Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Christian Piatt

Home
Progressive Christian
Morality, Money and “Two and a Half Men”

Morality, Money and “Two and a Half Men”

Last updated on: November 29, 2012 at 10:29 pm by Christian Piatt

Morality, Money and “Two and a Half Men” 2012-11-29T22:29:34+00:00 Christian Piatt

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

First of all, when does the kid on “Two and a Half Men” stop being counted as half of a person? I mean, the kid is nineteen years old and he appears to be as tall as I am. Who knows? Maybe John Cryer is actually the half now.

Anyhoo…

The interwebs are all abuzz with the release of a video by child-star-turned-born-again-Christian Angus T. Jones for trashing “Two and a Half Men,” the very show on which he stars. “I’m on Two and a Half Men, and I don’t want to be on it,” he says, after warning people to stop watching the show. “Please stop watching it,” he continues. “Please stop filling your head with filth.”

http://youtu.be/OEKU_XzYik4

He continues in a longer version of the video to explain how he has come to a new way of thinking, following his experiences in “black Gospel” church.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLqJIoglAco

Apparently, one of the pastors of the Seventh Day Adventist Church visited Jones in his home to engage him in a personal Bible study, during which the pastor taught him about the Biblical case for hell. To which Jones responded: “Wow, this is awesome!”

Not the word I might choose, but okay…

All of this is well and good. He’s certainly entitled to his opinion about his show. and as far as his assessment of “Two and a Half Men” being filth, I’d argue he’s not far off. Yes, the jokes tend to be very low-brow, lascivious and cater to the so-called lowest common denominator, but just because it’s crap doesn’t necessarily qualify it as filth in my mind. There’s a distinct difference, though I prefer not to watch either crap or filth, thanks.

I do also have some compassion for Jones who was thrust onto an international stage through this insanely popular sitcom at the depressingly young age of ten; hardly old enough to know any better than to get a handle on the content of the show he’d be starring in. For that, his parents should be held accountable.

But here’s the problem I have with the whole story. Only one day after the video surfaced online – promptly picked up by numerous bloggers and news outlets – he recanted the entire thing, saying, “Without qualification, I am grateful to and have the highest regard and respect for all of the wonderful people on Two and Half Men with whom I have worked and over the past ten years who have become an extension of my family.”

Absent from his statement was the fact that he is presently under contract through the end of the current season, for which he gets paid $300,000 per episode. We’ve seen this kind of thing before. “Growing Pains” Kirk Cameron walked away from Hollywood because of his Christian beliefs, giving up what otherwise might have been a lucrative career on the large and small screens for a fruitful – if not exactly lucrative – career as a media mouthpiece for his apocalyptic religious ilk.

Yes, I think Cameron may be two steps left of sane, but at least he sticks with his beliefs, crazy as they may be. For Jones, now a legal adult, to throw his show under the bus, and then to come out 24 hours later and take it all back, does far more harm than good for the faith he claims to embrace.

Looking for examples of hypocrisy to support your bias that Christians are disingenuous opportunists? Look no further; you’ve found your new poster boy.

It’s more than a little stunning to me that such a poorly written show has even survived following the meltdown and departure of its main star, Charlie Sheen. I like to think I tend to be culturally in tune, but in this case, I just don’t get it. But quality aside, Angus Jones has to come to terms with the fact that he has a powerful public platform at his disposal. If he decides to trash the show he’s been on for a decade and walk away, fine. If he opts to stay and complete the terms of his $13 million contract, great. But don’t try to claim moral high ground while cashing six-figure checks every week from the same network you claim to be purveying filth.

Hollywood can absorb such scandal and volatility as if it were fueled by it. Christianity, on the other hand, is supposed to be about something a little bit more authentic. Next, time, do what you believe is right, one way or the other, but for God’s sake and ours, keep your opinions about it to yourself until you’ve taken a firm stand.

Previous Post

November 27, 2012

Beer, Hymns and Making Room for the Unexpected

Next Post

November 30, 2012 Church Sign Epic Fails Faith vs. Reason Throwdown (Video)

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category atonement belief bible Bill O'Reilly Buddhism CCM children christian piatt christianity Contemporary Christian Music current events derek flood Easter education Everyday Sunday faith faith and culture Frank Schaeffer great commission Haaz Sleiman Hobby Lobby Homebrewed Culture humor ISIS Jesus John Paul Lederach Killing Jesus LGBTQ marc driscoll Mission Year Music My Jesus Project Nat Geo parenting politics popular culture postChristian prison reform Ray rice religion republicans sacrifice sexuality theology Uncategorized video violence wild goose festival World Vision young adults

Select a Month December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which chapter of Isaiah is sometimes called the "miniature Bible"?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Isaiah 40 Isaiah 66 Isaiah 12 Isaiah 53