The core problem on why we cannot properly use mass media in the propagation of faith is because WE ARE AFRAID. Afraid of being neglected, of being not noticed, afraid of becoming invisible, afraid that no one will give their attention to your website (in fact you are among the few who read this site) afraid that they will label you as corny, out of this world, uncompromising, conventional and orthodox thinker. We are afraid that all of our efforts will remain unnoticed ( which I really felt and is happening right now, the fact that you have reach this part, I thank you for bearing with me) this is our fear and insecurities we may be conscious or unconscious it won’t change anything. The Church in the apostolic letter entitled the rapid development of technology written by the late Pope John Paul II challenges us to forget everything that was written above and be not afraid. PRACTICE YOUR FAITH. Yes it maybe hard but if you cannot do it why remain a Christian?
The Rapid… February 22, 2009
The Church and the Internet February 10, 2009
This one is also talking about the importance of mass media specially the internet. that if we can just properly use it would bring us much help, for it will make easier the one that Jesus commanded to the early believers; that is, go and preach the good news in the rooftops and in the end of the worlds. And it so happen that the rooftops today are the “http://www.” the church feel that it is her duty to utilize this wonderful inventions that is why if you have time go and visit the website of the Vatican it is one of the richest website in this world wide web.
This repetitions-yes makes one irritated. And I’m not exempted to that. I am not really in the mood of reflecting. It’s been a while that I am tired. (I am sorry for making this an outlet) because, I’ve been dead tired this past few days, I am to engross in this paper that I’m working on trying in trying to make both ends meet. And the moment I read the church’s document entitled ‘the church and the internet’ I immediately loose interest. I asked myself why is it that I’m trying to reflect on this documents that keeps on repeating itself, and I’m trying to reflect on it time and again. Then I came to realize that the church is doing this in order to emphasize something. A thing that is very important and deserves to be repeated and repeated and repeated… ad infinitum. this thing that the church repeats is the importance of mass media in our spiritual growth and journey and to our mission as Christians. Aside from living a profound Christian life there is also the proclamation of the kingdom of God to the ends of the world.
Advertisement manipulates the ‘good and the bad’ or channels the greatest cravings of man February 4, 2009
My attention was caught by this line when I read the Ethics in Advertising “we disagree with the assertion that advertising simply mirrors the attitudes and values of the surrounding culture” indeed I also disagree, because advertisement does not only mirror the attitudes and values of the people in which the advertisement is intended to. Advertisement either manipulates ‘what is and what is not’ or should I say dictates the ‘good and the bad’ of a society, or it is a channel of the deepest cravings or longings of the people there (this would sound totally out of context but after all it’s my reflection).
I said it manipulates the ‘good and the bad’ because often times unconsciously the advertisement affects the preference of the one watching. Because most people if not all take advertisement as the source of knowledge, failing to recognize that it is a form business. The fact that most advertisement are assertive, the impliedly say that this is good and the other is bad. For example most advertisement in the Philippines says this “white in complexion is beautiful it attracts guys, thus using this product will make you attractive. And they end up believing it. Believing that being white is indeed beautiful. If we will go back to our past. What is beautiful or good back then for ladies are ‘tan in complexion, long hair, and of course “mahinhin”. But after the invasion of advertisement all of that are changed. It is just o0ne example, there are many more.
On the other hand, advertisement is a channel of man’s deepest cravings or longings. How did I end up with this statement? To answer that let us ask ourselves what is really an advertisement? Advertisement for me is a form of business. Its main purpose is to get the attention of the viewer and hopefully, it would encourage the viewer to buy the product. In order for it to get the attention of the viewer it uses many tactics to do that and one of that is that it show or channel the greatest longing or craving of a person convincing them that it is possible. For example there is this lady (Filipina), she has dark complexion and she is horizontally challenged. Her deepest desire is of course to be beautiful in the eyes of the people. It so happen that most of the advertisements projects that it is still possible for her to be beautiful in the eyes of men. In one condition that lady should use the product that they are advertising. This product will make your complexion white and will make you sexy. Who would not fall for that trap?
Now what is advertisement for you?
