There should be 2 ways of blog protection
- display login page for non-members ($login_required = true)
- display blog, widgets, post titles, but hide post content

Yea, I mean that's kinda what I'm doing now.
I either require login, or I hide the content (posts, pages, links).

The only problem I have with hiding the content is that widgets are still visible. I'd like to hide them too.

if( is_logged_in() )
{
    // Widget container goes here
}

;)

You rock :)

I'm still confused,

I've put:

$login_required = true)
if( is_logged_in() ) 
{ 
    // Widget container goes here 
} 

Into my blog5.php file but now it won't open regardless of whether or not I'm logged in...what am I missing?

Did you reload the skin on Global settings > Skins?

Just tried that - no dice.

I hope you haven't typed it exactly as you presented it here:

$login_required = true)
if( is_logged_in() )
{
    // Widget container goes here
}

If so, you have a stray closing parenthesis at the end of the first line in place of a semicolon.
Notice the difference:

$login_required = true;
if( is_logged_in() )
{
    // Widget container goes here
}

The first line is pointless ;)

¥

Still not working, tried:

$login_required = true; 
if( is_logged_in() ) 
{ 
    // Widget container goes here 
}

and tried:

if( is_logged_in() ) 
{ 
    // Widget container goes here 
}

Both give same problem - blank white page regardless of login status.