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diggFear 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.
Unfortunately and sadly enough, CNN has just become another “made for TV movie”...it’s privately owned. We are fed whatever views “they” believe. I don’t TRUST most of our media sources (wrote a paper on this in University many moons ago)...the general public lacks the discernment in Christ to pray about what they hear on TV and to guard against it. Sensationalism at its best to sell to us...and sadly we North Americans believe whatever we hear on TV, just they way they want us to. Another source for the enemy to use to destroy the church.
M. Lyons said: “John Cirroc reminded us that slaves are mentioned in the bible. Yes, they are, but slaves in that part of the world were more like the many contract labourers we have today. Apparently, the slave ceased to be a slave on reaching the age of thirty years. In many cases the person stayed on, earned a living, and raised a family as a free man. Generally, both parties beneifitted from the arrangemeent.”
I think the following passage from Exodus can shed some light on the subject.
“20. When a slave-owner strikes a male or female slave with a rod and the slave dies immediately, the owner shall be punished. 21. But if the slave survives for a day or two, there is no punishment; for the slave is the owner’s property.”
Hugh (Bart) Vincelette it is very clear to most of us - obviously not all - that the Oklahoma bomber was a ‘sick’ man. He may have claimed to be religious, but his action told a different story. I do not believe that the religious philosophy that this man clearly rejected, should be faulted.If a homosexual man, say, were to rape a young man should we blame or be critical of the whole homosexual group for this man’s action? No, we should not.
John Cirroc reminded us that slaves are mentioned in the bible. Yes, they are, but slaves in that part of the world were more like the many contract labourers we have today. Apparently, the slave ceased to be a slave on reaching the age of thirty years. In many cases the person stayed on, earned a living, and raised a family as a free man. Generally, both parties beneifitted from the arrangemeent.
A very clear reply to journalists who worship the ideology of their employer and forget the teaching of history: an atheistic society is ruled by anarchy and violence.
The real problem is to find out who preaches the true religion, because only the error about the sense of life implies confusion and sometime cruelty.
I hope she doesn’t end up mocking God. If she does, then that’s the scary part.
Yes, it is indeed ironic for her first name to be that.
If she’s an atheist, someday she’ll know that God really exist, and that he is very powerful. If she’s smart and open-minded, try reading the Bible and learn more about God and His people.
She may not need Him yet because she feels that she’s still on top of her career… We are not one to judge her, maybe this is the reason so that she will get to know God. Do pray for her.
Mariusz,
You brought Nazis into the conversation.
Goodbye
David P.,
You wrote about me:
“You sound like a Holocaust denier saying he’s only interested in the truth.”
There is no reasonable answer to this. Be happy with your buzzwords, straw men (and women), red herrings and politically correct delusions. Goodbye.
Mariusz said,
“A real discussion requires from its participants at least two basic things: knowledge and understanding. In the above quote you show the lack of both. I was talking about the official contemporaneous motives for these actions. They were not aimed exclusively at the women, either, so please try to get rid of this fixation of yours.”
It was you who said that the severity of the witch hunts was a myth created by “Wiccans/Feminists”. You set the tone of the discussion. You have a problem with women. You sound like a Holocaust denier saying he’s only interested in the truth.
Misogyny runs like a freight train through the more conservative branches of the major religions. It’s not a fixation to be offended by the injustices women suffer in this World.
On the abortion issue, I answered your question. I didn’t respond to your demand.
Anyway, the original point of this discussion was ‘do we have anything to fear from religion’. In my opinion the answer will always be yes.
John C.,
““glaring errors have no place in an objective debate” - Mariusz Wesolowski
Does anyone seeing the irony in such a statement regarding religion?”
My statement regarded an objective debate, not religion. It is rather obvious.
David P.,
“I never said anything about the number
killed by the various Inquisitions. I’ll take your word for it that many were just tortured and released. What’s your point?”
Yes, you did, in your previous post, quote: “[Catholics]
also were responsible for a little foible called the Inquisition. That slaughter of innocents lasted for almost 1,000 years. Got any numbers on that death toll?”
I just replied to your request.
“The idea you have put forth that the horrors perpetrated against women by Inquisitors and witch finders was justified by their salvation is just sick and delusional.”
A real discussion requires from its participants at least two basic things: knowledge and understanding. In the above quote you show the lack of both. I was talking about the official contemporaneous motives for these actions. They were not aimed exclusively at the women, either, so please try to get rid of this fixation of yours.
About abortion - again, I don’t see in your vague reply anything that would address my question. Please be more specific.
John Cirroc points out that the old testament supports slavery. Unfortunately so does the new testament.
One Timothy 6:1 says a slave must honor and obey his master.
Believing that this book is the unfiltered Word of God can lead you down some strange paths indeed. The Bible, it seems, can be on both sides of every argument.
“glaring errors have no place in an objective debate” - Mariusz Wesolowski
Does anyone seeing the irony in such a statement regarding religion?
Scripture is rife with errors. Objectivity has no place in religion. Believers continue to frame their debate by writing of first century man ignoring the many truths man has discovered. These that do not need to be declared “the word” to be seen as right and true.
But then, the earth might really be flat with the sun revolving around it, there was light before there was the sun, all at the center of everything.
One would think that an omnipotent and omniscient god could get some of that right.
But maybe he was to concerned that man might beat his slaves to much:
“ When a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod so hard that the slave dies under his hand, he shall be punished. If, however, the slave survives for a day or two, he is not to be punished, since the slave is his own property.” - Exodus 21:20-21
Or maybe he was concerned about killing the children of his believers enemies:
“How blessed will be the one who seizes and dashes your little ones Against the rock.” - Psalms 137:9
Then again, wars happen. Don’t worry. Be happy:
“And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.” - Mark 13:7-8
Now. I am cherry picking here. And that is the problem. Scripture is ready for the picking. It is the work of a limited number of ancient men. And even when the Council of Nicea tried to wrap up the Bible all nice and neat in a nice leather bound cover they couldn’t get it right.
And don’t think the other big religions or splinter groups don’t have issues. They do. Google it if ye doubt it.
Basically, God’s Warrior’s just points out to me that everyone thinks they are right (Jew, Christian, Muslim), and those who have less to lose are willing to fight more than those who are comfortable. I don’t need to defend my beliefs or belittle others’. That said, it is easy to be scared and natural to be wary of someone or something I don’t understand. Just human nature.
Mariusz,
All abortions are a tragedy. Some are necessary but more are not. I’m not a woman so I will never have to make that unfortunate choice. My wife and I have three children and we haven’t killed any of them.
I don’t believe the morning after pill, especially after a rape, is in any way immoral. I find it amusing that social conservatives want every child to be born but don’t think they have any responsibility for them after that. Did you know that, in America, abortions went down every year under the Clinton administration? They have gone up every year under the Bush administration.
The idea you have put forth that the horrors perpetrated against women by Inquisitors and witch finders was justified by their salvation is just sick and delusional.
Don’t you think Christians would be better served if they concentrated less on the Ten Commandments (Old Testament) and more on the Beatitudes (Actual words of Jesus)? Doesn’t the Parable of the Prostitute negate the condemnations of the Old Testament?
Mariusz,
The dead I referred to were those killed during the
30 years war. I never said anything about the number
killed by the various Inquisitions. I’ll take your word for it that many were just tortured and released. What’s your point?
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