Page 203 - Religion in the Media Age Media, Religion & Culture

192 Believers, dogmatists, and secularists

understanding of media. Where some of the interviewees we’ve just heard
from very much want to separate themselves from the idea that judgmental
or moralistic restriction is the appropriate way to deal with media in the
home, these families would be expected to feel that such an approach is
precisely appropriate. As people who believe in the authority of tradition
over belief and action, they should be expected to look to such sources for
guidance on how to deal with the media. Unlike some of the others, we’d
expect that they would be able to make clear connections between their
beliefs and the media, but that would generally be a negative connection.

The Mueller family

Kathy and David Mueller, both in their late twenties, live in a smaller city
in the west with their three children, Cody, age 6, Reese, age 3, and Brian,
10
9
10 months. They are devout Mormons, active in their local stake, and
their neat and tidy double-wide mobile home is decorated with family
photos and a picture of the Temple in Salt Lake City. They are middle
income, and describe themselves as “on the way up” economically. Media
are also prominent in their home, with a large collection of videotapes on
a bookshelf in the living room, and a home entertainment center with a
TV and VCR. Their ideas about Church authority come up in a discussion
of their Internet use. Kathy and David both use their computer to access
Mormon-related sites, both having to do with genealogy and things such
as daily inspiration or prayer. Distinct from many of the other accounts of
Internet religion/spirituality “surfing” we’ve encountered, the Muellers
clearly feel that the authority of the Church is behind these sites, and that
is a valuable thing for them.

Interviewer: Now do you [go online] more for information, or do you do
it sort of to connect with the church?
Kathy: The church. . . .
David: The spiritual enlightenment and it’s just kind of like knowing
that . . . it’s more to know we’re not just stuck here, you’ve got all
these world problems that are like that . . . you know, you want to
make sure your kids grow up in, (laughs), you know, or good citizens
and stuff. . . .
Kathy: They give you . . . ways to live...
David: . . . and it’s more with spiritual enlightenment and kind of a boost
that, “Hey, we are here, you know, after he died, there is a purpose to
life,” and, you know, stuff like that. Without getting into a lot of reli-
gious doctrine and things because this way it’s . . . I mean, we believe
in, you know, direct revelation. There is a prophet. So, this is the direc-
tion that’s given to us from our prophet that speaks with our heavenly
father, or higher deity. And so, it’s just as important as scripture. . . .