www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Misrepresentation of Christianity on TV

I guess this is just a "venting post."

There are always programs about Christianity on ostensibly legitimate TV channels like National Geographic and The History Channel. Subject matter ranges from St. Mary Magdalene's role in the ministry of Our Lord to the canon of Scripture.

Each time I see a new show on, if I have time I'll turn it on to give it a chance. Almost without exception, the presentation is incredibly biased against the Church, totally sensationalist, imbued with almost naked contempt for anything remotely orthodox. Favorite commentators are heretics like ex-priest Dominic Crossan, well-known for denying such basic Christian beliefs as the Virgin Birth.

What I find so offensive is that these channels pass themselves off as legitimate, professional, scientific, etc. and yet continually engage in the most fantastical, wacked shenanigans.

I've noticed for years now that The History Channel is campy, unprofessional, sensationalist, blatantly inaccurate...the list goes on.

I'm so sick of hearing how Mary Magdalene was Our Lord's wife, how the Apostle Paul hijacked the true meaning of Christianity, how the Fathers of the Church wrenched equality from women, how Our Lord was only about some modernistic idea of "social justice," etc.

Is anyone bothered by this/noticed this? There seem to be no shows on television, aside from EWTN of course, where one watch a show about Christianity that presents a traditional and orthodox view of the Faith.

Alexis

I would agree, that this is a "venting post," because I have watched many documentaries on secular channels that well represent the Church and her teachings. I would agree that I have watched quite the opposite of the Church and her teachings. I would argue that this happens with most productions, it is impossible to please all sides, because to the secular world, truth seems to be the idea voiced the loudest, which in America tends to be very misguided.

Maybe, Erie, but I have continually approached each new onslaught on these channels with an open mind, only to be beraged by statements more sensationalist than the last. I can't think of the last program on Christianity on either of these channels that I saw that I came away thinking was not catering to a fringe of conspiracy theorists.

Alexis

I have the same view as Alexis.

The part I find most vexing is the breathless tone with which the narrator announces that "for the first time" the program will reveal some deep, dark secret of Christianity, but what then follows is the same old same old of discredited higher criticism and neo-gnostic musings. Real scholars have known about all this for decades (if not generations), and dismissed all of them, ad seriatim, for very well grounded, scholarly reasons. In fact, the true scholarly consensus increasingly leans towards affirmation of what can be called the orthodox Christian narrative, particularly as new extra-biblical texts and a host of archaeological discoveries confirm the essential authenticity of the Bible.

So, the only reason to air these programs is to sow doubts among the ignorant, and to firm up the skeptical worldview of the people who produce them.

I think National Geographic is one of the worst. Ever since they got on board James Cameron's "The Lost Tomb of Jesus," I've found a lot of their Christian-themed programs follow the "finally, we found the truth the Church buried 2000 years ago" line.

"Cancel Easter! We found the body!"

It seems evident that the American media are turning against Christianity. When I was a youth, God was at least overtly respected among men. Now times have changed and it seems a wave of new persecution may be forthcoming. It has occured to me that the new attitude among the media may in part be reactionary against the assertions of the Evangelical Political Right these last twenty years.

Nevertheless, attitudes have changed.

But if also ye should suffer for righteousness' sake, blessed are ye; but be not afraid of their fear neither be troubled; but sanctify the Lord the Christ in your hearts, and be ye always prepared to give answer to every one that requires you to give an account of the hope that is in you, but with meekness and fear having a good conscience, that in what they speak against you as evildoers, they may be ashamed who accuse your good conduct in Christ. (1Pet.3:14-16)

μιχαηλ τω συστρατιωτης

Not all sorts of Christianity. A certain wishy, mild, ethically based and broadly tolerant mainstream Christianity still gets a good word in the media. Episcopalians are still welcome at their table. Maybe Unitarians, if they aren't too rigorous.

μιχαηλ,

I would just go one step farther, and state that persecution is inevitable--it is only a question of how soon.

For a long time I had thought that this would come about over the issue of women priests, but after seeing something on TV the other day about gay marriages, I am convinced that this issue will be the one to bring enough public sentiment against the Church to get the persections going.

