Another representation of the religious characters is different to the way they have been discussed above. It shows that even if the religious characters are young, they are perceived as outsiders to the community and unable to understand the ‘modern’ views of others because they still live by their faith.
The head of the Church is Pope Benedict XVI, an elderly man, he is known to have made many controversial statements, for example – ‘…The various forms of the dissolution of matrimony today, like free unions, trial marriages and going up to pseudo-matrimonies by people of the same sex, are rather expressions of an anarchic freedom that wrongly passes for true freedom of man…’
Co-habitation, sex before marriage, and homosexuality are seen as modern issues and have been commonly accepted in modern society. As the Pope condemns these ideas it makes Christianity appear as out of touch with the modern world, due to the fact the leader of the religion cannot accept modern issues.
Another religious character starring in a soap opera, Harold Bishop is described as a ‘do-gooder’. Harold is a member of the Salvation Army, and has always been religious. He was willing to disown one of his own relatives as she was lying about the father of her child, proving he has strong moral points of view. This comes to show us that he has a moral, old-fashioned way of looking into things and is unwilling to negotiate his views for anyone. He preaches his religious views in times of need to comfort the other characters. An example is when he says ‘Every child is born with a guardian angel’. This goes to show that, although his views may be old-fashioned and not fit to the times we live in, they are comforting to other characters in difficult periods. Within the shows the younger characters feel they are unable to relate to him, as they describe him to be ‘boring’ and ‘a fuddy-duddy’. This shows him to be out of touch with the modern world as the younger more ‘modern’ characters are unable to understand him or his point of view.
On the other hand, religious characters on television are not always shown in a negative way, as out of touch with the modern world. An example of this is ‘The Vicar of Dibley’. Geraldine Granger is a woman vicar who is described as ‘a thoroughly modern, pop music-loving vicar’. She is a woman working as a vicar, therefore already challenges stereotypes. Not only that, but she also comfortably talks about sex, and often jokes about it too. She swears and talks about modern music showing that she is in touch with the modern world, more so than the villagers she associates with within the community. She is faithful to her religion; however she regulates it to suit the time and circumstance she is in.
Another good example in this light is ‘Father Ted’. The television show is set on the small remote Craggy Island. This itself conveys the feeling of isolation to the modern world. Father Ted and his friends are constantly portrayed as out of touch by their views and constant sinning. They are frequently known for saying ‘arse, drink and girls’. They are seen as normal men; talking about sex, and making jokes on modern issues.
Both programmes above are presented in the format of comedy. It enables those who have formed an opinion that religious people are not in touch with the modern world to reconsider their judgement and it does not offend most people as it is in a comedic format, therefore it is not insulting religion. The humorous remarks, bring the life and soul back into religion, and enable people to accept that the particular religion, although a serious matter, does not always consist of stern views that everyone be required to live their lives by.
In Eastenders, Dot Cotton is shown most of the time to be out of touch with the modern world. She has to deal with modern issues such as Euthanasia. Dot was confronted with the problem of Euthanasia when her best friend, Ethel, asked Dot to help end her life. In the episode we have a quote from her saying ‘how am I going to live with myself?’ We also had Ethel reassuring her by saying ‘you’d be doing the right thing, help me Dot. Before it’s too late!’ This shows how a religious person, Dot, dealt with a moral issue; by helping her friend to end her life, therefore not following the religious view. This signifies that when faced with moral issues, religious people may not follow the views that they are meant to and take a ‘modern’ view. Nevertheless, Dot suffered enormous guilt as a result.
Dot is also represented as in touch with the modern world as she is able to understand and relate to the younger characters, and she is often approached for advice, showing that her opinion is valued and often has a positive outcome.
Another example of how characters in soap operas can also be represented as religious and modern, is Alex, a vicar, who starred in Eastenders. He had an affair with another character; this showed that the idea of all religious people being celibate is not always correct and that religious people can feel the same emotions as anyone else. Although it showed the British audience that religious people are not emotionless and often give in to temptations like anyone else, the story line brought about much controversy as it could be perceived that vicars were being shown in a negative manner.
The Pope condones cohabitation, sex before marriage and homosexuality and although this could be considered a point of view which is out of touch with the modern world, it is imperative to realize that the Pope is discussing modern issues, which demonstrates he is aware of them. It is ethical, according to his religion, not to accept cohabitation, sex before marriage and homosexuality and it can therefore be perceived that he is not out of touch with the modern world as he is aware of ‘modern’ issues but deals with them according to his faith.
Carmella, from a soap opera, Neighbours, is shown as a young nun. She is approached by all the characters for help, and she always responds in a fair way and gives ‘religiously correct’ advice. She never preaches or forces her opinion on anyone. This portrays to religious people in a modern way, as Carmella is young and does not force her religion upon anyone else.
On ‘Big Brother’, the reality show, the two most religious housemates, Shilpa Shetty and Jermaine Jackson, won and came second. This illustrates that religion does not hold people back in society. It also allowed viewers to see that being religious does not make someone boring as it showed both housemates joining in on the fun the other non-religious housemates had.
In conclusion, I disagree with the statement. ‘Television always presents religious people as out of touch with the modern world’, as I feel that although religious characters are often represented as out of touch with the modern world (for example Dot Cotton), they are not always (for example the ‘Vicar of Dibley’). I feel that recent television programmes have changed the stereotypical view that religious people, such as vicars, are difficult to relate to and they will not understand modern issues, such as abortion and euthanasia. It has changed the perception of religious people for the better as it shows that being religious does not make you an outcast in society – positive representation of religious people will allow youths to explore religion and find answers to their modern issues.