Thesis- Neil Postman argues that television does not create authentic religion but instead becomes a religion.
1. On television religion is presented as entertainment
a. comforting theatrical emotion
b. non-offensive ideas because you never know who is watching
c. extravagant sets
2. "Electronic Preachers"
a.similar to talk show host
I. modest, intelligent, charming
ex. Pat Robertson, Reverend Terry, Billy Graham
b. "Preacher comes out on top , God second banana"
c. Do not compare to well known evangelists
ex. Jonathan Edwards, Charles Finney, George Whitefield.
3. Television takes away sacredness
a. religion's historical and human activity is taken away by television
I. television does not preserve former essence as the medium is switched
II. Things are lost in translation
ex. Bible television shows
b. television can not create authentic religion
I. no way to consecrate television
II. television is "user friendly"
III. television is biased to secularism
4. Television becomes an idol
a.television makes God a vague and subordinate character
b. television is something seen as God, where as God is something unseen
c. "Religion has not been the content of television but television becomes the content of religion
Teacher/ Presenter:
1) “On television, religion, like everything else, is presented, quite simply and without apology, as an entertainment”(Postman116).
This is an important example because our chapter is about religion on TV and religion is an important topic for most people. When it gets mixed around and shown for entertainment instead of cold hard facts it is a complicated idea. Postman makes the claim that TV limits the world and is distracting and this example/ idea proves his theory right-- the things on TV are changed to get more viewers not to tell the truth.
2)”Fact has more to do with the bias of television than with the deficiencies of these electronic preachers”(Postman117).
TV is about relaying facts and providing entertainment for its viewers. Religion is part of TV but it is not the real thing. TV is made to not to be real. Television producers don't care if the things being said are truth, all that matters is that the material brings viewers. Postman makes the point that watching religious TV doesn’t provide much religion, which this example backs up.
3)”It is to suppose that something that has been expressed in one form can be expressed in another without significantly changing it’s meaning”(Postman117).
To put religion on TV you have to change the meaning of the material, therefore creating false meanings. Religious TV is not the real deal-- it is a false pretense that poses as religion. Going to church will teach one about religion; watching endless amounts of “religious TV” will do nothing but numb the senses and provide false inaccurate info.
4)”The screen is so saturated with our memories of profane events, so deeply associated with the commercial and entertainment worlds that it is difficult for it to be recreated as a frame for sacred events”(Postman 119).
Religion is a complicated idea that cannot be taught through the use of television, it is to distracting. Religion is confusing in and of itself but when someone would attempt to teach it through TV, it would be hard enough to stay on the channel let alone learn. TV’s purpose is entertainment not education.
5)”The television screen wants you to remember that its imagery is always available for your amusement and pleasure”(Postman120).
TV is like a drug--it sucks you in and gets you addicted, making it irresistible. Postman is against TV and this example supports his claim that TV is a monster and serves no good purpose. TV is not meant to educate, only to entertain. It doesn’t help the mind, only hinders it by creating a foggy wall between reality and fantasy. TV is a fantasy world that seems real due to graphics, size, and quality of TVs now made.
Visual Presenters:
In Neil Postman’s novel, Amusing Ourselves To Death, he argues how technology is slowly creeping into more and more parts of our lives, up to the point where we are dependent on technology to meet our needs. He even goes on in chapter 8 to talk about the influence of technology on religion. There are examples of people who have miracles occur in their lives being broadcasted on national television to promote religions to the masses, pastors preaching a sermon to a camera, and even moving The Bible to television to inform others. At this moment in our lives, there is one really good example that stands out: History Channel's "The Bible Miniseries". In this series, all parts of the book are being pushed into a 10-hour series highlighting the key parts of The Bible and it’s well known stories, such as David and Goliath, Noah’s Ark, Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt, and to the life of Jesus. This may sound like a great idea to retell and put images to these historic stories. However, this reveals to us how dependent society has become on television. People would rather see an image shown to them rather than reading about it in typographic form itself, which is one of Postman’s main arguments in his book. The description of the series from History Channel itself describes the series as “An epic 10-part miniseries that retells stories from the Scriptures for a whole new generation.” This quote itself is describing how reliant our generation and the ones of the future have become on technology.
This clip from the popular christian television show Veggie Tales has animated vegetables (A cucumber, gourd, asparagus, and a potato) singing and rapping the story of Moses from the Bible. This visual applies to Chapter 8 of Amusing Ourselves to Death because of the way that the story of Moses is portrayed to make it both entertaining and educational to younger audiences. While this doesn't interfere with Postman's argument in the sense that it is mostly used as entertainment for a younger audience, it does interfere with Postman's argument that religion should be kept in a mystical and religious setting. This show warps the medium of the Bible so that it is entertaining for children, but many churches have started using Veggie Tales as lessons during Sunday School.
