Can Television Take People of Faith Seriously? – IOTW Report

Can Television Take People of Faith Seriously?

Acculturated: Modern television shows and Christianity don’t seem to mix. Gone are the old days when, for example, Andy Griffith and Opie went to church.

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Today we’re treated to shows like TV Land’s Impastor, a show about a conman pretending to be a pastor, which only serves to trivialize Christianity. Many similar examples abound: Christianity was mentioned in the immensely popular show How I Met Your Mother only as the occasional butt of jokes. The Big Bang Theory’s sole Christian character, Sheldon’s mother, is played off for laughs as an ignorant bigot.

Time and time again, television shows give Christianity a bad rap. We all know the archetype. The “television Christian” is almost always portrayed as intolerant and bigoted. They are uptight and prudish (think: Ned Flanders on The Simpsons). Even when they aren’t outright villains, they are never painted as sympathetic characters. But then, last Wednesday, I flipped on the Suits summer finale and was shocked by the show’s positive depiction of Christianity.  MORE

 

11 Comments on Can Television Take People of Faith Seriously?

  1. A recent show on PBS – Grantchester, portrays the clergy in a positive light. A British pastor and a police detective team up to solve crimes. The pastor is always portrayed intelligently, without derision and usually is the one who ‘breaks’ the case in some way.

    But even in the UK, they mock religion — Monty Python skits, Blackadder episodes, etc.

  2. I’m a Marvel Zombie and must say Netflix’s Daredevil was a pleasant surprise with how they handled his Catholicism. His faith informed his worldview and he counseled with his neighborhood priest several times thru the season. It was handled very classy and clearly done with respect.

    By comparison and as example, the 2003 Affleck movie shamefully had the villain standing in a church with both bleeding palms extended begging another man dressed as a devil for forgiveness. Pedestrian, heavy-handed, and just plain dumb.

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