100 years of Cinema January 27, 2009
“The fact that our children and adolescents can see, in the same day, two film versions of the same story, in one or which a principle is affirmed and defended and in the other opposed and attacked.” This just show that the children of today really spent time with the TV. and the like. And the bad thing there is that they are wasting time, most of them do if not all. And some even take them as the reality which is worst. If they could learn something I think it would be worthwhile. For cinema an d the like offers many things.
I firmly believed that every picture, every film has something good to offer. Good here means morally good, moral lesson I should say. I dare say, every movie and of course it includes everything including pornography. Now what is the moral lesson there? Well its up to you to find it out. But I think there is one, its what the professional wrestler are saying after every advertisement that is; PLEASE DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME!
The church has a full knowledge of this that’s why they made a guide in order to interpret the values expressed in the cinema and the like. But the question here is what happen next after they have learned the lesson behind. Because there are people who can get the message of the cinema and the like if not entirely at least a good sum of it ( And I can say that I’m one of them.) Their problem is different they don’t have the motivation to put what they have learned in to practice(maybe they did not learn it yet that’s why they cannot practice it. This is also possible). they don’t have the courage to be. Yes it’s a good thing that the church give its people a guide in order for them to get the good things that the cinema and the like is offering. But I think they should make another one. Because its not yet enough. They must make another one that would motivate those who already learned the lesson to practice it. My point here is not to criticize but to propose something. I don’t know if I am in the disposition to do so. If I am not- I ask pardon for my arrogance.
Aetatis Novae January 20, 2009
The church has already stated her view on mass media. That it is a gift from God, and so as a gift we must take care of it. The church has stated it in the Communio et progresso an d elaborated it in the Aetatis Novae emphasizing the good thing that the church people can get if they can use it properly and warning the Christian about the bad side of media. Because if it can be use as a means of salvation it can also be used as a means of distraction. In the Aetatis Novae the church stated the things that must be done by the priest, bishops, the lay and those at the back of mass media. It is also stated here that a plan is a must. But I think is yes important but the most important is the result. Yes its good because it would be easier for others to do it because there’s a plan. But I think its good to offer an incentive. It may sound childish but life is like that some people really need a booster. And the church must become vocal about this, for there’s a lot of Christian who don’t know anything about this letters. I guess this would be my duty, for them to have knowledge someone needs to impart it. The great challenge now is to make it interesting.
pornography January 13, 2009
One characteristic of pornography that is presented by the church is its being like a narcotic. It’s addictive. At first you try it out of curiosity having in mind that what the heck it’s just one it won’t affect me and I will not do it again. But after trying you found it good and enticing. Then you start to rationalize that it’s not that bad to try one more. After trying you found it even better and so you crave for more. At the end of everything it’s already too late you are already hooked to the habit that will eventually become a vice. Pornography is like that it will start at those that they called “soft porn” then you will come to the point of boredom were you will look for something that would satisfy your cravings. Then you will find yourself enjoying “hardcore porn” which you find gross before. Then you will be unconsciously wanting it, It will hunt you in your dreams. Most of the time it would flash in your memory vividly even though it’s against your will. It will affect your relationship to others. You will end up treating them not as persons but as object. Object of your selfish concupiscence. Thus it would be hard for to fall in love; eros is different from agape(if you are romantic). It would be hard for you to have an open relationship with your family, friends and others. Pornography will change you completely. At first you are invincible, unaffected and detached but as you indulge in it. It’s a different story. The only good thing in pornography is that, it gives you a pleasure for a moment a seemingly good thing but it does not satisfy. If you are “In It” already there is always a way to change. This may be your last warning from God.
Communio et Progressio December 10, 2008
As I read the three letters of the Pope I find it hmmmmn-at the first letter I find it interesting but the next two are just repetitions , they are all talking about this good effect of the mass media on man. Which if used properly can bring a very good effect on man in terms of the propagation of faith and the development of virtues. But if its abused it can cause a terrible problem to man. Why did I say that? simply because it is written there in the Communio et Progressio. “ The media of social communication can contribute a great deal to humanity. If however, men’s minds and heart are ill disposed, if good will is not there, this outpouring of technology may produce an opposite effect so that there is less understanding and more discord, and as a result evils are multiplied.” As we observed today evils are indeed multiplied. Does it mean that we are ill disposed and we don’t have the goodwill anymore? I think we are really ill disposed specially the Filipinos. Our youth of today are an easy target of fornication specially if their catechism is poor and no one is there to guide them, console them if they have problems. At the end of all this the conventional action is to blame someone other that oneself. But let us start to blame ourselves for a change. For I know in some way or another all of us can bring change if we have just tried.