1) How has religion changed from 30 years ago til now?
2) How does TV as a religion affect our view of other religions?
3) How do countries with no religious TV shows differ from countries with religious TV shows?
4) How is having religion available on the internet beneficial?
5) As TV is shifting to our religion, how will "religion" diminish?
6) How has TV changed our views on religion?
7) Would more people be more religious if a variety of religions were on TV?
8)How have religious groups used religion to spread their ideas?
9) Is there still the same connection/ feeling with God when you are in church vs watching church on tv?
10) Should religion be entertaining, and what makes it ok for it to be entertaining?
Researcher 1:
In chapter 8 of Amusing Ourselves to Death Postman targets religion. He specifies to the preachers that we see on those access channels on Sundays. Even though people prefer to go church than watching the event that unfolds in church at their home, Postman explains that it is becoming a trend to rather stay at home. His analysis from the previous chapters and chapter 8 leads to that religion and everything else has to change to become television based. An example of Postman’s argument is that, watching church on TV is different from the actual experience of going to church. His argument declares that anything can be made for TV. Even though it has be about 30 years since the book has been written, Postman’s arguments on influence of technology on society only has been only proven more and more. For example the article “Which Catholic Church?” is from a point of view of a professor from Western University who contemplates from his perspective about Pope Benedict’s resignation; he wonders about the traits of the next Pope such as will it be a women, African, and so forth. Through his curiosity he compares religion of two different societies the one he lives next to and the one he sees on TV. In the second paragraph of the article he is tired, bored, and ashamed of the TV news criticism upon the Catholic Church in Vatican because it is always the same issues, stating the common paradigm of traditional Catholicism and its conflicts with the modern world. Then on the author mentions how the people that mostly attend church around his neighborhood are dutiful to the people who need help in contrast to European church that has concern over political powers. But soon afterwards on a new paragraph the author once again talks about a TV show that introduces a man who was near his death lying outside in Jerusalem and how no one passed along attempted to help. He says in the conclusion like a lecture on resolution to the European church that “From my perspective, our Catholic Church is vibrant, helpful, intellectual, and working in so many ways to fulfill the message to love God” which clearly portrays his two different views. This article directly connects with chapter 8 because it is from a point of view of a professor who criticizes other religions through what he sees on TV and compares the entertainment world of TV to the reality.
Shuffle Off To Bethlehem (ch. 8, p5)
Outline
Thesis- Neil Postman argues that television does not create authentic religion but instead becomes a religion.1. On television religion is presented as entertainment
a. comforting theatrical emotion
b. non-offensive ideas because you never know who is watching
c. extravagant sets
2. "Electronic Preachers"
a.similar to talk show host
I. modest, intelligent, charming
ex. Pat Robertson, Reverend Terry, Billy Graham
b. "Preacher comes out on top , God second banana"
c. Do not compare to well known evangelists
ex. Jonathan Edwards, Charles Finney, George Whitefield.
3. Television takes away sacredness
a. religion's historical and human activity is taken away by television
I. television does not preserve former essence as the medium is switched
II. Things are lost in translation
ex. Bible television shows
b. television can not create authentic religion
I. no way to consecrate television
II. television is "user friendly"
III. television is biased to secularism
4. Television becomes an idol
a.television makes God a vague and subordinate character
b. television is something seen as God, where as God is something unseen
c. "Religion has not been the content of television but television becomes the content of religion
Teacher/ Presenter:
1) “On television, religion, like everything else, is presented, quite simply and without apology, as an entertainment”(Postman116).This is an important example because our chapter is about religion on TV and religion is an important topic for most people. When it gets mixed around and shown for entertainment instead of cold hard facts it is a complicated idea. Postman makes the claim that TV limits the world and is distracting and this example/ idea proves his theory right-- the things on TV are changed to get more viewers not to tell the truth.
2)”Fact has more to do with the bias of television than with the deficiencies of these electronic preachers”(Postman117).
TV is about relaying facts and providing entertainment for its viewers. Religion is part of TV but it is not the real thing. TV is made to not to be real. Television producers don't care if the things being said are truth, all that matters is that the material brings viewers. Postman makes the point that watching religious TV doesn’t provide much religion, which this example backs up.
3)”It is to suppose that something that has been expressed in one form can be expressed in another without significantly changing it’s meaning”(Postman117).
To put religion on TV you have to change the meaning of the material, therefore creating false meanings. Religious TV is not the real deal-- it is a false pretense that poses as religion. Going to church will teach one about religion; watching endless amounts of “religious TV” will do nothing but numb the senses and provide false inaccurate info.
4)”The screen is so saturated with our memories of profane events, so deeply associated with the commercial and entertainment worlds that it is difficult for it to be recreated as a frame for sacred events”(Postman 119).
