The Battle For Hollywood
By Joseph G. McKinley (PCA ’02)

Hollywood: a place where sin is prevalent, a place where money triumphs over morals, a place where you can do any heinous deed and no one is ever shocked or upset. From my experience, these seem to be among the thoughts that pass through the minds of those in evangelical circles when “ Hollywood” is brought up in conversation. My favorite thing I have heard someone say is that “ Hollywood is the modern day Sodom and Gomorrah and that soon God will judge via earthquake and it will fall into the sea. Then America will be a better place.” I guess I am just a dissenter, because when I think of Hollywood I think of opportunity!

Is Hollywood a place where many evil things are done? Yes, as well as New York, Chicago, Dallas and Miami. Even the smallest city in America contains the same kind of evil as Hollywood. The reason Hollywood is seen as such a distinctly evil place is nothing more than influence. The whole world pays attention to Hollywood. It has shaped the American culture to be one where more people vote for “American Idol” than did in the 2004 presidential election!

Many Christians have “declared war” on Hollywood. They boycott, protest and whine every time something bad comes out. They want to defeat them so we can have a greater influence in America again. That’s a noble thought, really it is- but it won’t work. Hollywood already controls the way people think; so subconsciously in fact, if America views it as Christianity vs. Hollywood, they are going to side with Hollywood every time. This is why I propose a different strategy to this “war.” What I propose is a “Trojan Horse” strategy.

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