Hollywood’s belittling of our faith

By: American Decency Staff

A favorite theme of network television, apart from illicit sex and immorality, is the disparaging of Christianity, using the public airwaves as a bully pulpit to give viewers a negative portrayal of Christians and their faith. A recent study by Parents Television Council revealed what a discerning viewer could also attest to. The study found that in the 2005-2206 television season there were more negative examples of religion than positive and depictions of clergy and devout Christians were mostly negative – only 26% of the portrayals of devout laity were positive and 30.4% of the portrayals of clergy were positive. So nearly 3 out of 4 times a Christian or a pastor is shown on network programming, the portrayal is negative. The study found that by far the majority of positive portrayals of faith came from unscripted television where an average person on a reality show gives reference to their personal faith. However, 95.5% of the negative portrayals of religion came from dramas and sitcoms produced and written by Hollywood’s television industry. Can you imagine the outcry if fictional television regularly portrayed a certain race or ethnic group as negatively as Christianity is portrayed? Yet even with a majority of Americans professing a belief in God, there is little outrage when our faith is maligned. NBC, only second to FOX in negative portrayals of Christianity, continues to beat the drum that Christians are nothing more than hypocrites and ministers and the church are perverted and corrupt. The Tuesday episode of NBC’s “Law and Order: SVU”, entitled “Sin”, opened with the murder of a homosexual male prostitute. As soon as a minister was shown one could predict the outcome of the tired theme of a Christian minister who is secretly a homosexual and a murderer. Oh, but NBC threw in a twist this time – the minister’s son was the homosexual lover and another church member was the murderer. But just in case any viewer might see the minister positively – his character and beliefs were also besmirched. This episode was rife with Hollywood’s negative stereotypes of Christianity – far too many to list them all. From the minister’s daughter and homosexual son hosting a “Satan’s House” to show that those who are dying of AIDS or have abortions are tools of Satan, to the highly derisive mocking of the fact that the minister and his wife have 10 children. When the minister is initially thought to be the one having a homosexual affair, the police psychologist scoffingly states: “Many evangelicals believe that the Bible is the literal word of God – they believe that they should save America from the evils of feminism, birth control, abortion. They want their children to become soldiers of the Lord.” The police officer questions: “If he takes the Bible so seriously, what is he doing having an affair with a male prostitute?” And the psychologist responds: “He suppressed his sexual desires and channeled them into having as many children as he could. But the problem with repressed desires is they eventually explode.” Later one police officer states: “You know what’s screwed up about this? So much begging the Lord for forgiveness after the crime, not enough mercy before.” The officer’s partner replies: “I blame religion! What else kept Curtis [the minister] in the closet, having all these kids just to try to convince himself he’s straight.” In Hollywood’s view, religion is to “blame” for the ills of society. As the minister’s son is revealed to be homosexual and having an affair with a male prostitute, the false homosexual propaganda that a person caught in that lifestyle can’t change is stated again and again. An officer says to the minister’s daughter: “I don’t think you can change who you are.” The minister’s homosexual son states: “I couldn’t change the way I feel. How can it be a sin if God made me this way? I can’t change who I am.” And even the minister who was earlier in the episode disparaged as being “one of the loudest anti-gay voices in America” tells his son: “I know you can’t change.” We urge you – don’t be silent as the Hollywood elites continue to use the airwaves to push their anti-Christian agenda. Contact NBC and the sponsors of this “Law and Order: SVU” episode. Let NBC know of your displeasure in their hostile and extremely negative portrayal of evangelical Christians and let the advertisers know you will not support corporations that sponsor such portrayals. “Law and Order: SVU” advertiser list – includes Toyota, Big Lots, K-Mart, Target: https://americandecency.org/main.php?f=updates_new/2007/march/3.27a.07 Contact NBC: NBC Universal, Inc. Kevin Reilly – President, NBC Entertainment Jeffrey A. Zucker – President and CEO- NBC Universal 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10112 Phone: 212-664-4444 Fax: 212-664-4085 Email: nbcshows@nbc.com Or email: http://www.nbc.com/Footer/Contact_Us/ (click on link and select “Law and Order: SVU” under ‘Select Show’.) General Electric Company – NBC Jeffrey Immelt – Chairman and CEO 3135 Easton Tpke. Fairfield, CT 06828-0001 Phone: 203-373-2211 Fax: 203-373-3131 Or email: gary.sheffer@corporate.ge.com or email: https://www.ge.com/ge/feedback.htm ========================================================== Let’s encourage one another and strengthen one another to be more like our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. American Decency Association Bill Johnson, President P.O. Box 202 Fremont, MI 49412 PH: 231-924-4050 www.americandecency.org

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