Both these programmes showed the emotions of the characters very well and also helped the viewers by offering support numbers to phone if needed.
We also find religious people in everyday life that’s why soaps also have religious characters as over 80% of the population believes in God.
In programmes they also show religious ceremonies, Funerals, Christenings, weddings. These ceremonies such as weddings are not just shown as traditional but show wedding receptions and marriage of a forbidden nature, e.g. the registry office wedding of Nick and Leighanne Platt which showed viewers how a couple of love struck teenagers ran away to Scotland just so they could show there relatives they can be responsible in a “Romeo + Juliet” Love situation, however they divorced not long after.
I think it is good how they show these ceremonies as it shows both a religious side and a non-religious side to ceremonies, not every newborn child is christened, this is shown in TV.
Other people may think that showing religious ceremonies is stupid as they aren’t religious so why should they watch a church wedding.
Today’s society is full of technology, mobile phones, computers, the internet, games consoles etc. also we are a self conscious society wondering what other people think, this could be to the way you dress or the style and colour of your hair.
But is this modern technology shown with the religious characters?
In my opinion I believe most religious characters are “out of date” with the modern world, an example of this would be Dot Branning, and she is Christian character in Eastenders, although she has her hair permed once in a while she uses no technology but a 67 year old woman cannot be expected to carry a mobile phone and play on her Playstation as soon as she gets home.
That’s why programmes have younger Christians like Ned Flanders, although he stars in a children’s cartoon he is shown with a lot of modern technology including a pool table, TV and computers.
The television gives us examples of peoples area like the Simpsons which is set in the USA.
Coronation street is set in Manchester but although Manchester is a large multi faith city the soap only has 2 Asian characters which run a corner shop which is very stereotypical, also Eastenders have a corner shop run by Asians.
People complain that the religious people shown on the news tend to be either terrorists or have done something wrong, I disagree with that statement and just think that the news shows “News headlines” if a person of any religion does something bad which makes national coverage it doesn’t matter if he is of a certain religion.
Two examples of religious characters is Dot Branning, formally named Dot cotton is a very kind, warm hearted old lady who will help anybody in trouble.
She is not in touch with the modern world and likes to turn to her Bible when times are bad.
Another is Harold Bishop. Harold is again a very kind, warm hearted man who enjoys sport and playing his tuba.
In this case Harold is rather in touch with the modern world.
He like listening to music on his “Hi-Fi” and also has a computer.
He has hobbies such as using his computer, keeping fit and playing his Tuba.
He is also a member of The Salvation Army.
I think that the religious characters shown on television are like the modern world, I think this because today most Christians are not teenagers, TV Portrays this by showing most religious people which are over 40 years of age but also show them using modern technology.
It shows them being a Christian e.g. using their bible r holy book for help but still maintaining a real life character.
Possibly writers could find out more information on religious people and find more information in the way they act and do this for all ages of religious persons.