In a story from Agape Press:
In its seventh study regarding how religion is depicted on television, the Parents Television Council (PTC) found that there is far less of it, and what is shown is more negative. A total of 2,271.5 prime time programming hours were examined in the study, "Faith in a Box 2005-2006."
A recent PTC news release revealed that the study spanned an entire year (2005-2006) and encompassed 2,271.5 hours of programming, during which 1,425 treatments of religion were found. The 1,425 number represents a 41 percent decrease from the 2,344 religious portrayals made during the 2003-2004 season. In addition, the survey found that in 2005-2006 programming content, there were more negative portrayals of religion than positive ones (35% to 34%).
This was the case, in spite of the fact that a recent Zogby/American Bible Society poll found that 84 percent of adults are not offended when references to God or the Bible are made on network TV shows. Fifty-one percent of those polled also said the networks should develop shows with positive messages that even specifically refer to God and the Bible.
Michael Medved wrote a book about 12 years ago titled Hollywood vs. America. It was about the constant negative drumbeat Hollywood sounds toward religion of any sort and Christianity and Judaism in particular. I remember Medved pointing out that if there is a priest or a minister on a whodunit, he's gonna be the guy who done it.
Since that time, I started paying attention to what I saw on television and movies concerning religion (I was still quite liberal at the time). What I personally discovered was that Medved--and other critics--were right. Hollywood is distinctly anti-religion and rarely can find anything positive to say about religious folks.
Even when there are runaway hits like The Passion of the Christ or Touched by an Angel, the movie industry (and its cohorts that create television shows) just don't "get it." One wonders why networks are so reluctant to actually produce the shows Americans say they want.
Other findings include:
* The later the hour, the more negative the treatment -- During the 8 p.m. hour, negative treatments were at 31.9%; at 9 pm, 33.9%; and during the 10 pm hour, 44.4% of all religious treatments were negative. At no time during these later hours did the positive portrayal of religion ever reach the 50% mark.
* Laypersons -- non-clerical individuals who profess religious faith -- were treated most negatively by entertainment programs -- More than half (50.8%) of all entertainment TV's portrayals of laity were negative, while only 26% were positive.
* Religious institutions also portrayed as negative -- Following closely behind the laity with 47.6% negative portrayals were religious institutions. (These include particular denominations, specific religious beliefs or direct references to Scripture). Sadly, only 18% of depictions of religious institutions were positive.
* Clergy shown in a negative light -- Nearly 70% of prime-time TV's portrayal of clergy were negative, demonstrating a clear bias against people of religious faith.
* Simple religious faith shown positively -- This was the one positive outcome of the study. More than two-thirds (69.6%) of portrayals such as individuals making a simple statement of their belief in God or a higher power, or praying, were shown as positive, with only 14.7% being negative.
Cross-posted at Common Sense Political Thought.
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