7 Sep, 2010
Dark Fiction and Brain Change
A group of scientists, authors and education experts are meeting this weekend to discuss how "Twilight" and other dark fiction affect the teenage brain.
The organizer of the conference, Maria Nicolajeva, asserts that the trend of darkness in children and young adult fiction represent concerns in the adult world, and she noted that authors, filmmakers and game developers have a moral obligation to have their work contain some positivity. Nicolajeva says that because the brain experiences significant growth during adolescence, "everything leaves deep imprints" and emotional experiences, be them real or fictional, are all "real and close."
Read the entire story at http://voices.washingtonpost.com/answer-sheet/literature/experts-probe-how-twilight-and.html.
Psalm 26: 2-3 (NIV)
Test me, O LORD, and try me,
examine my heart and my mind;
for your love is ever before me,
and I walk continually in your truth.
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
What Does God's Story Teach Us about our Minds?
The professionals attending this conference all knowing that the teenage brain works differently than the adult. Scripture also has something to say about our minds: it does matter what we take in. The Hebrew word for "mind" in the verse from Psalms is the same word as "kidney." The function of our kidneys is to filter out what is good and bad, truth and fiction. Nueroscientists have discovered that the teenage brain isn't fully formed in it's ability to filter experiences. This is all the more reason why it's important to examine what goes into your mind.
How can we connect today's story and God's story scripture to our lives?
- Ask God to help you understand how what you take into your mind changes how you feel about the world.
- Think about the books you read, movies you watch, and video games you play. Have you ever thought about how they affect your mood and attitude? Be mindful of making good decisions about what you fill your mind with and how you "filter" truth and fiction and emotional experiences.
- Take time to read some scripture everyday, so that you have a "truth meter" for the other things you take in.
How can we connect today's story, God's story scripture, and our story to others?
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If you think some of the movies, books or games you see affect you negatively, be honest with your friends about it. You might find that some of them agree.
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For your friends who aren't believers, DON'T preach about what you think is right and wrong, but DO show your convictions through your own actions.
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For your friends who are believers, talk openly about how what you read, watch or play affects how you think and feel about the world.
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Ask God to show you what's right and wrong for your heart. Ask him to "examine your heart and mind" and show you any wrong way within you.
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