UPCI Ministers and Televison

[Michael Phelps]

Originally Posted by jimmyrrs

I'm not a technology freak, so please explain. If I go to Walmart and buy a tv but do not hook it up to cable, dish, or and outside antenna and don't even use the old rabbit ears does this mean I do not have a tv?
If I understand what a true monitor is????? it is a screen that can only pick up what is ran to it by a cord. It can not pick up outside signals though the air unless its been altered. But you said a VCR has a tuner. Can I pick up tv channels on a VCR that has a tuner and play them on a true monitor.
But then again nowdays we have wireless. I'm not sure but there may be wireless monitors on the market. What do they receive. Can they pick up other signals are only coded ones.

I know I just need to and pray and let it go. As my wife says, I'm just trying to make Heaven. I think I'll join her.

Not to speak for Brad, but back when VCRs were legalized, there were monitors that had no tuner in them at all, specifically designed for VCRs. They were very expensive, so many ministers bought televisions and just didn't hook them up to an antenna, cable, etc. They were only hooked up to the VCR, so they were in reality nothing more than monitors.

However, the argument was, even though unhooked from any outside broadcasting source, these "monitors" were still televisions, and not only did they violate the manual, they created the undue temptation for a minister to buy a set of "rabbit ears" at the store and watch Sunday afternoon football when he should be lying on his face before God.

[Brad Murphy]

Originally Posted by Michael Phelps

Not to speak for Brad, but back when VCRs were legalized, there were monitors that had no tuner in them at all, specifically designed for VCRs. They were very expensive, so many ministers bought televisions and just didn't hook them up to an antenna, cable, etc. They were only hooked up to the VCR, so they were in reality nothing more than monitors.

However, the argument was, even though unhooked from any outside broadcasting source, these "monitors" were still televisions, and not only did they violate the manual, they created the undue temptation for a minister to buy a set of "rabbit ears" at the store and watch Sunday afternoon football when he should be lying on his face before God.

Exactly... so this means you have to interpret the "spirit" of the rule...

A. Is it wrong to have a device that is called a television even if the tube has been replaced with a fishbowl full of tropical fish? You could argue that this is still wrong if any reasonable person would consider the device a television and recognize it as such.... even if it was not in working order.

B. Is having a device that is called a television only wrong if it is capable of receiving broadcast signals? You could argue that it is not wrong because the television is not currently receiving broadcast signals, either due to being unplugged, not powered on, or an antenna is not hooked up and there are no local signals strong enough to be received without an external antenna - (Even the short wire between the tuner card and the plug on the back of the television acts as a very small antenna)

C. Is having a device that is called a television only wrong if it is CURRENTLY receiving broadcast signals?

D. Is any other device capable of receiving broadcast signals also wrong? (I will even specify motion video signals to make it easier on the ultra-cons)....

Is a car only a car when it is moving or is it still a car when it is parked? Is it still a car if it is broken down or missing an engine?