In addition I also believe that our goodwill is still there. It is just being hampered or blocked by the shout of the empty stomach. Since man will not do bad things intentionally for the sake of that bad thing itself.( excluding of course those rich people who are continuously amassing wealth by exploiting mass media their problem is called greed).
The Guide to the Training of Future Priests Concerning the Instrument of Social Communication. December 2, 2008
As I read this document of the church I cant help but apply its message to my present situation.
I noticed two problems ( I really don’t know why I always notice problems): first on our formation or part of our formation as seminarians and our response to that formation process. In both state of affairs there is this problem or shortcoming.
It is clearly written in the article that “future priests should be trained in the seminary in the correct use of these instruments( mass media). This provision has a threefold purpose, namely, that the seminarians might impose discipline on their own personal use of the media, that they might be able to train the faithful in their turn to exercise similar self-discipline and that they might learn how to use the media in their apostolate.
Now mass media has various forms: Let me use cellular phone as an example. Once upon a time in the seminary they asked us to submit or we use the word surrender our beloved cellular phones which I did because I am convinced that it will just distract me in my formation and studies but they returned it every first Friday of the month for us to contact our parents. But last semester they told us not to bring our beloved cellular phones anymore which I also did but this time with much reservation. I think to temporarily stop using cellular phones will not teach us or discipline us but rather it will just suppress our wants to use it. Thus the result will not be good plus the fact that our formators are not always with us. Moreso, during school break the seminarians can choose what to do. I think the challenge here lies on the formators on how they should instill the necessary discipline on the seminarians when using this particular form of mass media.
Pondering on my last sentence, I noticed the other problem. The challenge lies not only on the formators but also on us seminarians. We are not that stupid not to know the purpose of the media and its consequence if he will abuse it. Almost all of us have the notion of good and bad and we can almost instinctively distinguish between the two. So we already know what to do with mass media but the problem is despite all these knowledge some of us still choose to do the wrong thing. I cannot really tell whether they are doing the wrong thing as a protest to the formation which is meant for their own good or whether it is a result of the suppression. Or, they are just really stupid! Wag naman sana.
At the end of the day, we are very much aware of the urgent need to learn the proper way of using media tools within the context of Christian Teachings, so we will be effective evangelists of God’s Word in due time.
Inter Mirifica November 23, 2008
What is happening in our present situation is the contrary to what the inter mirifica wants to happen. Media is becoming a tool for damnation not as a means of salvation. To ask who’s fault is a complete waste of time because I think every one has committed a mistake. It is written there in the inter mirifica that “people should reject whatever could become a cause or an occasion of spiritual harm to themselves”. But what is happening today is that instead of doing that people today are paying men who exploit this media for commercial reason and a high payment at that. It is also written there that the young should develop moderation and self control in the use of this instrument. But if you will observe almost every one spent most of their time using this media. Specially the youth, They’ve been using it up to the extent of forgetting our native games because they prepare sitting the whole day in front of the televisions or computers. Regarding the parents Inter mirifica is stating that they should be mindful of their duty to guard against shows, publications, and the like which would jeopardize faith or good morals but how can they do this tasking job if they are working more than twelve hours a day just to make both ends meet. In the case of the authority it is said there that they must give an incentive or an award for those who propagate values and etc. but does the authority do this? Yes of course but it’s not that being supported that’s why its not that prestigious and popular unlike the Oscar award.
At the end there is a question that is to be answered is this a warrant to panic? I think. No. As long as we are here and still kicking there is a chance. We must have the courage to be. I guess it boils down to one thing. The Pope cannot do it alone. He needs help from good and holy priest. To help him in the vast vine yard of the lord. Another question will arise and that question is where that holy and good priest is? The answer is- they are not yet here. We still need to pray to 5the lord of the harvest to send us laborer in his harvest. So pray!
