Religion and the News…

Last updated on: March 16, 2008 at 9:34 am by J. Ryan Parker

Religion and the News… 2008-03-16T09:34:27-07:00 J. Ryan Parker

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I consistently try to stay away from overtly political discussions here on Pop Theology. I find myself too tied up in the “fantasy worlds” of movies, television shows, books, and video games to cast my lot in “real world politics.” However, when religion, politics, and the news converge like they did on Friday, it is hard to stay away. The following post is not an endorsement of any candidate, but rather a brief examination of the explosion of religion and media surrounding Barack Obama’s campaign. Coincidentally, I have also been reading Stewart Hoover’s Religion in the Media Age which will, hopefully, help shed some light on this topic. I am sure Mr. Hoover has quite enough information to fuel a second edition of his book after the media frenzy around Reverend Jeremiah Wright’s comments. Check back in the next few days for a review of Hoover’s book and read on for my thoughts on Obama’s drama.One thing that Hoover makes perfectly clear in Religion and the Media Age is that people have difficulty articulating the relationship between their religious values (or lack thereof) and their media consumption (film, television, music, Internet, etc.). Equally clear is the fact that the media, especially the news, lacks sufficient religious understanding, as evidenced by their continual turn to Pastors Falwell, Hagee, or Robertson as talking heads. Ironically, throughout his research, Hoover finds that even the most conservative interviewees lament the media obsession with these representatives of Christianity. Thus, through their lack of religious understanding, and an obsession with controversy, the news media pigeonholes various religious voices. It stands to reason that if they do not understand majority (white) expressions of Christianity in this country, they probably will be even less knowledgable of minority Christianity.

As I write about this, the more keenly aware I am of my lack of experience in and knowledge of African American religious traditions. However, during my time in divinity school at Wake Forest University, I had the privilege of hearing prophetic preaching from both black and white traditions. I am aware that this prophetic characteristic is particularly present in African American preaching, perhaps more consistently than in “white preaching.” African Americans have historically faced oppression and injustice that white Americans will never know. To not hear strong denouncement of this from the pulpit would be another injustice indeed and a betrayal of the social gospel that defines Christianity.

Perhaps the media’s coverage of this issue reflects a similar knowledge gap. It also signals, yet again, the crucial intersection of religion and media in contemporary society. If we place Reverend Wright’s statements in the context of his sermon and his sermon in the context of prophetic African American preaching, it is hard to find him at fault. Of course, his use of “God damn” will set many religious folk on edge, black or white. Yet in the context of his sermon, Rev. Wright simply said that God should damn the practices of unspeakable violence, hypocrisy, and injustice and the circumstances that lead to them. Aside from Rev. Wright’s strong language, can we refute any of his claims? Is Obama part of the establishment? Do white-run corporations run this country? What has been the only constant in the history of American politics? Has America undertaken nefarious (to put it lightly) foreign policies?

It is difficult, no impossible, to link the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki with the terrorist attacks of 9/11 because of the uniqueness of each event and the uniqueness of their horror. It is much harder to denounce Rev. Wright’s accusations of US participation in state-sanctioned terrorism. Our involvement in the Middle East, Africa, and South America is hypocritical to say the least. For all of our efforts at liberation, we can also look at the underside of this myth and fin untold suffering that this “liberative” foreign policy has caused. In a seminal post-colonial text, The Wretched of the Earth, Frantz Fanon argues, in part, that the violence that the oppressor works on the oppressed, will be the same violence that the oppressed work on the oppressor. A vicious cycle indeed…chickens coming home to roost. This should in no way justify the attacks in New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington, but it could serve as one point of departure in understanding the situation.

I have yet to see, and hope to in the coming days, a scholar of religion speak to Reverend Wright’s comments. All I have seen so far are political “specialists” speculating on to what extent these statements will harm Obama’s campaign. There might be an implicit racism in these interactions as well or, again, just a complete and total ignorance of African American religious traditions. One thing is sure: religion has not faded from the public sphere. It is interacting with media in ways never before imagined. As one of my spiritual advisors argued, not every pastor wants every sermon posted on YouTube.

News

Previous Post

March 14, 2008

The Geldof Gospel and a New Bible...

Next Post

March 16, 2008 Religion in the Media Age: A Review

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Classics DVD Film Music News Pop Culture Events Print Sports Television Uncategorized Video Games

Select a Month March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What did Lamentations describe happening to Jerusalem?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Its destruction and mourning Its blessing and expansion Its rebuilding Its prosperity