The Parents Television Council conducted their seventh study on the treatment of religion in prime-time broadcast entertainment programming titled "Faith in a Box - A Study of Entertainment Television and Religion." Here they examine the treatment of religious matters. The study divides religious subject matter into five categories: faith, clergy, laity, institutions and doctrine, and miscellaneous.
PTC analysts studied prime-time entertainment programming on the six commercial broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, WB and UPN) between September 1, 2005 and August 31, 2006. Instances of religious content were entered into their computerized Entertainment Tracking System (ETS) database. The study also notes that depictions of faith (particularly by contestants on reality programs) tended to be positive, while depictions in all the other categories (especially on scripted dramas and comedy shows) tended to be negative.
I would not have a problem with the study if it was presented in the style of Sgt. Joe Friday — "just the facts" — but this study is peppered with biased commentary. Where I have a problem is in the following statement: "Such findings imply that while most Americans enthusiastically endorse religious belief, Hollywood tolerates an indistinct 'spirituality' but is deeply negative towards openly religious individuals and organized religion."
The PTC’s Christopher Gildemeister states in his conclusion, "This stands in stark contrast to Hollywood’s 'creative' elite, which demonstrates its contempt for religion — and for its own viewing audience — by deliberately portraying God as subject of ridicule, and followers of organized religion as oppressive, fanatical, hypocritical and hopelessly corrupt". While Mr. Gildemeister lists his findings, he likes to generalize Hollywood as the source of all that is negative. In other words he insults my friends, neighbors and me.
Why must you generalize, sir? You are basically taking this statistical data and twisting it to say that everyone in Hollywood deliberately portrays God and religion in general as a subject of ridicule, and followers of organized religion as oppressive, fanatical, hypocritical and hopelessly corrupt. Nowhere in this study did I find anything that reveals what is in the hearts and minds of what you call Hollywood’s "creative" elite. I live in Hollywood and I am in walking distance of more than half a dozen churches. There are many Christians in the entertainment industry who contribute their perspective, although it may differ from yours. Many of my friends and neighbors in Hollywood are people of faith, and even those who are not are hard working, charitable, contributing members of society. They all want what everyone in America wants and that is to house and feed their families. I do have my faith, but whenever I, and others like me, criticize an aspect of our faith, we get branded anti-religion or anti-Christian.
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Article comments
1 - Matt Paprocki
I guess I'm not seeing the point of any of this. So they don't portray religion the way they want? So what?
When Fox News interviewed Bonzell, he went on and on about how the studios aren't grabbing their audience because of this, but I don't see any stats as to lowered viewers as of late as the number of negative religious marks goes up.
Is this some sort of problem the studios should be paying attention to? Should non-religious people be shocked?
Its a complete waste of time, much like the PTC itself.
2 - Baronius
Tony, I've found PTC to be hit-and-miss. I'll definitely have to check out this report, though. As for your article, it might have been better if you had used fewer generalizations and discussed the results of the study, rather than the study's lapses into subjectivity.