I'm not so sure about this one. I think I'm calling shenanigans on it. I get your point, conceptually... but I think it falls short of the real-life test. You're only looking at 1 variable...the "being in the world" part of the verse, but not so much the "but not a part of it." Stated bluntly, keeping abreast of the breasts shown on slut-tv, in my view, is not a necessary component for living in modernity. The mere exposure to some of this stuff, alone, can be toxic.

Stated differently, what is the greater harm to my children? Ignorance or knowledge? Seeing the sexualized images of pre-teen girls, dressed in attire that assaults her sense of modesty? Because that's the reality--the norm that's being painted. Normal "cool" is having no modesty and dressing "cute", which is code for "whore in training." We've got to expose ourselves to that in order to remain relevant, right? I vote, "no".

I know of the evil that is done in the world, but I don't need to expose myself or my family to it on a regular basis... let alone invite it on a weekly basis.

Here is another aspect to it. There is no way to expose yourself (or your child) to something and avoid its negative effects. I read this book, "Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters"... and one line in that text resonated with me. "You must vehemently protect your daughters right to modesty." Hell yes I will. Pop-culture strips that from us just as soon as it can. The incremental slippery slope of relative values, which in my view is of satan, has entirely infiltrated modernity. To the point where there are gay families on Sesame Street and kids in elementary school are learning about dental dams and how to put a condom on a cucumber. How is this a win?

Similarly, I saw a book that looked interesting. Written by a female feminist, none the less. It's called something like, "How young girls search for sex and delay love and self-worth...and end up getting none." Even the self-worshiping secularists are beginning to clue-in to the lies in our pop-culture.

I cannot see how it is possible for us to expose our children (if not our own minds) to sickness that is fully embedded and entrenched in pop-culture without it infecting us. Sure adults may be more resistant or resilient to it--or are we? At this point, I'm not even reading the comments section on 'fark' anymore, simply because of some of the comments and images that are posted in them.

And exposing my children to the infectious culture of relativistic godless immodest (satan-driven) values? I'll pass on that, thanks. That will come soon enough, and they need their time to build up their sense to what is right, so that the wrong will be all the more clear.

Tangentially, my wife watches trash (by my standards). 90210. Vampire shows. She doesn't like to watch them around me, because she says she feels like I'm judging her. She's probably right. And I don't want to be around it either--as I have a vile revulsion to such tripe. Not only is it a waste of my time (completely), but it also idolizes the values that are aberrant in God's eyes. And some feel that this is acceptable, because it's entertainment. I feel that it's an open gate towards moral relativism that shouldn't have been open in the first place. So instead of watching that utter shit, why not use that time towards something of merit? Truly inspired music or other media programming.

The thing about cable is that we watch what is offered. When I cut the cable, I realized that I was doing much better actively choosing what I did, rather than settling for what was available.

If there's anyone out there that's interested in cable-free living. Try it for a month. And with the money that you saved on the cable bill, use it towards something like netflix, iTunes, music, or dvd's...