Sheila Gribben Liaugminas | Wednesday, 26 September 2007
Fear religion: CNN’s message to the nation
Christiane Amanpour had a clear message in her three-part series on CNN: worshipping God creates scary people.
The drama of incited emotions relating to religion was elaborately crafted to fill television screens for six hours during CNN’s mini-series "God’s Warriors", but the drama has only increased among the viewing public since it aired, and those six hours have stretched into an ongoing backlash against the program. Actually, both programs: the television series, and the mission of implanting a message about religion in the minds of world viewers.
The language is of "political theology" which, given an opportunity for
progression, threatens Western democracy with a looming theocracy.
From the beginning, CNN’s chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour set out to examine the actions and motivations of religious extremists in Judaism, Islam and Christianity. And that, in itself, is a "what’s wrong with this picture?" snapshot of a world-class news network inserting itself as a driving force in shaping culture and directing politics. If you can equate any religious fervor with all religious fervor, you can instill fear of religion in the minds of the "common" people. If you instill fear in people of a "theocracy" being imposed on them by leaders who are faithful to their religious values, you can control the way they think and vote.
And that, in brief, is the "God’s Warriors" program.
Just two days before, the New York Times Sunday magazine carried a long, in-depth essay titled "The Politics of God" by Mark Lilla, author of The Stillborn God: Religion, Politics and the Modern Man. The essay framed the question of God’s place in society as a sweeping picture of moral equivalence between things that are not equivalent, which Amanpour did with the same gravity in "God’s Warriors". Which, by the way, began airing two days later. Both of these major media institutions used their considerable weight to lead people into suspicion and fear of fervent religious belief. The language is of "political theology" which, given an opportunity for progression, threatens Western democracy with a looming theocracy.
It’s a sinister program, and people have caught on. In the immediate aftermath of CNN’s first night’s episode of "God’s Warriors" on the extremists in Judaism, bloggers and columnists jumped into the cyber-arena and began denouncing the distortions and selective bias in the episode. The Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America (CAMERA) issued a report stating: "While in reality Jewish ‘terrorism’ is virtually non-existent, the program magnifies at length the few instance of [Jewish] violence," and compared them to "violent jihadist Muslim campaigns" though no comparison is valid "either in numbers of perpetrators engaged or in the magnitude of death and destruction wrought."
The Jewish audience was incensed by Amanpour’s attention to critics of Israel with no counterbalance, emphasis on the false analogy of extremism among religions. Liberal activist Sharon Cobb, a former contributor to the "NBC Nightly News" and MSNBC online contributor, wrote on her own blog about the fundamental error of the series. "[T]he extremists in Judaism and Christianity are widely condemned within the Jewish and Christian communities, and acts of terror by Jews and Christians are almost non-existent… Orthodox Jews only make up about 10 per cent of the Jewish population, and ultra-Orthodox extremists are relatively rare, And even among the ultra-Orthodox, I am not familiar with any who think killing an innocent person is justified. "
The second night was about extremists in Islam. General reaction in this same public arena was that Amanpour handled this particular topic with utmost fairness. One knowledgeable Middle East observer and writer, on a History News Network blog, called the episode "a politically-correct absurdity" in which "Amanpour made a ridiculous stab at moral equivalence."
And that’s the danger in this type of "journalism". In the public mind, seeds of doubt and fear are planted by buzzwords and false analogies. Comparing Christian modesty and chastity advocates to the Taliban is more than ridiculous. It’s insidious. But that occurred in the third segment, "God’s Christian Warriors". It began by crediting – or blaming – Rev. Jerry Falwell with thrusting religion into politics and elevating "the religious right." In fact, nearly all of that two-hour episode featured Christian activism in political and legal affairs, trying to restore order to the culture and government of America.
Media Research Center’s Robert Knight wrote in an analysis: "The message at times is so ham-handed during the political segments that anyone with even the slightest skepticism of CNN’s motive should see through it. Ominous music, weird camera angles and one-sided portrayals of key issues are standard fare." In fact, the profiles Amanpour featured were evangelicals, and mostly preachers delivering fired up sermons to large scale congregations using stadiums, arenas, sound systems and large screens at times. The episode followed some activists through their calls on politicians and prayer vigils at courthouses, but the picture was framed by Amanpour’s narrative on this activism posing an ominous threat to America.
But she missed the obvious. They were participating in America’s legal and political system exactly as it was intended by the Founders, as a representative republic, with citizen involvement. She missed the pre-Jerry Falwell political civil rights activism of Dr. Martin Luther King and other Christians, and she totally missed Catholic social justice and the involvement of the roughly 70 million strong Catholic community in the US in the pro-life movement. She did highlight the powerful impact of Roe v. Wade on galvanizing Christians. She just failed to mention the Catholic involvement, which is considerable.
