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Psychological Manipulation

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

The entertainment industry, particularly through movies and television, exerts a powerful and overt influence on our mental state. Unlike the subtle psychological effects of grand buildings like banks and cathedrals, this influence is direct and in your face, actively trying to steer one in a particular direction. When visual imagery in movies combines with the negative environment and the presence of spiritual forces opposed to God, it requires significant spiritual strength to resist. Such influences, alongside music for younger individuals, amplify the environmental pressures that shape attitudes, character, and conduct, often with little resistance from the immature, regardless of age. In this vivid Technicolor portrayal within entertainment, immorality is increasingly depicted as wonderful, contributing to a deceptive and pervasive cultural environment.

Hollywood Horror: Promoting the Spirit of Fear

'WorldWatch' by Joseph B. Baity

In times of tragedy and upheaval, America often seeks escape through Hollywood's uplifting narratives. Yet, defying expectations, movie-goers have recently turned in record numbers to horror films, craving even more fear. The horror genre has seen unprecedented success, topping one billion dollars in revenues and accounting for nearly ten percent of all cinematic ticket sales, with films like IT becoming the highest-grossing horror movie in history. This surge occurred while the broader movie industry faced a significant slump in ticket sales, down 16 percent, amid criticism for lacking quality. Historically, horror films rarely garnered critical acclaim or major award attention, but recent releases like Get Out earned four Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, and won for Best Original Screenplay. A Quiet Place has also been noted for potential Oscar consideration. The genre now attracts A-list screenwriters, directors, and actors, transforming horror from a niche into a mainstream category. Beyond graphic violence and the glorification of evil, modern horror screenplays often incorporate transgressive themes, pushing moral boundaries with storylines involving transgender and homosexual elements. Directors are exploring avant-garde and boundary-violating content, with projects like a horror film about black lesbians in rural America. The genre particularly targets young audiences, with over 60 percent of viewers for films like Happy Death Day being under 25. Horror movies exploit basic fears through extreme depictions of violence and demonic influence, potentially desensitizing viewers to wicked thoughts and activities. Such entertainment, even if just a movie, presents dangerous themes that may weaken and frighten the audience.

Cultural Manipulation

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The media and entertainment industry heavily influences youth culture through movies, among other mediums. Large conglomerates, responsible for selling nearly all of youth culture, own the major film studios and use films as a tool to colonize the teen market, treating it as a vast empire to conquer. These companies create and market new, often outrageous expressions of youth culture to promote their products, including teen screen stars and their movies. This pervasive marketing strategy shapes teens' views and interests to maximize profit, with no non-commercial aspect in their programming.

Learning from Clichés

CGG Weekly

Through every medium imaginable, satan spreads his values, hidden within the stories our televisions broadcast and our movies so spectacularly feature. These mediums subtly influence us, embedding worldly values that we may unknowingly adopt, shaping our perceptions and beliefs in ways that often go unexamined.

Grow Up!

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The age of maturity used to be somewhere between 18 and 21 but it has steadily risen past college graduation to the threshold of a person's fourth decade.

Behind the Scandal

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Many Americans have reached the nadir of morality and inhumanity described in Hosea 4:1-2. How much lower can we go and still function as a civil society?

Scratching Our Itches

'Prophecy Watch' by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

It's easy for worldly ideas to creep into the church. We must be on guard against any 'itch' we have that could lead us or others astray.

Things We Won't Get Rid Of

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

The United States is of major concern to the world's nations because they witness America's profligate spending and realize that their economic futures are precariously linked to the American economic system. Americans cannot discipline themselves to go without, clinging to portable computers, high-speed internet, smart phones, movies, television, music downloads, pets, booze, coffee, and education. These indeed have become America's idols.

Different Signs of the Times

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

If the mainstream media is a bellwether, the earth is about to be invaded by beings from another planet—or it already has been.

A Cure for News Depression

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

The overwhelmingly depressing news must be counterbalanced by edifying news, namely God's Word. The Scripture, with its life-giving words, provides hope.

The Vulgar State of America

'WorldWatch' by Joseph B. Baity

A coarse and vulgar spirit has overtaken modern culture and its entertainments, one we must counter with personal purity.

Hollywood Propaganda: The Insidious LGBT Agenda (Part Two)

Commentary by David F. Maas

For over two decades, Hollywood studios have been working feverishly to humanize and celebrate perverted lifestyles, putting them on pedestals as special.

Will Aliens Invade the Earth?

Article by Staff

Satan seems to be planting into men's minds the thought that an alien force will invade earth. Perhaps he is conditioning mankind for Christ's return?

