Page 224 - Religion in the Media Age Media, Religion & Culture

Representing outcomes 213

Jay: There’s a little too much hocus-pocus on that channel.
Lynn: For him. . . .
Jay: I’ve been told, you know, there’s healers like Benny Hinn, and it’s
just. . . .
Interviewer: You’ve been told by whom?
Jay: Pastors and other people.
Interviewer: At [your present church], or in the past?
Jay: No, in the past. When I first started waking up to God, I was
watching it. To tell you the truth, that’s what got me interested. But
then . . . there are some shows on there that are okay, but some of
them. . . .

There appear to be two important and inter-related reasons that Jay
distances himself and his faith from ministries such as TBN and Benny
Hinn. First, there is a general opprobrium that seems to be applied to them
by people in his current church, and, second, there is a sense that such
programs are more connected with an immature, than a mature, faith. In
any case, it is significant that, for one of the most intensely “born-again”
families we’ve interviewed, programming most associated with the
Evangelical end of the Christian spectrum is avoided.
The next category differs from the previous three. It is qualitatively
different in that it positions media not as integrated into faith or spiritu-
ality, but at some distance from these aspects of life. Among the most
important functions of the media, at least in our everyday understandings,
is their ability to bring us a wealth of information. Just as they convey
important information about politics, sports, finance, etc., they also can
carry information about religion and spirituality. In a post-9/11 world,
information about religion, and specifically about religious “others,” could
be expected to be of increased importance. Information is, of course,
something that is qualitatively different from religious or spiritual “experi-
ence” as well. It is consumed at some distance, whereas direct experience
or expression are more personal and closer to the individual’s daily private
practice. Information can certainly inform practice, but its contribution is
not thought to be as direct.

“It informs me” (about “the other” – and more)
We just met Fred Kline above. He is the father of Stephanie, age 15, who
was asked about whether she ever found anything in the media
“inspiring,” and answered in terms of information instead.

Interviewer: Have you ever watched TV and found something inspiring?
How about Seventh Heaven?
Steph: I guess. I don’t think the main thing is about religion, it is just