| MUMBAI:
The Parents Television Council (PTC) in the US revealed in a new study that religious
content on television is shown less frequently and more negatively on television.
The new study Faith in a Box 2005-2006 is a review of how religion is
portrayed on prime time broadcast television.
PTC president L. Brent
Bozell says, “The results of this study clearly show that the entertainment
industry is not reflecting the strong religious beliefs of Americans in its television
programming. The industry is in fact hostile to people of faith – no matter
if the person is Christian, Jewish, or Muslim. "After Mel Gibson’s
film, The Passion of the Christ, there was a lot of talk that Hollywood
finally had found religion. But with television, sadly that wasn’t true.
In fact, it was the opposite. This study documents that after 2004, the portrayals
of religion have been cut in half, and are now overwhelmingly more negative.
“The evidence is clear: On CBS’ Two and a Half Men, Charlie
Sheen’s character uses the melody of ‘Joy to the World, the Lord has
come,’ to sing ‘Joy to the Word, I’m getting laid.’ Fox’s
The Family Guy proved to be especially sacrilegious and vile when it showed
God in bed with a woman. These examples, and others, show that Hollywood has a
clear distaste for religion.” According to a recent Zogby/American
Bible Society poll, 84 per cent of adults are not offended when they hear references
to God or the Bible on network television shows, and 51 per cent say entertainment
networks should develop shows with positive messages – and even specifically
refer to God and the Bible. “The irony is that reality shows such
as Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and The Amazing Race, where real
characters freely express themselves, faith and religion are positively portrayed.
But in scripted shows, where Hollywood writers express their worldviews, faith
and religion become four letter words – to the tune of 95.5% negative portrayals.
This is an industry that is completely out of touch with reality,” Bozell
continued. In this seventh PTC study examining the treatment of
religious content on television, an entire year of prime-time broadcast programming
was analysed. The PTC examined a total of 2,271.5 hours of programming containing
1,425 treatments of religion. Major findings: Religion
is shown less than in past years - There were half as many portrayals of religion
in 2005-2006 (1,425) as in 2003-2004 (2,344). Religion is portrayed more
negatively - In 2005-2006, there were more negative depictions of religion than
positive ones (35 per cent to 34 per cent). Depictions of aspects affiliated with
organised religion (clergy, doctrine or laity) were mostly negative. Reality
shows are more positive towards religion - The format of the program was a significant
factor in the portrayal which religion received. A majority (57.8 per cent) of
the positive portrayals of religion were to be found on reality programs. By contrast,
an overwhelming percentage (95.5 per cent) of the negative portrayals of religion
came from such Hollywood-scripted drama and comedy programmes; only 4.5 per cent
of negative portrayals of religion were found on reality shows. Fox was
by far the most anti-religious network - One in every two (49.3 per cent) portrayals
of religion on the Fox network was negative. Long-time champion NBC came in second
in negative depictions of religion, with well over a third (39.3%) of such portrayals
being negative. Among other networks, over a third (35.4 per cent) of depictions
of religion on UPN was also negative. ABC registered 30.4 per cent and CBS 29
per cent negative portrayals. The WB network featured the fewest negative depictions
of religion (21 per cent). Later hours of prime time are more negative
towards religion - The number of negative portrayals increased steadily with each
hour of prime-time. Negative treatments constituted 31.9 per cent of all treatments
in the 8 pm hour, 33.9 per cent in the 9 pm hour and 44.4 per cent in the 10 pm
hour. At no time during prime time, and on no network did the positive portrayal
of religion even hit the 50% mark. Laypersons – non-clerical individuals
who profess religious faith – were treated most negatively by entertainment
programs - Over half (50.8 per cent) of all entertainment television’s depictions
of laity were negative. Only 26 per cent were positive. Portrayal of religious
institutions were critical - Close behind in negative portrayal were religious
institutions (such as particular denominations, specific religious beliefs or
direct references to Scripture), nearly half (47.6%) of which were negative. By
contrast, only 18% of depictions of religious institutions were positive. Clergy
shown in a negative light - Prime-time television’s portrayal of clergy
was also heavily weighted, with less than a third (30.4 per cent) of depictions
of and references to clergy being positive, and another two-thirds being negative
or ambiguous. Simple religious faith shown positively - Only in depictions
of religious faith – showing individuals making a simple declaration of belief
in God or a higher power, or praying – was television’s portrayal of
religion largely positive. Over two-thirds (69.6 per cent) of such portrayals
were positive, with less than one-sixth (14.7 per cent) being negative.
“This study clearly documents the complete disconnect between Hollywood’s
attitude toward religion and that of the American public,” Bozell concluded.
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