Religion is a complicated idea that cannot be taught through the use of television, it is to distracting. Religion is confusing in and of itself but when someone would attempt to teach it through TV, it would be hard enough to stay on the channel let alone learn. TV’s purpose is entertainment not education.
5)”The television screen wants you to remember that its imagery is always available for your amusement and pleasure”(Postman120).
TV is like a drug--it sucks you in and gets you addicted, making it irresistible. Postman is against TV and this example supports his claim that TV is a monster and serves no good purpose. TV is not meant to educate, only to entertain. It doesn’t help the mind, only hinders it by creating a foggy wall between reality and fantasy. TV is a fantasy world that seems real due to graphics, size, and quality of TVs now made.
Visual Presenters:
In Neil Postman’s novel, Amusing Ourselves To Death, he argues how technology is slowly creeping into more and more parts of our lives, up to the point where we are dependent on technology to meet our needs. He even goes on in chapter 8 to talk about the influence of technology on religion. There are examples of people who have miracles occur in their lives being broadcasted on national television to promote religions to the masses, pastors preaching a sermon to a camera, and even moving The Bible to television to inform others. At this moment in our lives, there is one really good example that stands out: History Channel's "The Bible Miniseries". In this series, all parts of the book are being pushed into a 10-hour series highlighting the key parts of The Bible and it’s well known stories, such as David and Goliath, Noah’s Ark, Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt, and to the life of Jesus. This may sound like a great idea to retell and put images to these historic stories. However, this reveals to us how dependent society has become on television. People would rather see an image shown to them rather than reading about it in typographic form itself, which is one of Postman’s main arguments in his book. The description of the series from History Channel itself describes the series as “An epic 10-part miniseries that retells stories from the Scriptures for a whole new generation.” This quote itself is describing how reliant our generation and the ones of the future have become on technology.http://vimeo.com/60715498
This clip from the popular christian television show Veggie Tales has animated vegetables (A cucumber, gourd, asparagus, and a potato) singing and rapping the story of Moses from the Bible. This visual applies to Chapter 8 of Amusing Ourselves to Death because of the way that the story of Moses is portrayed to make it both entertaining and educational to younger audiences. While this doesn't interfere with Postman's argument in the sense that it is mostly used as entertainment for a younger audience, it does interfere with Postman's argument that religion should be kept in a mystical and religious setting. This show warps the medium of the Bible so that it is entertaining for children, but many churches have started using Veggie Tales as lessons during Sunday School.
Veggie Tales Bible Story: Moses
Facilitator Questions:
1) How has religion changed from 30 years ago til now?2) How does TV as a religion affect our view of other religions?
3) How do countries with no religious TV shows differ from countries with religious TV shows?
4) How is having religion available on the internet beneficial?
5) As TV is shifting to our religion, how will "religion" diminish?
6) How has TV changed our views on religion?
7) Would more people be more religious if a variety of religions were on TV?
8)How have religious groups used religion to spread their ideas?
9) Is there still the same connection/ feeling with God when you are in church vs watching church on tv?
10) Should religion be entertaining, and what makes it ok for it to be entertaining?
Researcher 1:
In chapter 8 of Amusing Ourselves to Death Postman targets religion. He specifies to the preachers that we see on those access channels on Sundays. Even though people prefer to go church than watching the event that unfolds in church at their home, Postman explains that it is becoming a trend to rather stay at home. His analysis from the previous chapters and chapter 8 leads to that religion and everything else has to change to become television based. An example of Postman’s argument is that, watching church on TV is different from the actual experience of going to church. His argument declares that anything can be made for TV. Even though it has be about 30 years since the book has been written, Postman’s arguments on influence of technology on society only has been only proven more and more. For example the article “Which Catholic Church?” is from a point of view of a professor from Western University who contemplates from his perspective about Pope Benedict’s resignation; he wonders about the traits of the next Pope such as will it be a women, African, and so forth. Through his curiosity he compares religion of two different societies the one he lives next to and the one he sees on TV. In the second paragraph of the article he is tired, bored, and ashamed of the TV news criticism upon the Catholic Church in Vatican because it is always the same issues, stating the common paradigm of traditional Catholicism and its conflicts with the modern world. Then on the author mentions how the people that mostly attend church around his neighborhood are dutiful to the people who need help in contrast to European church that has concern over political powers. But soon afterwards on a new paragraph the author once again talks about a TV show that introduces a man who was near his death lying outside in Jerusalem and how no one passed along attempted to help. He says in the conclusion like a lecture on resolution to the European church that “From my perspective, our Catholic Church is vibrant, helpful, intellectual, and working in so many ways to fulfill the message to love God” which clearly portrays his two different views. This article directly connects with chapter 8 because it is from a point of view of a professor who criticizes other religions through what he sees on TV and compares the entertainment world of TV to the reality.