"Television always presents religious people as out of touch with the modern world." Do you agree?

GCSE Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)

Re Coursework – Religion and the Media

“Television always presents religious people as out of touch with the modern world.” Do you agree?

Television presents religious characters in a variety of ways. As the quote says some are portrayed in a negative way and out of touch with the modern world.

A good example of a show portrayed 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 portrayed as out of touch constantly by his views, and consistent sinning. One episode that shows character’s in a bad light is set in the Lent period of the Christian calendar, where Christians give up one thing for forty days and forty nights to show their respect for Jesus when he fasted for that period of time. Fr Dick Byrne proposes the ultimate sacrifice. No cigarettes, alcohol or roller-blading. The priests soon show signs of cracking and give up completely. This is ironic as Lent is one of the most important dates in the Christian calendar and they aren’t keeping their promise to their faith. Another example of their approach to life is shown when they enter the Eurovision Song Contest. They have some trouble writing the music so they take someone else’s, which is morally wrong in the eyes of any good Christian, and put their own words to it. They are the worst dressed and the worst musicians, but think that the media attention that they are getting is because they are fashionable, trendy people. This just shows how out of touch they really are.

Another character in the media shown in a negative light is Dot Cotton from East Enders. She is a chain-smoking religious woman with an endless need for the latest gossip. She easily gives out judgement on other’s while her own son is a ‘kind hearted’ man even if his criminal record is nothing to be proud of. She casts her own religious judgement aside when dealing with her son, making her very hypocritical as she still thinks that allowing her own beliefs to go is okay.

On the other hand some characters are shown as in touch with the modern ...

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On the other hand some characters are shown as in touch with the modern world. These include Geraldine Granger from The Vicar of Dibley, and Ashley from Emmerdale. Geraldine is in touch as she first of all is female. The Roman Catholic Church only started allowing women to be ordained in 1992, therefore she is very modern in the church. She has common sense and humour. She believes fully in her religion but doesn’t stop it from letting her see the real world. She has a rational understanding and keeps up to date with celebrities. This being shown in one episode with Kylie Minogue appearing, where she is seen getting rather excited about this. Geralidine also takes part in modern activities such as sexual relationships, showing that she is not your ‘usual’ religious follower.

Ashley is similar to Geraldine in the way that he gives rational understanding to problems that are brought to him. He is also very compassionate and when other people reject others he will try his best to understand. This was shown when Zoe, a lesbian wanted some advice. Unlike others he tried his best to help her even though homosexuality is not agreed with in his religion. This shows open mindedness and a modern attitude to the issue.

Having looked at an assortment of religious character’s on television, I would conclude that the statement I have been asked to comment on is not completely true. Some character’s are shown in a negative light, but there are a lot of character’s in television that are shown as in touch with the modern world. Such as the examples I analysed of Geraldine Granger and Ashley from Emmerdale. These two character’s are shown as understanding rational people who do not discriminate against other people whose views conflict with their own.