The History News Network writer notes the obvious that any viewer could see. In this array of vigorous activism, "isn’t it amazing that these Christian ‘warriors’ are using the legal system to try to effect change -- rather than flying airplanes into buildings?" But "why does CNN seem obsessed with equating Christian fundamentalists with Muslim ones?"
The answer is simple: to instill fear of religion, and fear of voting for a leader who is informed by their faith.
The good news is, all these people of one faith or another are conducting their own dramatic series of discussions and debates and informative presentations in the arena of ideas available to them. CNN indicated that the network, and Christiane Amanpour, were following public reaction and sensibilities carefully and making final edits to the series as they felt necessary. But they pressed ahead with the message of moral equivalence, and that is so far from true, it’s another case of "the emperor’s clothes" fable becoming a reality in modern media.
In the end, "God’s Warriors" stated that Judaism, Christianity and Islam all believe their religions have the answers for an ordered society. And they do each believe that. But, in spite of the tendentious treatment of Christians in the third and final episode, it was clear that they believe the path to pursuing a just order is through the courts, the government offices, and through prayer.
This seems to pose a threat to some of the major media. The question is not one of whether to elect someone who holds moral values, but rather whose values will prevail?
The great and recently deceased Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger wrote a best-selling book called The Choice of God. In a recent tribute to the prelate and his writings, scholar George Weigel recalled an insight perfectly poignant here, to this ongoing debate. "Cardinal Lustiger, who wrote with great insight about worship and prayer, knew that at the heart of culture is cult. Everyone worships; the question is whether the object of our worship is a worthy one."
Sheila Gribben Liaugminas is an Emmy Award winning journalist who reported for Time magazine for more than 20 years. Until recently, she hosted the popular national radio shows The Right Questions and Issues and Answers on Relevant Radio. She blogs at InforumBlog.com.
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Comments (42)
KABORO KARIUKI said...Well written piece. It was sad to see that a respected media house like CNN would publish an obviously biased article. Something else that I noticed, there is the group called BattleCry that was featured (A protestant movement in the United States), the followers were seen to be brainwashed teenagers and the leaders were portrayed as overzealous cult leaders…
-- | Wednesday, 26 September 2007 at 7:53 pm
Mariusz Wesolowski said...I don’t understand why we should be looking for the truth in the media when we can’t find it even at the most famous universities? In our blighted times the knowledgeable people work for a salary while the buffoons are celebrities.
Canada | Thursday, 27 September 2007 at 10:07 am
Ceecee said...Was anybody else, besides me, inspired to pray for the salvation of Chistiane Amanpour during the viewing of her ‘God’s Christian Warriors’ segment? If we prayed for people like her, instead of writing them off as enemies, we might see some good results some day.
It seemed that she got along OK with the Christians she interviewed. That is a good sign. I think that when she went into the house of a Christian family, she was probably charmed by their children, as any of us would be.
I don’t think she is the enemy. She is created in God’s image just like we are. Jesus died for her sins too, and it’s not God’s will that she perish, but that she should come to repentance, as this is His will for everyone.
-- | Thursday, 27 September 2007 at 4:56 pm
Peter said...The word media can be derived from the Latin word medius which means middle.
It is sad to see that the media is not in the middle anymore giving both sides of the story in an unbiased manner.
Perhaps which should start calling them monia instead of media.
United States | Thursday, 27 September 2007 at 10:54 pm
Ruth said...Yes, we certainly do need to pray for Ms. Amanpour and all the anti-God media. Jesus said that we are to pray for our enemies and do good to those who hate us. Thank you for the reminder; however, at the same time we do need to be aware of who the enemy is. For too long I think too many of us have just accepted the de-Christianization of our culture without realizing that our way of life was being attacked. Look at all the churches that are changing their doctrine to fit in with the culture, rather than being the yeast that changes people and leads them to God.
As a side note, isn’t it ironic that Ms. Amanpour’s first name is Christiane? I wonder what her story is? May God’s grace enter her soul.
United States | Thursday, 27 September 2007 at 11:02 pm
Martin Nguyen said...Well said, Ceecee. I agree with you.
United States | Friday, 28 September 2007 at 12:05 am
Nan Kraft said...It is no secret in the US that CNN is totally biased. They run their own agenda. They don’t report news, they create/invent the news. They try to destroy ideas and people with whom they do not agree. The majority of US media is the same. There are only a few outlets that are worth reading or watching.
