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There are now three different Crime Scene Investigator (CSI) shows on CBS. They seem interesting but revolve around horrible, grisly crimes. What do you think about watching these shows?

A. Years ago a show called Quincy introduced audiences to a medical examiner who solved crimes by studying crime scenes and victims' bodies. During the theme song each week, there was a scene of medical students watching Quincy cut into a corpse. One by one, the students passed out.

The difference between Quincy and CSI is that now we're all looking at the corpse as it gets cut open! New special effects (and a greater tolerance of what can be shown on TV) have given shows like CSI the ability to not only show the crime, but demonstrate exactly how far the knife penetrated [cut to: knife blade entering chest] and when the maggots started feeding [cut to: maggots lunching on liver] and how far the eyeball flew [cut to: flying eyeball/blood montage].

Does it hurt us to watch it? There are three things you need to think about.

First, can you handle all the blood and gore? Do you feel like Quincy's queasy students? Do you get nightmares about the details you see? If so, these shows aren't for you. Don't make yourself uncomfortable just for a TV show.

Second, does witnessing these acts of violence make you feel less compassionate toward people who are victims of real-life violence? Does it make real crime seem less real or shocking? If so, why keep watching?

Third, do thoughts about these kinds of crimes scare you? I have friends who've become more fearful about crime and anxious about getting hurt after watching crime shows or movies. The truth is, the vast majority of us will never be victims of a violent crime. If CSI makes you fearful about that—even a little—give it up. Fear doesn't come from God, but self-discipline and compassion do (2 Timothy 1:7). Don't let entertainment cause you to trade one for the other.

Copyright © 2005 by the author or Christianity Today International/Campus Life magazine.
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