Describe, analyse and explain: the variety of specifically religious programmes on the terrestrial TV channels.

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Elaine Mealey 11C1

Religion and the Media: RS coursework – part 1

Describe, analyse and explain: the variety of specifically religious programmes on the terrestrial TV channels

The media has a great influence in people’s life.  It is a pervasive part of our society.  Media is the way of communicating with large numbers of people such as through television, radio, newspapers and magazines.

Programmes and articles directly about religion maybe factual (documentaries, news broadcasts), discussions, acts of worship or comedy (‘The vicar of Dibley’, ‘Father Ted’.)  Religious topics may be dealt with indirectly as issues occurring in soap operas, chat shows, and cartoons.  Religious documentaries are the most popular religious broadcasts as they deal with issues that effect and are ofinterest to non-religious and religious people.  Many documentaries discuss topical issues at the time of a celebration or at times when some parts of the world have been touched by religious issue (for example the Catholic, Protestant unrest in Northern Ireland.)

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I think religion should be broadcast over the media, as it is a way of making others aware and understand people’s beliefs.  I feel that if religion is broadcast it should not favour or state that one religion is true.  It should be sensitive to all religions.

Compared to the amount of time that given to other programmes only a small proportion of time is given to directly religious programmes, and the time given is usually only on a Sunday or at various times during the year when there are special celebrations (Christmas, Easter etc.)  The programmes are ...

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