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Robison's show, Life Today, is regularly a 50/50 combination of engaging, insightful interviews, and images of suffering children designed to elicit contributions from viewers. The medium of television both enables and betrays him. The images don't engage my emotions; they manipulate them to a degree that inspires distrust rather than empathy leading to action. If his formula weren't so predictable, I might have enough faith to write a check, and trust that he trusts God more than images. But he is clearly compelled to address misery that the American Christian community could alleviate.

Emerging technologies will inevitably transform both the indecency discussion and the prevailing epistemology. That doesn't change the fact that knowing your own weaknesses and building protections into your life that keep them from overpowering you is a legitimate spiritual discipline. After my summer vacation, I don't feel the need to apologize for venturing into the imperfect ghetto. But lately we've been talking about hooking up an antenna and trying TiVo.

Christine A. Scheller is a writer and editor in Southern California.

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More Christianity Todaytelevision articles include:

Pharaoh's Firstborn, Proof of the Plagues? | The Discovery Channel's Rameses: Wrath of God or Man? seeks to determine if God really killed Pharaoh's oldest son. (Dec. 03, 2004)

Rubber Sharks and Real Kids | Ted Baehr tells parents to use common sense and cognitive development theory. (Nov. 01, 2004)

Joyous Cursing | Was Dale Earnhardt Jr. right about profanity? (Oct. 18, 2004)

Christian Athletes to Watch in the Olympics | Sports Spectrum magazine has its eye on the believers competing in Athens. (Aug. 16, 2004)

Clean Air for Ears | The FCC has rejoined the war against indecency. (June 03, 2004)

Hip Mission | A high school girl further increases God's prime-time exposure. (April 16, 2004)

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January 2005, Vol. 49, No. 1