It's important to realize, though, that persecution will start small--don't expect massive roundups right away! The most likely scenario will be Congress passing a law that "just happens" to deny tax-exempt status to religious groups that will not perform homosexual marriages. This move alone will bring about significant defections--all of whom will try as long as they can to keep the name "Catholic" and maintain the appearance of unity with Rome while quietly performing gay weddings. (I have singled out the Catholic Church here primarily because I suspect the Orthodox Church will be more steadfast on this issue.)

There will also be lawsuits against "homophobic" churches, as well as things we can't even imagine--until we see them.

However, the enemy is biding his time, since he knows that if he tips his hand too soon his forces won't be strong enough to hold sway. But as more and more people have friends and relatives "coming out," the idea that homosexuality is something that only pertains to the dregs of society is rapidly fading. Furthermore, there is a lack of hard evidence available to refute the notion that people with SSAs are "born that way," and this quite naturally makes anything anti-gay seem wretchedly bigoted.

Of course, programs offering "scientific proof" that traditional Christianity is merely a man-made invention certainly help to further this movement.


Peace,
Deacon Richard

The solution to gay marriages (from the Church's perspective) is a return to the relationship between the Church, the state and marriage that existed prior to the 9th century. The state handled the legal side of all marriages, and the Church extended its sacramental blessing to those who wanted and qualified for it. That is why, contra Father Ambrose, there are no patristic commentaries on the rite of second marriage: the Church did not do second marriages. Those who wanted to remarry, whether for widowhood or divorce, did so through a civil ceremony and the Church only concerned itself with reintegrating those couples into the Body of Christ. When Emperor Leo VI made the Church responsible for all aspects of marriage, the Church had to concern itself with all the societal aspects of marriage, as well as its purely sacramental side. This worked as long as the state and the Church had congruent attitudes regarding marriage.

That time appears to be ending--though I note that gay marriage tends not to prevail whenever it is put to a vote. Assuming that gay marriage becomes the rule, the response of the Church should be to end its role as justices of the peace, returning the legal and civil aspects of marriage back to the state. Those who wish to be married by the Church would have to get a license, just as they do today, but they would have to be married first in a civil ceremony, then go to the Church for the sacramental rite of marriage.

The state can have no say in what thereby becomes a purely internal matter of the Church--unless the state wants to take the ultimate step of dictating Church doctrine and discipline (which would be constitutionally difficult to do).

From a purely theological and ecclesiastical perspective, this arrangement would have several advantages, of which the most significant is the Church could now focus its full attention upon the sacramental nature of marriage without compromising on matters such as remarriage. The Church would simply not celebrate second marriages of any sort, but would simply assign the appropriate penances to those who wish to remarry for whatever reason. The meaning of marriage would be upheld, and all of the pastoral contortions would end, both for Catholics and Orthodox alike.

Of course, gay marriage would be a sociological catastrophe, and there are very good secular reasons why the state should uphold and encourage traditional marriage, but that is not the concern of the Church.

Totally agree Alexis. Sometimes the History Channel and others, knock it out of the park, while other times they're clueless. I've been an adviser for a few programs related to Chicago crime history, and I've encountered people who knew next to nothing about the subject matter they were making a documentary about. In the case of Christianity though it's a very obvious agenda that's being pursued.

Unfortunately, from the public interest standpoint, traditional Christianity is seen as being old news. Something that challenges traditional Christianity, however--that's like "man bites dog!"


Peace,
Deacon Richard

Unfortunately, our culture very strongly associates marriage with religion, and we're not going to be able to change this quickly enough before the gays start demanding church weddings!

Deacon Richard,

I agree with many things you wrote, but I don't think persecution need be dramatic with arrests and concentration camps, etc. All that has to be done is to render Christians second class citizens. We read of this already happening in this land. An employees was fired because he dared to read a Bible during lunch. A school Principal was sued because he prayed together privately with others on school property. There are other such things going on already. Each court victory establishes legal precident. The effort of the broadcast media to discredit this "faith once delivered to the saints" can be viewed as prepratory to oppression because they endeavor to cause said faith to be percieved as fanciful and unreasonable in the public eye.

Removing a Church's privledged tax-exempt status would also anull their legal Corporation status and thus without legal standing the churches would be effectively denied power to use the Courts. Then, government registering of church groups in order to force their compliance with official policy would cause believers to gather underground illegally in every city. We already see such being done in China today.

μιχαηλ τω συστρατιωτης