Loyalty and Submission (Part 1)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

In marriage, loyalty, trust and subjection are demanded of both partners. If we are not loyal to God and life, we are automatically subject to Satan and death.

Friends

Sermonette by Craig Sablich

God's people should not waste their time on entertainments dedicated to spreading Satan's lies, but rather turn their attention to pure and wholesome things.

Hollywood Propaganda: The Insidious LGBT Agenda (Part One)

Commentary by David F. Maas

Hollywood moguls, executives, producers, directors, writers and actors have committed themselves not only to approving sexual perversion, but to promoting it.

Are Your Beliefs Preferences or Convictions?

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Conviction is essential to faithful living, sanctification, loyalty, and faithfulness to God. Whether we compromise depends on the strength of our convictions.

Hollywood Propaganda: The Insidious LGBT Agenda (Part Three)

Commentary by David F. Maas

The Disney company was an American cultural icon which formerly was synonymous with wholesomeness and family values. Now it advances perversion and immorality.

Evaluating Culture

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Under humanistic liberalism, cultural standards exist on a sliding scale, depending on the tastes of the individual. In the end, there are no standards.

The Fifth Teacher (Part Three)

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

The fifth teacher in Corinth was not a person but the 'wisdom' of the time, whispered by countless voices, overriding the truth that God had revealed to them.

Does Doctrine Really Matter? (Part Five)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Most people have not used the Word of God as their standard of morality and conduct, but instead are allowing society and culture to shape their attitudes.

In the Wake of An Unnatural Disaster (Part Five)

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Because Americans get their concepts about the Bible from movies and television, they clueless as to what constitutes truth and falsehood.

Sex, Sin and Marriage

'Ready Answer' by Staff

Sex and marriage are God-given experiences that Christians need a proper perspective of. Thus, God gives us His seventh commandment: You shall not commit adultery.

A Political Hurricane

Commentary by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Mass media and social media have been deliberately poking political hot buttons, purposely dividing the people of this nation to take adversary positions.

Our Battle Against Evil Programming!

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Military strategists have desensitized people to accept killing as normal and acceptable, even as Video games condition people to enjoy killing.

Communication and Leaving Babylon (Part One)

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

We are open to invisible communication from the spirit world—communication designed to conform us to the course of this world. Recognizing it is vital.

A Passion for The Passion?

CGG Weekly by John W. Ritenbaugh

The Passion has been promoted as the most faithful account of the trial and crucifixion of Christ ever filmed. Yet it is riddled with contradictions of the Bible.

The Not-A-Problem Folk

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Charles Whitaker

We have no bold Phineases today who are unafraid of political correctness. The die has been cast for morally bankrupt America.

How Does Temptation Relate to Sin?

'Ready Answer' by Martin G. Collins

We have been called to a life of avoiding, enduring and overcoming temptation. Here is the process of temptation, sin and their products, and destruction.

Socialism is Mob Rule (Part Two)

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Many religious people realize that liberals threaten adherence to the moral principles taught in God's Word, and that Satan is the poster child of liberalism.

A Leader in Every Man!

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

As Joshua felt fearful at assuming leadership, most men also feel the same trepidation, but God Almighty has placed in their DNA the ability to lead.

A Place of Safety? (Part 4)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The prophecies concerning the Man of Sin refer to a person with great political power with global significance rather than to a leader of a small church.

Living By Faith and God's Sovereignty

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Some may doubt that God is in control, but God's sovereignty over His creation is complete. The course of world events are moving according to His will.

Abstaining From Evil

'Ready Answer' by John O. Reid

God does not just want us not to sin, He also wants us not even to appear to be doing evil. We must guard their thoughts, words and deeds at all times.

Deuteronomy (Part 3)

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Our goal shouldn't merely be to be saved, but to finish the spiritual journey God has prepared for us, developing the leadership to help those who follow.

Should We Obey the Laws of Our Government?

Article by John O. Reid

Should we obey the governments of man over us? Should we obey it if we consider it an 'illegal' government?

Conditioned Response

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

The defilement that begins in the heart is shaped, molded, and conditioned by the media, training people to override their conscience, desensitizing them.

God and Reality

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

What God puts us through is designed to reveal reality to us. Accepting His doctrine without looking for loopholes will keep us true.

The Occult

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

The Bible condemns divination, necromancy, soothsayers, sorcery, spiritism and witchcraft, identifying all these practices as abominations, based on demonism.

Maintaining Good Health (Part 4)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

While drunkenness and gluttony show self-centeredness and lack of discipline, often leading to poverty and ill health, moderation is the way to glorify God.