In his posting, Stephen Mack discusses the concept of the religious intellectual stating “both religion and democracy draw the individual into a larger cosmic or social order—then define obligations that go along with one’s place in that order.” I want to know to what extent do religious intellectuals influence the mainstream media, especially news and television? This further raises the question of how similar and how different are religiously intellectual are Democrats and political conservatives?
First of all, “religious” is not necessarily synonymous with “conservative” and just because someone is a Democrat, it does mean that they are not religious. For example, Rupert Murdoch, Head of News Corporation is very politically conservative. However, he is known for his support of liberal and more presently immoral programming. He is in so much control of the news media and he is willing to air whatever sells (whether it is sex, drugs, violence, or war). When his media ownership exceeded the limit, Murdoch had no trouble persuading the Republican congress to adjust the restrictions. People like Rupert Murdoch who has so much influence on what information is broadcasted by the media ultimately dictate or suggest what norms and values society should accept.
After the rainfall of controversy surrounding “The Passion of the Christ” and “The Davinci Code,” the TV industry has certainly seen a shift to more religiously grounded programming. An article from FOXnews.com states,
“TV networks are embracing a newfound faith. A miniseries about the Book of Revelation airs next week, while shows about a Catholic priest probing the supernatural and an Episcopalian minister who converses with God are on the drawing board.”
Television shows such as Crossing Jordan, CSI and The Guardian all promote Catholic ideals. What impact do shows like these have on viewers? While on the contrary, consumers are enjoying entirely immoral programming such as Temptation Island and Race to the Altar. Explicit television shows as well as graphic and violent news broadcasts are sending negative perceptions to the young viewers of America. There is clearly not enough religious or ethical input behind the creative process. Although, Murdoch promotes highly entertaining programming, he should concentrate on what message he is sending to the public. Although entertaining and suspenseful, violent and sexually explicit shows send a message that society should accept morally objective values, lacking any sense of conservatism. Religious and political intellectuals need to come together to form an alliance, ultimately improving programming for all viewers.
First of all, “religious” is not necessarily synonymous with “conservative” and just because someone is a Democrat, it does mean that they are not religious. For example, Rupert Murdoch, Head of News Corporation is very politically conservative. However, he is known for his support of liberal and more presently immoral programming. He is in so much control of the news media and he is willing to air whatever sells (whether it is sex, drugs, violence, or war). When his media ownership exceeded the limit, Murdoch had no trouble persuading the Republican congress to adjust the restrictions. People like Rupert Murdoch who has so much influence on what information is broadcasted by the media ultimately dictate or suggest what norms and values society should accept.
After the rainfall of controversy surrounding “The Passion of the Christ” and “The Davinci Code,” the TV industry has certainly seen a shift to more religiously grounded programming. An article from FOXnews.com states,
“TV networks are embracing a newfound faith. A miniseries about the Book of Revelation airs next week, while shows about a Catholic priest probing the supernatural and an Episcopalian minister who converses with God are on the drawing board.”
Television shows such as Crossing Jordan, CSI and The Guardian all promote Catholic ideals. What impact do shows like these have on viewers? While on the contrary, consumers are enjoying entirely immoral programming such as Temptation Island and Race to the Altar. Explicit television shows as well as graphic and violent news broadcasts are sending negative perceptions to the young viewers of America. There is clearly not enough religious or ethical input behind the creative process. Although, Murdoch promotes highly entertaining programming, he should concentrate on what message he is sending to the public. Although entertaining and suspenseful, violent and sexually explicit shows send a message that society should accept morally objective values, lacking any sense of conservatism. Religious and political intellectuals need to come together to form an alliance, ultimately improving programming for all viewers.
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