Writing at Patheos Evangelical, Samuel James examines the popular HBO show Game of Thrones and asks whether or not Christians should be watching the series.

Christians have debated amongst themselves for thousands of years how to approach entertainment and secular media. In the second century, church father Tertullian expressed his dismay at Christian use of Greek philosophy by asking, “What hath Athens to do with Jerusalem?” The discussion hasn’t abated since then. From rock and roll to Harry Potter, the church has consistently challenged itself to define which portions of culture were acceptable for Christian consumption.

Enter Game of Thrones, HBO’s megahit series based on the medieval fantasy novels of George R.R. Martin. The show is setting viewership records for HBO and attracting a huge amount of analysis all over the world. Fans of the series cite the show’s high production values, exceptional acting and engrossing storylines (author Martin contributes to the show’s script). However, “Thrones” has also been the subject of heated criticism over its graphic content, notably, explicit sex scenes and controversial depiction of rape. Should Christians watch Game of Thrones?

Read the article “Should Christians Watch Game of Thrones?” on patheos.com.