- Worship style - these types of shows are aimed at all people. They involve religious information, prayers and songs. People can really get involved with these types of programmes. I think that children would like the songs on the program as they could sing along to them. It is also suitable for teenagers; if they are part of that religion it may be very relevant to them. Elderly people would also enjoy this type of show. For example: if an elderly person was unable to attend church they could watch this show and feel like they were taking part in the service. An example of this type of programme is songs of praise which is a Christian programme. It includes prayers, hymns and real life stories. It is aimed at families who cannot attend church.
a(ii)
Analyse and explain the way in which a religious or moral issue has been dealt with in a TV soap OR the national daily press
The soap opera that I will be analyzing is going to be east-enders. The episode I will be analyzing is the one where Kat returns to ‘The Square’ and finds out that Alphie has been having a relationship with her sister, known as Little Moe.
Story so far:
Kat and Alphie were married and loved each other, but Alphie owed a man called Andy a large amount of money which he couldn’t’t possibly pay. Kat, decided that she would sleep with Andy to pay off the debt without Alphie knowing, she thought she was helping Alphie. After Alphie found out about this they split up, and Kat left.
In Kat’s absence, Alphie fell in love with Little Mo, (kit’s sister). This was a non-sexual relationship. When Kat returned, she wanted to get back with Alphie (they hadn’t divorced after the other incident). Alphie agreed but did not tell Kat about his relationship with her sister. When she found out, they had a big argument and Kat decided that it was best she did not stay with Alphie, because it wouldn’t be fair to her sister who she loved dearly.
This episode of the soap opera deals with the moral issue of adultery in Christian marriage.
Both Christians and Muslims are against adultery, Christian wedding vows state that you must forsake all others. Kat has not obeyed the vows as she has had sexual intercourse with another man. If someone in a Christian marriage commits adultery this is grounds for a divorce. Although, some Christians may think that Alphie and Kat should get back together, because Jesus teaches forgiveness in the Bible.
I think that this soap opera is aimed at teenagers and adults, (male and female). It deals with some moral issues that may only be suitable for older people, it wouldn’t be suitable for children because of the complex language used, also children would not understand the moral/social issues involved in the soap.
I think the issue used on the programme is fair to some Christians beliefs. Kat hasn’t forsaken all others so the couple should not be together. But, some Christians may think that they should get divorced, and others may think that they should forgive each other and start a-fresh. As Jesus taught in the bible that you should learn to forgive. If a couple can manage to sort out the problem then it is fine for them to get back together. I think if they get divorced it would be ok with a Muslim viewer, they say that adultery is grounds for divorce. Although they do not approve strongly of divorcing: if a couple can sort out the problem then it is ok.
If a Christian was watching the programme then they would react ok with the issue; they would think: adultery is a sin which Kat has committed, this is grounds for divorce so Kat and Alphie should no longer stay together and they should get a divorce.
I think a Muslim viewer who was watching the programme would also think that Kat shouldn’t have slept with Andy, and they would think that Kat and Alphie should have got divorced a long time ago. Although, if Kat was pregnant then they would have given the couple time to try and sort things out with each other for the sake of the child. It is obviously possible for this to happen in real life, but it is a very unlikely and far-fetched story in my opinion. I think this issue could have been dealt with better if little mo was involved in the conversation.
a (iii)
Analyse and explain the way in which a religious theme of concern has been dealt with in a film or television drama
(I Used and as research sources.)
The film I watched was called ‘If these walls could talk’ the film was split into three sections and is focused on abortion throughout the past 50 years.
Part 1:
is about the widow of a soldier killed in combat. She becomes pregnant (not from her husband but from her brother in law) and does not feel it would be morally appropriate to have the baby. It is set in 1952, her family are strict Roman Catholics, her only legal option is to leave the village, have the child adopted and return 7 months later. She tried a number of different ways to mis-carry the child but none of them are successful- eventually she turns to backstreet abortion and doesn’t go well, she haemorrhages; it ends with her left there on the floor, bleeding. She could die.
Religious Views:
Roman Catholics and Muslims would class the act of abortion as murder unless the women was in danger. If she was in danger from the pregnancy, it would still be classed as murder, but some people would think it is the lesser of the two evils.
Part 2:
is about a happily married woman with 4 children. It is set in 1974, abortion is completely legal and safe. Her daughter does not want her to keep the child because the family would have to make lots of sacrifices, change their lifestyle etc. to be able to raise the child. She urges her towards abortion. The husband thinks that it would be a good idea to keep the child. He thinks it is morally correct and that if the family make some sacrifices, together they could raise the child well. At the end of the day she decides to keep the child.
Religious Views:
Christians and Muslims would think that the best option was to keep the child. Muslims believe in the sanctity of life
"Whosoever has spared the life of a soul, it is as though he has spared the life of all people. Whosoever has killed a soul, it is as though he has murdered all of mankind." 5: 32
(taken from the Quran)
Muslims believe that a foetus in a womb has a soul, therefore abortion is murder.
Part 3:
A student becomes pregnant but does not want to have the baby. She thinks about getting an abortion, as she arrives at the clinic there are lots of protesters outside, trying to persuade her to keep the baby. She doesn’t go through with the abortion although it is legal at the time (1996).
She talks it through with her friend, her friend is completely against the idea. But, after seeing how upset she is, her friend decides to help her through this difficult situation, she goes through with the abortion in the end. This section ends with one of the doctors being shot dead by one of the protesters (which is ironic as he was protesting because he accused the doctors as being murderers).
b
‘Television always presents religious people as out of touch with the modern world’
I think that most religious programmes are out of touch with the modern world. An example is “Songs of Praise”, while I was watching this programme I couldn’t help but notice it’s irrelevance to modern life. It contained hymns, prayers and readings from the bible; a very traditional church service.
On the other hand it could be argued that we must first define “The modern world” before we come to any conclusions about the statement. For some people “The modern world” would include traditional services, to those people that would be part of their everyday life, therefore part of the modern world for them.
Another example of a religious show is the documentary “The Root of all Evil”. Toward the end of the documentary, an extremist Muslim is interviewed. He keeps pressing the point that he hates all atheists. This is not at all in touch with the modern world because there are so many atheists in the modern world. Although, there is one religious programme that I have watched which I think is in touch with the modern world. “The heaven and earth show” is a magazine style show which seems quite ‘lively’. It features modern music, discussed modern ideas and morals. It’s suitable for most audiences. This show is definitely in touch with the modern world.
To conclude; I would say that the statement is wrong, although in my opinion most religious shows are out of touch with modern issues and morals.