The Culture-Wise Family: Upholding Christian Values in a Mass Media World »

PAT BOONE was second only to Elvis in the 1950’s as the most popular singer of that decade. In his trademark white buck shoes, Boone skyrocketed to fame with hits such as Two Hearts, Ain’t That A Shame, I Almost Lost My Mind, Letters in the Sand and Sugar Moon. He appeared in 15 films, including Bernardine, April Love and State Fair, and hosted his own television series, The Pat Boone/Chevy Showroom, for three years. In the 60’s and 70’s the Boone family toured as gospel singers and made gospel albums, such as The Pat Boone Family and The Family Who Prays. Pat is a direct descendant of pioneer Daniel Boone, and he and his wife Shirley have four daughters: Cherry, Lindy, Debby and Laury.

DR. TED BAEHR is publisher of Movieguide® and Chairman of the Christian Film & Television Commission, as well as a noted critic, educator, lecturer and media pundit.  He is a popular speaker and the author of several books including Narnia Beckons, Frodo and Harry: UnderstandingVisual Media and Its Impact on Our Lives and So You Want to Be in Pictures. He has been a featured guest on Oprah, Hannity and Colmes, CNN, ABC, Fox News, MSNBC and Entertainment Tonight and his work has been featured in such publications as Time Magazine, USA Today, L.A. Times, Washington Post, Hollywood Reporter, Atlanta Journal-Constitution and U.S. News and World Report. Baehr graduated summa cum laude in Comparative Literature from Dartmouth College, attended Cambridge University, the University of Bordeaux & Toulouse and the University of Munich, graduated from New York University School of Law and finished his theological studies at the Institute of Theology at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. He and his wife, Lilly, have four children.

Sex. Graphic killings. Profanity. Adultery. Flip on the television, head for the movie theater, or open a newspaper and you can’t get away from it. How do you raise a family in a world supersaturated with media extolling toxic values that are not your own? Media critic Dr. Ted Baehr and legendary entertainer Pat Boone draw from their own extensive experiences and interviews with experts to help readers understand the power of the media and its influence on families. They also examine the ongoing threats to family values by those in the media who promote a humanistic worldview. Media consumers are challenged to understand their own worldviews, make wise choices and are given the information they need to do so. Baehr and Boone also look at the progress that has been made in family values programming in Hollywood, and offer hope for the future.

Foreword: Some Thoughts on a Culture-Wise Family   Janet Parshall     13
The Influence of the Culture and the Mass Media of Entertainment
We Are Not in Kansas or Kiev Anymore     18
Dare to Care     30
Salt and Light     42
Snapshots of Our Culture   Pat Boone     60
The Susceptibility of Children at Each Stage of Development
The Eyes of Innocence     86
Child's Play     105
The Medium and the Message
Behind the Scenes of Hollywood     122
The Power of Parables     138
Values, Principles and Worldviews
Worldviews and Beyond     156
Who Stole Our Culture?   William S. Lind     178
Where Are We Going?     186
How to Develop Discernment
Asking the Right Questions About Media Influence     198
Seeing Connections of Contemporary Art and Biblical Faith   Doug Adams     217
Impressing God's Commands on Our Children   Dyonette Mayer     226
Is the Mainstream Media Fair and Balanced?   Fred Barnes     235
Understanding the Answers
More Than Conquerors     244
For the Kids' Sake   Pat Boone     254
Movieguide Review of Amazing Grace     257
Endnotes     260
About Movieguide and the Christian Film and Television Commission     268
Thanks     270