Conference yukon::christian_v7

350.0. ""Food for Thought - Hypothetical"" by TOKNOW::METCALFE (Eschew Obfuscatory Monikers) Thu Dec 16 1993 13:22

Posted for a friend (not my words)

    The nice thing about fiction is you do not have to play by any
    given set of rules. The following is fictitious of course. I first
    mentioned the idea to the assistant pastor of a Baptist church I 
    sometimes attend. She asked if she could forward this idea to the
    pastor for use in a future sermon. I told her, "sure, go ahead,
    my thoughts are not copy written."

    The world is full of diversions. There are over 100 channels of
    cable television, with the data highway this will surely increase.
    We are all treated to many hot issues that the media beats to death.
    take a minute to review the following fictional TV Guide listings
    for some Sunday night in the future. The rules of the game are:

    	o No channel surfing is allowed. You must watch one, and only
          one show in it's entirety.

        o Assume you cannot tape one show while watching another, so
          time shifting is also out.

        o Assume that all characters, living or dead are the real his-
          toric characters. The dead will return for appearances on these
          one time programs.

        o In the case of concerts, there will never be any tapes or CD's
          of these performances.

        o Through some special copy protection, it will be impossible to
          tape any of these programs to share with others who viewed an-
          other channel.

    The burning question is, what do you think most people would watch? 
    In sharing this idea with the assistant pastor, I told her I felt and 
    feared that the interview with Christ would come in along the bottom in 
    viewer share. I had to admit that I would have a hard time making a 
    decision among some selections. She agreed, letting out a long sigh. 
    This should all be taken in light of where people's values lie, what 
    tidbit of gossip grasps the curiousity, what they consider disposable 
    vs vital and urgent.


    	Sunday 8:00 P.M.

    	PBS     Join Leonard Nimoy and Carl Sagan as they interview Zoron,
                and alien held captive since the 1947 UFO crash in Roswell
                New Mexico. President Bill Clinton will be on hand via a 
                live feed from Washington D.C. to explain to the American
                public why the alien presence has been covered up for al-
                most 5 decades. Zoron will answer questions on life in 
                other worlds, alien technologies and what the alien pres-
                ence means to people of Earth. Finally the truth about
                abductions, cattle mutilations, crop circles and alleged
                hidden alien bases can be told.
               
        NBC     You will not want to miss this one time only live concert
                with Elvis Presley. The King will play all his greatest
                hits.

        ABC     Join Barbara Walters in a heart warming interview with
                John F. Kennedy and his brother Bobby. John and his brother
                will share the truth with America about their assassins and
                why they were killed. You will not want to miss this one
                time special.
                
        CBS     Live and in person, mister entertainment himself, Liberace
                for a one time concert. Liberace has promised a show of
                shows for this special concert.

        BET     You must see this interview with reverend Jesse Jackson and
                Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. Doctor King will share his
                hopes and disappointments regarding strides and setbacks in
                civil rights since his assassination. He will also share with
                America the truth behind his assassination and what all
                people must do to insure racial harmony. 

        FOX     Now the truth can be told. Join radio and television host,
                Howard Stern in this one time interview with Michael Jackson.
                Michael has promised he will share all, including private
                home videos disclosing what really happened between him and
                his accusers. Howard has also promised that Michael will ex-
                pose his genitals without any censorship. Michael naked, here
                only tonight on FOX.

        MTV     The concert of a lifetime. Tonight only, a reunion to rem-
                ember; George, John, Paul and Ringo together again as the
                Beatles and as you've never heard them before. The fab 4
                have assured us that they will never appear together again,
                and this will be a chance of a lifetime for Beatles fans.

        ESPN    The Super Bowl. Because of conflicting programming schedules
                it will only be seen on ESPN this year.

        PLAYBOY Super model Cindi Crawford and Italian mega hunk Fabio, in a
                2 hour XXX rated lovemaking session. Uncut and uncensored;
                for the first and only time on television. See it all here.

        A&E     Tonight only, an expose of unheard of honesty and bredth.
                Every performing artist who is infected with the AIDS virus
                will come forward. Also tonight all performing artists will
                share their true sexual preferences and partners. You will
                never need to read a supermarket tabloid again after ton-
                ight!

        CBN     Join Doctor Billy Graham and Pope John Paul II in a heart-
                warming interview of hope with Jesus Christ, also known as
                The Son of Man and King of the Jews. The Savior will only
                make this one time appearance before returning to estab-
                lish his kingdom on Earth. You must see this message of
                warning and hope to all of mankind.

        CNN     A ground breaking news event. Tonight, live from the head-
                quarters in San Francisco, Anton LeVey, self avowed leader
                of the Church of Satan interviews the father of Darkness
                himself, Satan. The prince of darkness will tell the whole
                story from his point of view; from his fall to the final
                conflict.

  Interesting as we are essentially faced with the same choices on a daily
 basis, aren't we?


 


 Jim

	Hmmm...

	The only one that sparked an interest with me was the interview
	with Christ.

	

Hi Karen,

� The only one that sparked an interest with me was the interview with Christ.

Had a job stirring up interest even here, due to 
   (a)	The credibility factor.  His temporal intervention as a physical 
	Presence is complete until the return ... Matthew 23.39
   (b)  As far as personal enlightenment goes, for those who are rooting 
	for the kingdom (if you'll excuse the phraseology), He already 
	gives us what we need, as far as we can receive, on an individual 
	'channel'....

Yeah ... I know it's hypothetical, but I generally find what *is* offered
so corrupt, insipid, bland or opinionated that at best it's a soporific, 
and any advertising claims just lose any credibility.

Then again, at that time I wouldn't be watching anyway.  Fellowshipping 
- real live people interactions (following church).

But then - that wasn't the question.  The question was which program we
thought most people would watch.  Pass.  First impressions of a scan
through the normal (UK) schedule leave me thinking that the stations must
be playing to a void 50% of the time, but I know it's not so, as a 
commercial venture....  So I guess people would actually watch what's 
offered in .0 too ... !  All I can say is that probably ESPN (Super Bowl)
wouldn't get the most takers over here... but I couldn't guarantee even
that ;-) 

On consideration, you could tempt me with a combination .... ;-)
and even then, you'd have to make it something like Monday at 8 p.m....

How about a cross between CBN and CNN, where we see a genuine confrontation
between Anton LeVey and the LORD Jesus Christ ...  Or even have A.L.'s
testimony of conviction.  I've heard of similar revelations of the LORD to
individuals.  Though they were to people who were seeking righteousness,
rather than defying it....  No.  Guess I can wait until Revelation 19:20 or 
so...


								Andrew

Hi Ray, 

Guess I was a bit too heavy there...  Came in the middle of business which
had me concentrating like that...  And then, I hit a limit on how far I can
take 'just if's...  Often I find that what might be a good 'story' hits a
flop because it breaks rules the writer is blind to... (not MM, of course! ;-)

							Andrew