Unalike, Michael Willis thinks that is should be the duty of the parents to educate their children about sex and the issues that it carries. He feels that it is morally wrong to educate a child about the very important issues within a school and by somebody who does not know the individual.
David Brooks thinks that the sex education that takes places within school is a good way to be educating young people who cannot talk to their parents about sexual issues. However, David feels that to improve sex education then the coordinator should ask the students that they are educating how to improve their information. He feels that it is good for children to speak to their parents about sexual issues. However, feels that if it were left to parents to educate their children about all of the sexual issues then there would be many sexual regrets. This is where he feels that Lizzie Heathcoat’s ideas of offering advice are good ones. There need be no embarrassing questions or long, silent pauses between the student asking the questions or their peer answering.
From the responses that Michael Willis gave to the questions asked I could detect a strong religious basis for his arguments and reasoning’s. Lizzie did not show any clear religious background for her opinions. David made some comments that would suggest that he came from a strong religious background and believes that religion plays a large role in today’s sexual society.
This debate was screen on a Sunday morning on terrestrial television; the target audience would have been families that are at home spending time together. This particular program would have been an interest to sex-education coordinators, young people and families. With the program being on at this time of the day I think it was aimed towards religious people.
I have also watched another clip of the ‘Heaven and Earth Show’. The second clip followed the theme of ‘weekend brakes’. The program had sent Jilly Godden to Taize in France; she became a member of the Christian community for a weekend.
The weekend retreat provides a location for Christians to gather and celebrate their faith. The site is very basic, so therefore it is essential to take you own tent with you. The site has a large kitchen and dining area where the food is prepared and served. While staying at this location Jilly Godden participated in the cooking of lunch for around 500 people on one day. She was pleased to help, although was amazed at the large scale of the ingredients being used.
There were many church services over the weekend, all of which were conducted in French. Jilly did not feel she understood the French hymns that she had been singing, so went to a class to help gain a more familiar understanding of them. The central theme of the camp was God and how to become closer to him. The people that attend such events are trying to become closer to God through prayers and songs in an unfamiliar surrounding.
‘The Heaven and Earth Show’ screened this particular show under the title of weekend retreats and not as a religious celebration / occasion. The activities around the main camp were quite Christian orientated in the sense of church services, bell ringing, etc. The overall way in which the program was perceived was through the typical holiday program found on the television. This holiday program style might have upset/annoyed some Christians because it might have given Christianity the appearance of something that could be used as an excuse for a holiday. Also at one point in the program the presenter, Jilly
Godden said that she was a ‘part-time Christian’. This may also have upset/ annoyed Christians; for Christianity is a religion that respects and feels close to god. No religion should be perceived as being an excuse for a weekend away; you should find security and a sense of being close from the religion that you chose to follow.
The program in general was very judgmental, for the choice of presenter was not a good one. Jilly Godden regarded herself as being a ‘part-time Christian’. The program was confusing because you were unaware of what she was feeling at anyone point. Her description of the events varied like her thoughts for her religious status, because of this it was hard to build a clear picture of what it was actually like at Taize or somewhere similar.
I can imagine that there would have been a wide variety of differently religious people who watched this program. Although, I think that it was specifically aimed towards those who might actually go to Taize or somewhere similar for the same purpose. At Taize there was a large age range of people ranging from some in their 60’s to many teenagers. The teenagers did not appear to have been forced to attend and did so that they could feel closer to god.
Overall, I think that the magazine program, ‘The Heaven and Earth Show’ is trying to raise awareness of what is going on in our world and trying to convince us to participate with things we wouldn’t normally consider doing. The magazine program provides opinions from varied people, however some are extremely biased. The variety of guests on a show with opposing views provides the viewer with good entertainment.
The typical magazine program can be seen as forceful at times; however, we can see this as a positive or negative aspect depending upon the issues and our attitudes towards it.
1aii): Today there is a wide variety of soap operas screened on terrestrial television. Many people settle with family to watch Emmerdale or Eastenders without realizing the depth behind the issues raised by the characters. Some issues relate directly to Christianity and the church, whereas others find the answers they need from Christianity.
The issue I have chosen to study has been taken from a collection of episodes from the soap opera Eastenders. The issue is of aborting an unborn baby by choice.
The two main characters, Ricky and Bianca Butcher have conceived a child. They are in a stable, loving marriage and are pleased by the news of their first child. Each of them discusses how overwhelmed they are about the expected baby with close friends. At one point Bianca says ‘we will love this little monster, what ever it is.’ This seems ironic because, once they know that their baby has spina bifida and hydrocephalus their feelings towards the foetus change. They still claim that they love their baby, however do not know if keeping her is the best thing to do. Each of them wanted time alone to think, which is understandable in the situation. They both demonstrated their emotions clearly and sensitively whilst being confused. Once again Ricky and Bianca spoke with close friends who offered advice and to be someone to listen to how they actually felt.
