Monday, August 30, 2010
Media Today's Lead Tennessean Story: Our Kids Aren't Christian Enough!
Posted by Jack Silverman on Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 3:05 PM
- Stay tuned for tomorrow's lead Tennessean story: "Satan gaining foothold in Middle Tennessee"
I realize Bob Smietana's hard-hitting story is of interest to Tennessean readers, the overwhelming majority of whom are Christians. And if it had been in the LOCAL & BUSINESS or LIFE section, or even page 2A, I'd have no issue with it. But making this the lead story on the front page? How is this news? Or important news? Unless, of course, you consider the younger generation's tendency to not accept the literal interpretation of Christian doctrine to be a threat to the very fabric of our society. Which apparently, The Tennessean does. "The kids are thinking for themselves! Horrors!"
Somehow it never dawned on me that The Tennessean was a Christian publication. And surely, some of you are snickering, "Well, it's about time, Jack!" And rightfully so. Because this is the MOST IMPORTANT STORY OF THE DAY, apparently.
That's not to say I didn't find portions of the article entertaining, particularly this segment, in which Kenda Creasy Dean, professor of youth, church and culture at Princeton Theological Seminary, discusses the risk of making them too Christian:
Dean believes there are risks involved in trying to change what youth groups teach. One is that kids will begin to act like Jesus — which can make their parents uncomfortable.I'm sure Dean's assertion has some validity, but therein lies the ultimate irony — which I'll assume needs no explanation."Most parents don't want their kids to end up too much like Jesus," she said.
Comments (12)
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"Unless, of course, you consider the younger generation's tendency to not accept the literal interpretation of Christian doctrine to be a threat to the very fabric of our society. Which apparently, The Tennessean does. "The kids are thinking for themselves! Horrors!"
Er, reread the article. If anything, the article's concern is that young people are being fed religious pap, and don't think at all about their faith. I would say there's far more of this than there is is independent critical thinking--though I can understand why you guys at the Scene might prefer the self-congratulatory version. I agree that it's odd that such a piece would appear on page 1, but you seem to be mainly concerned that a front-page piece would have anything to do with Christianity at all. After all, religion should only be on the front page if it has to do with some culture-war controversy tearing a denomination apart, usually about sex, or some fresh Religious-Right nuttiness--right? Frankly, I think it refreshing that a news article on religion should actually, like, deal with an issue that's vital to religious folk and not concentrating on what the irreligious prefer to think goes on with "those" people.
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David, fair enough. That's a well-reasoned response and I see your point about the article in general. Yes, I am a non-Christian.
But since moving to Tennesssee, I've been subjected to scorn and disapproval many times for my non-Christian views, and my point is that yes, I do feel that the top story on the front page of the city's daily NEWSpaper is not the place for stories about the state of Christianity. And as far as your comment about "those" people, I can safely say that in Tennessee, it is more often people like me who are referred to as "those" people than it is Christians. I have nothing against religion. But I think the positioning of that story gives it a weight it doesn't deserve. On the top of the front of a Christian publication, it would be fine.
Here's the priority list for above-the-fold, 1A stories at The Tennessean:
1. Football (Titans) - tie
1. Football (UT) - tie
3. Christianity (Protestant, esp. fundamentalist / evangelical)
4. Predators
5. Other UT sports
6. Actual news
Jack:
My guess is this is the best story The Tennessean had to offer on this particular day. The days of a daily newspaper being able to consistently and comprehensively report and prioritize the stories of the day are over....or do YOU pay to have the Tennessean delivered to your door each morning? If you do, you're the minority, which has left the Tennessean with a smaller circulation, budget and a decimated staff able to do what they can do.
I personally thought it was an interesting story, although I agree that in the old scheme of things not front page worthy. But in a town that boasts probably more Christian enterprises and headquarters and publications than most others in this fine country, I don't think its weird at all to have a story that dives into a particular Christian issue on the front page. I, too, am not Christian.
Just as the Scene doesn't offer its previously biting and insightful critiques of the Tennessean on a regular basis that many of us interested in media appreciated years ago, the Tennessean is not longer providing the same community service it once did to a paying community that no longer pays. I guess I'm trying to say that critiques are great, but you need to put them in context a little bit.
There is no neutrality in social, civil law. All laws reflect a moral base and this base is a foundation of a religion. Our early foundation as expressed in early State Preambles, Black's Law, early New England Abstract Law, etc.; shows that Christianity permeated all institutions and law. Today we see the advancement of secular humanism, a religion as expressed in all its tenets in the Humanist Manifestos. Assuming a child can have a 'neutral' abililty to determine what is 'best' is absurd. One interprets facts and ideas by their presuppositions that have been implanted from social observation, parents, books, media, etc. The question is not religion or no-religion, but which religion is the most coherent, not an alleged 'lack of' religion. A 'lack-of' view is a view nonetheless; that being secular humanism/atheism by default. Only a worldview that has an absolute and personal source; such as the Christian God, can justify or give a rational accounting for the major tenets of reality: immaterial laws of logic, moral absolutes, and why natural law remains generally uniform for science. This may be why this story was considered important compared to other stories.
news werthy, you are right. Although I sort of lump Lane Kiffin in with the UT items ... *grin*
Also, a few years ago Pedro Garcia would have been in the mix.
Confidential to Howard: Sez you. :P
People still read papers? Regardless, today's top story is the Murfreesboro mosque fire (oh no, more religion! But this is the good kind because it concerns people of another faith who we should honor and respect more than anyone else, and it looks bad for Christians) and a guns in bars lawsuit. I'd say it was just a slow news day and they needed something on the front page. Considering, as The Troll admits, that most of the population here is Christian, this *might* be something of interest to them. Imagine that! A paper printing a story because they think it is newsworthy to their readers! The President didn't stick his foot in his mouth and there are no major weather events, no catastrophes to write about, and it's a Monday - day after a Sunday when very little is happening in sports (the Barclay's Championship!) or other news.
Man, Woods, you are scraping the bottom of the barrel here. Must have been a slow news day over at your rag too.
Jack, like it or not, you are pretty much living in the belt buckle of the Bible belt. You're complaining about experiencing intolerance as a non-christian, while demonstrating the same intolerance against the overwhelming majority of Nashville. See the irony? I guess, probably not.
I suspect it's something other than non-religious beliefs that
could be Jack's perceived problem from those of faith. We
hear these kinds of statements often from non-believers, but
personally I don't trust those statements being anything but
perceptions some of these folks dream up. The problem when
in fact it might be their overall personally that's the big problem!
