In what can only be described as a stunning display of pre-Enlightenment “thought,” Family News In Focus and the Institute on Religion and Democracy condemned attempts discuss or critically analyze the controversial TV show, The Book of Daniel.
“The clear absence of advertisers on this program is a real victory for the moral conscience of this country.”
[David] Caton commends secular advertisers for taking a stand. However, some within the Episcopal Church actually see the show as an opportunity for outreach. The Diocese of Washington D.C. set up a web-log to spark discussion about “The Book of Daniel.” Diocese spokesman, Jim Naughton, say the goal is evangelism.“When people come to the Blog of Daniel, in addition to seeing the blog, they will see links to our evangelism materials.”
Others within the Episcopal Church aren’t happy about the show, or a Diocese drawing attention to it. Faith McDonnell, with the Institute on Religion and Democracy, says The Book of Daniel is not a tool for evangelism..
“This is not an example of how to bring people to faith in Christ, it’s an example of how to keep people questioning, make people more cynical, cynical of the church, and cynical of Christianity.” [*]
The Institute on Religion and Democracy is an right wing advocacy group. Going to them for a quote on the Episcopal Church indicates that the Episcopals aren’t upset by the TV show at all.
Maybe that’s because Book of Daniel is about a pastor trying to serve and give advice in a relevant way in a modern and complex world. People might actually start to think that they could find support, care, and love – rather than politics and judgement – from the Episcopal Church and that really frightens the religous right. They hate the moderate and left-wing religious folk even more than they hate us.
If you check out the wingnut “news” sites, they always have negative things to say about the Episcopals and the UCC.
I don’t have a lot of time to watch tv. I caught one episode of the show.
It’s not a great show. It’s obviously tongue in cheek. Daniel’s travails looks more like that of Job.
Considering the money churches generate, the first rule of Market Capitalism 101 is, fill the need.
They could create and finance their OWN programs.
What CBN ain’t got the jack? Gimme a break!
Plenty of family situated religion based shows have been on network television for decades.
“Highway to Heaven” was one.
“Touched by an Angel” was another.
“7th Heaven” is another show that just happens to be less metaphysical.
My personal favorite was “Joan of Arcadia.” The other shows were too sentimental for me, but I loved JofA and never missed it.
There has ALWAYS been a family oriented show with religious context on tv.
But ALL of them can’t be that way and I resent this incursion of religious conservatives into controlling what adults choose to watch.
If they don’t like what’s on, they can pitch something and see if it flys.
As it happens, members of the Episcopal clergy are creative consultants and writers on the show.
They would know and negotiate the content of the show.
The conservatives out there are becoming more blinded by ultimate control.
At the very least, they won’t know what the market will reveal if they cut off the market from deciding.
They’re upset that the church depicted in the show is using this as an opportunity for outreach and getting the story, um, straight? The mind boggles.
I wish these people would do something constructive, like film school scholarships or something. Or maybe not. TV’s boring enough already.