Their close friends asked realistic questions which provoked Ricky and Bianca to consider things that hadn’t crossed their own minds. They considered the unborn baby’s quality of life before they thought of how it would affect them. Ricky turned to his friend Phil for someone to talk to and Bianca Grant; Grant and Phil are brothers. Even though they are brothers they do not share the same line of thought upon the matter. Grant talks to Bianca about how his wife and himself would support both her and Ricky with the child if they have it and how they would cope successfully. While in contrast Phil was asking questions like ‘do you really need the bother?’ and telling him that they can try for another baby at a later date when this ordeal is all over and out of the way.
Their final decision came after much thinking and talking; they were both agreed upon the decision.
I think that the soap opera delt with this issue because it raises awareness of what is going on in today’s world. There are many hundreds and even thousands of people alike who have had to make this or similar decisions with the same consequences. As a viewer who was previously unaware this situation has made me realize that this must happen to many people world-wide and that we should be grateful for the services that doctors and nurses can provide in today’s society.
Overall, I think that Christians would be pleased by the way in which the abortion situation was dealt with. The soap demonstrated that it is good to talk things over so that each person involved knew how the other was feeling. They both showed their true emotions towards the foetus and how they thought each of them would cope with a disabled child. Ricky and Bianca found out lots of background information on the disability, and so could make a decision that reflected upon their knowledge. They knew it was untreatable and understood what care and special attention the child would need to have had some sort of normal life with them. They are a young couple and so could try for another baby at a later stage if they wanted to. Both parties are equally distraught at the news, although feel that they have made the right decision; the child would not have a good enough quality of life and the parents feel that they could not provide the quality of special attention the child would need.
However, the soap opera did not question the sanctity of life and how Christians feel about such an important factor. I personally think that this is the only aspect missing from a considerate and appreciative review of such a case.
The final decision has been the result of many hours spent talking and thinking, both together and alone. Some Christians would be pleased with this, and respect the decision to abort the unborn child.
1aiii): The film I have chosen to study follows the theme of Ghosts and stars Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze as the two main characters. The storyline tells of a happy couple that gets split from one another following the tragic death of Sam, played by Patrick Swayze. Demi Moore plays his bereaving wife, Molly who struggles to come to terms with his death. She finds support in a close friend.
When Sam got killed he did not go to neither heaven nor hell, but became a ghost and watched over his partner that he was forced to leave behind. As a ghost Sam became aware of why he was murdered and does all that he can to stop his wife from being killed too.
When Sam was shot he did not go to heaven or hell, but spent some time in a place or state called purgatory.
Christians believe that when you die you will go either to heaven or hell. Hell is a place where people go to live another life of eternal punishment. Those sent there by God have done things that he does not approve of and there for he feels need some sense of punishment. Hell is a place of disaster and destruction, a place for deep, sincere punishment. But is hell simply a place for retribution? Some Christians believe that going to hell is not always a decision made by god, but by the individual its self. Christians believe that heaven is a place to be with god in unity and a relaxed atmosphere. A place where all trouble disappears and leaves everyone so that all those there will be living in harmony. There are no troubles to hit people with unexpectedly. The joyful and pleasant surroundings sort out anything that is left unfinished upon earth. If god feels unsure of whether an individual should be going to heaven or hell he sends them to a place called purgatory. This is a place where god brings that person back to earth in another form (as a ghost) and waits until the decision is clear and acts upon it.
In the film God decided that Sam should be sent to the place known as purgatory, for he did not know where else he should go when he departed earth. After the time Sam spent in purgatory it became clear through his actions that the only place for him to go was to heaven. Throughout Sam’s testing period he was trying to do good by his partner that was grieving for him and saved her, an innocent person from another unlawful killing. God saw this as Sam’s good turn and he was immediately taken to heaven. While Sam was in purgatory he was able to communicate with his lover, Molly through a median, Ode Mea Brown. This helped Sam to say goodbye to his lover for his death was very sudden and unexpected.
Those who go to heaven should feel god has done them a good turn and is simply returning the favour, for while they were living a mortal life on earth they might have done a good deed for god or simply stuck to his good advice and followed his guidance. He sends those who believe that the things he has done are good and have benefited others upon the earth in some way or form. He sends his followers to heaven those who have trusted in him and appreciate what he has done for people in this day and the past.
After god has decided upon where a certain person will go when they leave this earth he will send them there, but it is possible for someone to remain in purgatory for a very long time or even for ever. That would mean that they have left the earth in the sense that those living here are cannot communicate with them in anyway or form but can see and accept the feelings of their loved ones that they have been forced to leave behind. Living without loved ones can be extremely hard for most but for some can be unbearable and they want to be able to communicate with them and so do try.
