go to www.pluggedinonline.com.) The reviewers are not legalistic, but they don't let much get through. If they don't recommend a movie we generally do not see it."
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