United States | Friday, 28 September 2007 at 12:17 am
john said...CNN Can’t tell the truth if it hit them in the face. They have orders to sell abortion and pervertion. They are so far from God one could well look into the Abyss when following their Tripe as it’s all slanted. The reason I stopped wacthing CNN is because they give their own version of the news, and only if it favours the Democrat party.
United States | Friday, 28 September 2007 at 1:05 am
sarah moss said...saw a part of this program. turn it off.Its the same old junk the media is trying to feed us. when will they grow up?
United States | Friday, 28 September 2007 at 1:37 am
mary ann said...I’ll pray for Christiane AND CNN. As far as them being highly respected, not in my neck of the woods.
I got tired of their bias long ago.
-- | Friday, 28 September 2007 at 6:19 am
John Cirroc said...The problem you fail to see as that all major religions and their texts can be cherry picked by “believers” to support a cause or war or culture. Old Testament has passages on how to treat your salves. If this is word of God, should we not have salves?
And fear? Fear is the prime motivator behind religions. Do this or face eternal damnation. It is though we are all children and God is father figure who will punish you if don’t clean up your room.
We can choose to have a discussion using all that humanity has learned and discovered, OR, we can restrict ourselves to texts written by first century man.
United States | Friday, 28 September 2007 at 8:27 am
David Page said...Zealotry is dangerous. It doesn’t matter what the religion is, or even if it’s secular zealotry like communism or fascism. People who want to be left alone have reason to fear fanatics, even Christian ones. The history of the last 2,000 years is littered with the bodies of people killed by Bible believing Christians.
United States | Friday, 28 September 2007 at 12:07 pm
Peter said...I viewed parts of the CNN series and it appeared religiphobic to me. But that’s understandable from the media because they are in buisiness to make money. The more controversy they etirr up, the more money they make.
Canada | Friday, 28 September 2007 at 1:40 pm
Hugh (Bart) Vincelette said...There is not one instance of CNN creating or inventing the news since its inception ; as opposed to an outlet like the ultra-conservative FOX News , who do so on a regular basis. The series by Christiane Amanpour was exemplary , and any criticism appears to come from those unable to accept any criticism of the actions of any major religious group , especially their own. A textbook example is the tragic blowing up of the federal building in Oklahoma City.It is fine for people to claim that the perpetrator wasn’t a “true Christian”; but the reality is : he said he was.It therefore follows that this was an act of Christian terrorism, based on one group’s interpretation of Christian thought.Similarly , a man recently convicted of the brutal murder of a gay man told the court he was doing “God’s work."And , when the religious right delayed the development of anti-HIV treatment options ; assuring the deaths of thousands ; they felt (feel), they were acting in accordance with the will of their deity (Christian). This facilitated the global epidemic we see today.
Canada | Friday, 28 September 2007 at 4:07 pm
Eric said...Ceecee, Jesus, St Paul, St John, St Peter and countless other holy poeple
recognized their religious enemies as enemies. Jesus was gracious to
Pharisees, Saducees, and others who opposed Him; he went to eat in their
houses and He sought their salvation (up to and including praying for them
on the cross as they blasphemed Him). But he saw them for who they were,
too: enemies of Himself and of the cross. Perhaps out of ignorance (He
alone can see their souls), but by their choice, enemies none-the-less.
This despite the fact Christ well knew they were created in God’s image and
likeness. (He, God, had created them.)
I think it’s good to pray for the salvation of Christiane and other
journalists who are obviously biased against Christianity. But the fact of
the matter is, they are our ideological and political if not religious
adversaries. I do wish (as God wishes) all to come to repentance, but that
doesn’t mean I turn a blind eye to the obvious that she’s an enemy of my
faith and in some important moral senses, of God. If I have no enemies,
than Christ’s statement “pray for your enemies” makes no sense.
I think it’s crucial to recognize reality for what it is, so you that you
can make prudent decisions based on that reality. Loving others is one of
Christ’s two great commandments. But that does not mean living in a
sentimentalist fog. That refusal to recognize reality probably doesn’t
lead to others’ conversion (on what basis would they convert?), but simply
refuses to defend those in our charge against obvious attacks from those
who wish to remold society after their own non- and increasingly
anti-Christian ideals. The best way to deal with conflict is not to deny
its existance (Christ nor Paul nor the apostles ever did this) but in
charity to firmly resist others and give reason for the hope we have in
Christ and in our beliefs.
-- | Friday, 28 September 2007 at 4:47 pm
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