There is no doubt that HBO's series "Game of Thrones" is the most popular show around. The only problem is, the show features a lot of graphic violence and sexual content that several from the faith community have objected against it.
There are actually a lot of people within the faith community who enjoy watching the show and are quick to defend "Game of Thrones" from its critics, according to Movie Guide.
Tom Simpson is one. He even writes in an article, "My peers and I are all Christians, study at a Christian University and work in churches as Christian Youth Workers. A fair few of them do not feel comfortable or feel that they should watch 'Game of Thrones' because of their profession and faith. I, honestly, have no issue with the show."
Bestselling Christian author, writer and photographer Matthew Paul Turner is another person who enjoys watching "Game of Thrones." He writes on his blog that he watches the series simply because he loves the story, themes and characters.
"In many ways, these fictional characters are a lot like the characters we read about in the Bible, grandiose personalities made up of strengths, lusts, weaknesses, talents, faith, deviances, braveries, and other intricate human (and sometimes not so human) traits," he says.
Tyler O'Neil, The Christian Post contributor, argues that the show's mix of good and evil, as well as virtue and vice "adds a human touch that, ironically enough, fits perfectly with the Christian understanding of mankind."
However, Movie Pilot managing editor Ben Kayser is flummoxed how the show can be so "comfortable with controversy for the six years its been airing."
"Beyond the graphic sex scenes frequently included in the show, the series also includes many storylines that include incest, extreme bloody violence and multiple graphic depictions of rape that are clearly gratuitous, even from the perspective of mainstream and liberal critics," he writes.
Show creators David Benioff and Dan Weiss have been convincing viewers that the graphic sex scenes found in the show aren't really pornography as they are not intended to titillate and shock. They consider them as "art." Even some Christian viewers might agree with this interpretation.
However, Kayser believes they are mistaken as the X-rated website Pornhub has linked the show directly to porn use. A Google search for the porn website brings up "Game of Thrones sex scenes" and "Game of Thrones deleted sex scenes."
"For networks, filmmakers and even many Christians to claim that programming like 'Game of Thrones' isn't gratuitous or excessive, then what debauchery depicted on screen is?" questions Kayser. "Also, what messages are we passing down to children when we say this graphic rape and violent abuse of women is acceptable for adults to consume as entertainment?"
Kayser says that while the show is not intended for children, if they hear their parents talk about it and see its promotional materials on giant billboards along the highway, then it's likely they will try to access it through HBO GO on their iPads. Once they do, it will be their first introduction to pornography.
"HBO knows what they're making, and knows how people respond to the content. It's why they don't want people watching their content on porn websites instead HBO," says Kayser.
