Media Needs To Take Religion Seriously
In the most sacred week of the Christian year, in which the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ was commemorated by a billion Christians, The New Yorker magazine’s cover portrayed a crucifixion - of an Easter bunny, dressed as a U.S. taxpayer, arms outstretched, pockets empty, on an IRS 1040 form.
I asked Hendrick Hertzberg, a top editor, why the magazine chose to trivialize the most sacred symbol of the faith of millions with the sketch by Art Stiegelman.
He replied, “I don’t think the deepest concerns of the American people are capable of being trivialized by a magazine cover. It is far too small for that.”
The artist “was using symbols that are part of the common discourse of western culture to make a point about the martyred taxpayer, who is being martyred for the sins of the undeserving.
“He was trying to make a political point - one that many share, including the national conference of bishops.”
His ignorance was showing. “The Catholic bishops have no stand on taxes,” I replied, fairly certain that the magazine’s creative geniuses could have found a more appropriate way to illustrate their profound sympathy for the taxpayer.
Hollywood’s contribution to Holy Week was the film “Priest.” In it, five priests are depicted: “One is in a homosexual relationship, another has sex with a female housekeeper, another is a drunk, a fourth is an uncaring bishop, and the fifth, a psychotic country priest,” sighed Don Wildmon, President of the American Family Association.
Television is worse. On “The John Larroquette Show,” Chris, who looks like Christ, is accused in poker, “You’re cheatin’. I’m going to NAIL you.” Chris replies, “They tried that before.”
Newsmagazines, meanwhile, have given up regular coverage of religion.
Henry Luce, the son of Chinese missionaries, pioneered serious coverage of religion in Time’s first 1922 issue. When I was a Time correspondent in the 1960s, the Religion section ran weekly. Though some good cover stories still do run, the section has disappeared. Newsweek’s religion writer, Ken Woodward, had only 16 stories in 1994.
Of 1,556 daily papers in this country, only 67 have full-time religion writers.
What’s wrong with the leaders of American media?
Haven’t they heard that “97 percent of Americans believe in God and 83 percent believe in a God who observes, rewards and punishes,” in the words of George Gallup, Jr.?
Seven in 10 Americans are members of a church or synagogue, and 42 percent attended religious services in any week of 1994.
No modern nation is as religious. In Great Britain only 14 percent attend church weekly, onethird the attendance rate of the United States.
People care far more about their faith than their politics. Only a quarter of Americans vote for governor. Yet how much news focuses on religion compared to politics?
A study by the Media Research Center reported that of 18,000 evening news stories only 225 were on religion - one percent. Of those, 103 stories were about Catholics while New Age stories outnumbered all Protestant stories.
There is some good news. The CBS-TV series “Christy” treated faith so sensitively that new episodes will air April 15 and 22. ABC hired Peggy Wehmeyer as the first full-time network religion reporter. And her stories have been positive and informative.
Finally, the Dallas Morning News has created a brilliant, six-page religion section. Last week, a major story profiled Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Lutheran theologian who was one of few in Germany to oppose Hitler, and was martyred by the Nazis on Palm Sunday 50 years ago. One page profiles Dallas clergy and their churches. Another puts a spotlight on Good Works, such as many volunteer opportunities and a J.C. Penny executive who evangelizes.
“This is a way to reach readers alienated by the press,” says Managing Editor Bob Mong. “The spiritual side of life is a big part of the country and is not often reported.”
Why not, media execs?
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