Religion And Tv Essays - American People Of German Descent

Religion And Tv There are presently 35 television stations owned and operated by religious organizations, but every television station features religious programming in one way or another (Postman, 116). Religious television program producers are driven by the desire to make money, and they find the best way to accomplish this is by scamming viewers and members. During this process, religion loses its authenticity. Religion is not being practiced on television, it is being mocked. Religion is no longer for worship, but for entertainment. Moneymaking scams are becoming very popular in recent years. One would like to believe some things in life are sacred. Religion is where billions of people invest their hopes, dreams, beliefs, and most importantly, money. The greedy, selfish, minds of our world see this not as a way to fix problems, but as a way to make money. Television, Billy Graham has written, is the most powerful tool of communication ever devised by man. Each of my prime time specials is now carried by nearly 300 stations across the U.S. and Canada, so that in a single telecast I preach to millions more than Christ did in his lifetime. (Postman, 118). Aldous Huxleys Brave New World sets forth the notion that religion is a bad thing, and that it only leads to problems. But if you know about God, why dont you tell them? asked the Savage indignantly. Why dont you give them these books about God? For the same reason as we dont give them Othello: theyre old; theyre about God hundreds of years ago. Not about God now. But God doesnt change. Men do, though. What difference does that make? All the difference in the world, said Mustapha Mond. (Huxley, 229) On these religious shows, people are shown with obvious handicaps such as paralyzed limbs, or walking handicaps. They join these religious clubs, or are shown on television speaking with these electronic preachers as they are called, and they let Jesus into their hearts. All of a sudden they are miraculously cured and can live their life in harmony. Still paying their monthly fees of course to stay this way. One of the most successful and popular religious programs and organizations is Pat Robertsons 700 Club which you can belong to by paying fifteen dollars a month (of course you can watch at home for free assuming you have cable television) (Postman, 114). In one episode, a woman is shown filled with anxiety because she is forced to stay at home and staying at home makes her nervous. She begins to feel even her own children are trying to kill her. She is shown then searching television for an answer. She stumbles upon the 700 Club and becomes interested in its message. She allows J esus into her heart and is saved. She has now become two things, a television star, and closer to Jesus. To the uninitiated, it is not entirely clear to which is the higher estate. (Postman, 115). Meanwhile, the untrained viewer sees this and becomes attracted. No one is saved, money is made by the producers, and wasted by the viewers. In Aldous Huxleys Brave New World, there is no money. You are given privileges based on how you are born. There is also no religion. Without money or religion, all of these problems would have been avoided. Although the story of the suffering woman was no more than a well played act, this does happen in real life. However in the Brave New World society you are not given the chance to be sad. You are forced to be happy and are not given time or the will power to think on your own. As a child, you are conditioned to like certain things both awake and asleep. Love and emotion are outlawed in this society, both of which are associated strongly with religi on. With contributions running in the millions, todays religious television shows have no problem competing with other more popular shows, as they believe they are relaying a more important message. It has been estimated that the total revenue brought in by electronic churches is well over $500 million annually (Postman, 120). There is one major problem with television as such a strong method of communication it