REDLANDS, CA – December 8, 2011 – Christian parents are not protecting their children
from destructive media according to recent findings by America’s Research Group (ARG)
sponsored by Mastermedia International. Only 22% say that their Christian faith “very much”
affects the movies or television programs they see or let their children view. Only three in ten
parents are even in the room when their kids watch TV.
“This is alarming,” says Dr. Larry Poland, Chairman of Mastermedia International, the
consulting organization which sponsored the research. “Considering the violent, sexually
explicit, and profane content of much of film, television, and internet content, this is parental
negligence of the first order.”
Digging further into the findings discloses that the 1000 respondents selected because they
identified themselves as Christians and attend two or more religious services a month are
similarly non-vigilant. About half subscribe to the more explicit premium TV channels, and
70% of those who do watch “R” rated fare. Only about one in four parents say that their
Christian faith affects the TV shows their children watch or allow their children to watch.
“In ancient times, parents sacrificed their children to appease pagan gods such as Moloch
or Ba’al Hammon. Today, they more subtly sacrifice their sons and daughters to pagan thought
and action through irresponsible management of the media they consume,” says Poland. “Either
way, the result is the same–their children’s souls are in peril.”
Findings showed that active Christian parents are somewhat more careful about their
children’s access to destructive internet content. Sixty percent have some kind of adult content
filtering software. Dr. Poland notes, “This, too, is frightening, considering the pornography on
the web freely accessible to the other forty percent. Once innocence is lost, it is lost forever.”
If there is some hope that Christian parents make up for their children’s access to violent or
impure media content by instilling Christian teaching or values, the findings were similarly
discouraging. More than half “never” or “hardly ever” read the Bible to their children. Two in
three don’t use on-line media to nurture their faith. However, nearly two-thirds do watch
Christian television programming, with 37% watching two or more times a month.
The study was underwritten by Mastermedia International, an organization which consults
with executives in global media helping them to understand the Christian community. It also
mobilizes prayer through the Media Leader Prayer Calendar, and provides spiritual support for
media decision-makers.
America’s Research Group (ARG), headed by President Britt Beemer, is one of the
nation’s most respected research organizations—a company whose researchers have interviewed
more than ten million American consumers.
Executive summaries of the research findings are available. Inquire at 800-552-1248.