Being able to say good bye to a loved one is seen as a great thing for many people to do and without it many people grieve even more for they have so many things that were never said. However, god believes that if you talk to those who have left this world then it is an act of sin, an act of witchcraft, something that he finds unacceptable. God feels that those who contact or try to contact the dead are people who need to be separate from others around us and so are separated. This could result in some people being sent to the place for sinful actions, hell.
The problems that are left behind when we leave earth are all sorted out by the willful actions of god and so are resolved to cause no more misfortune for those who would generally be left with them. God will sort out all of the problems that the departed has left behind and issue the appropriate punishments or rewards for those who need it / them.
The way that god takes you from the earth that he put you on is his decision and the time he does it is a decision of his too. He leaves your body for the others on earth and takes your soul to heaven, hell or purgatory. Depending upon where you go the soul is taken in different forms. If you are going to hell, a place where things are made for those who have not followed god’s guidance then you are put into black. Creatures in long black coats that make unpleasant noises take your soul away. However, if you are going to heaven then bright lights shine over you and you have the free will to walk to heaven. If god decides to place you in the place known as purgatory then a second body is created and that body lives the life until god is able to make his final decision.
Overall, reflecting upon all of the issues that this film raises then I think that Christians would be pleased by the way that religious issues have been dealt with throughout. Even though there are no direct links to Christianity the film is built around a Christian structure.
1b): Many characters in the variety of shows screened on terrestrial television today are seen by many as ‘out of touch’. By this we mean that they are not willing to accept change and wish to stick by their true traditional views and ideas. With today’s world ever changing it means that ‘out of touch’ people are consequently made more distinct and are criticized more. Society today does not wait for people to catch up, and is leaving those who have pessimistic ideas behind. The changing world is ready for change and is so accepting change that is for the better. Quite simply someone who is ‘in touch’ is the opposite to an ‘out of touch’ person. If they are ‘in-touch’ then they can appreciate things that are changing.
I would look upon people like the Pope and Michael Willis as people who are ‘out of touch’ for the reasons that they prefer to stick to the truly traditional views and that they have conservative opinions. Some fictional people in today’s world who I would see as being ‘out of touch’ are Dot Cotton (from Eastenders) and Harold Bishop (from Neighbors), I think this because they are both slightly older and the television programs that they are in portray them as being too old to know any better. People like Geraldine Granger (from the Vicar of Dibley) and Ned Flanders (from The Simpson’s) are seen as being ‘in-touch’ because they can bring humor into religion. Both characters are able to relate to the way in which the world is changing and do not dwell upon the past.
The well-known sports man Jonathon Edwards is an Olympic medal holder many times over in his area of sport, the triple jump. Jonathon Edwards has made his religion of Christianity an important factor of his life, with the issues being things that are of great meaning and importance to him. His sporting career is something that relates to his religion in some ways but not in others. In interviews relating to his sport he does not make references to his religion or make comments that might offend others. However, Jonathon Edwards does not want his sport to interfere with the truly traditionally values that come with his religion. For example at one sporting meeting Jonathon Edwards did not want to jump because his event was being held on a Sunday. For Christians a Sunday is seen as being the holy day of rest and that traditionally it is the day that Christians use to go to church and worship god. Jonathon Edwards is somebody who I would class as being ‘in-touch’, for he can accept the views and opinions of others.
Geraldine Granger is one of the main characters in the hit comedy that is set in the small country village of Dibley. The Vicar of Dibley is a comedy that is set around the Dibley parish council and the village parishioners. Geraldine Granger can be seen as an ‘in-touch’ character, she is openly welcoming to change and likes the ideas that are being introduced. She is a female vicar that upon her arrival within the village is a shock to some of the other characters. Some of the other characters within the comedy could be seen as being ‘out of touch’ for the reasons that they don’t like the new idea of a female vicar. In one of the episodes of ‘The Vicar of Dibley’ Geraldine Granger passes a joke about homosexuality and can see the joke through a non-religious perspective, whereas some of the other characters cannot. She is bringing humor into religion to make it seem more appealing to those who aren’t really interested in it.
Generally I think that religious people are ‘in touch’ with what is going on around them and can respond to these changes. It would be unfair to name all religious people as being ‘out of touch’ for the reason that there are many people who are not. When you walk down the street you will pass many deeply religious people without realizing it. They are not another type of person and do not wear large signs saying ‘I am religious-keep clear’. For many people it is not right to agree with the way that the world is changing and we have to agree with these opposing views for many agree with the views we have.
I believe that everyone has the right to posses and express their own opinions freely. Everyone will have their own opinions of what they class to be ‘in and out of touch’ and will see things differently. What I believe will be different to the next and the one before, but no one can be judge upon these.
