Posted on 04/09/2007 6:48:52 AM PDT by Valin
Last week CNN devoted nearly five days of prime time broadcasts to discuss religion in the United States. Catholics, Protestants, Evangelicals and Jews each had some representation. By my count there were at least five different specials, repeated strategically during the holiday weekend. This network has not historically had a pro-evangelical editorial bent. Therefore, many members of the faith community have felt that FOX or other networks were more supportive of their values.
CNN’s most recent religious specials mark a departure from their typical modus operandi. Evangelicals often expect poor treatment and stereotyping from the liberal press. These programs, however, seemed extremely even handed and objective in their journalistic style and approach. At times they even seemed faith affirming and inspirational. Suffice it to say, their approach to the Easter holiday season may yield many new viewers for their news programs.
CNN’s programs ranged from quasi-documentary pieces to issue oriented discussions. One comprehensive presentation was a two part series hosted by the network’s primary news luminary, Anderson Cooper. "What Is a Christian?” explored the tension between science and faith. The segments were diverse, fast paced, and informative. The tone of each vignette was, for the most part, very objective and civil - despite the occasional outburst of impassioned debaters. Cooper, himself, displayed intellectual curiosity and openness to each presenter. One question seemed to be a unifying thread to the presentation, “How is the faith community in the U.S. changing in both force and focus”?
A second, well-produced program was entitled “What Would Jesus Really Do”? The program was engaging and the host, Roland Martin, was utterly charming. Although this program was more overtly critical of the evangelical Christian movement, the host asked important questions about evangelical views on global warming, the Iraq War, and the divide between the rich and poor. Martin featured Bishop T. D. Jakes, Pastor Paula White, Rick Warren, Rev. Jerry Falwell, and other evangelical ministers. Without blatantly declaring that there is a major difference between the majority of black evangelical clergy and their white counterparts, Martin (an African American) gave space for new faces to present their positions. Martin is to be commended that he resisted the temptation to trot out Jessie Jackson and Rev. Al Sharpton as “black experts.”
I really believe that the work CNN did this past week was exemplary. They did a great job at presenting classic positions as contrasted with new societal questions. The only thing that Cooper and company failed to pick up on last week is that a generation of pioneer evangelical leaders are about to pass from the scene. Therefore, the entire Christian right movement is in transition. The pioneer patriarchs of the moral majority are all in their seventies or eighties. When these influential giants step down in the next few years, a new generation of technically-savvy, policy geeks with the Bible in one hand and a laptop in the other, will ascend into even greater authority than their predecessors.
The Dobsons, Falwells, Kennedys, Weyrichs, and Robertsons of our day have spent their entire public careers fighting the moral chaos of our culture. Through the power of prayer and biblical faith they have risen from obscurity to national fame and then from fame to national influence. This pattern is similar to that of the Old Testament prophet Elijah who, in his later years, transferred his important work to a second generation (Elisha) who ultimately performed twice the miracles of his mentor.
Perhaps CNN is beginning to court the sleeping giant– the evangelical, faith community. This courtship may not be based upon conviction alone. The bright people at CNN are obviously aware of the fact that the faith community, along with crunchy conservatives, helped catapult FOX News into cable news stardom. In this defining moment in our culture, CNN is looking for a new approach, or at least a silver bullet, to fire at their programming adversaries.
Once fearful of the religious right, the liberal media now wants to frame the religious debate in the nation. Further, many of them feel empowered to complain about the historic, policy agenda of evangelicals. Only time will tell if the producers of these programs are beginning to have a real spiritual awakening. For all we know, both liberal television and print outlets may simply be attempting to play a sophisticated game of divide and conquer. In light of the strange realignment of media voices, the Trojan horse story of old offers a clear lesson - sometimes gifts from old enemies can be “problematic.”
The moral majority will rise again in 2008 and beyond with a new message, new vitality, and new leaders. I hope CNN, FOX News, and others are ready for it!
Harry R. Jackson Jr. is founder and Chairman of the High Impact Leadership Coalition as well as author of The Warriors Heart: Rules of Engagement for the Spiritual War Zone.
It’s the daily unrelenting agenda of CNN that is the problem and that can’t be rectified by an occasional special that seems even handed.
If I sock you around 51 weeks of the year, you are still going to be bruised during the one week I treat you with kindness.
Yes, but even as recently as a year ago I couldn't have seen them putting on something like this.
I wonder if there's a shift in attitude going on over there.
Just something to watch.......
CNN trying to “make nice” on a low ratings day is hardly substantive since FNC did the same thing last year.
I find it intensly amunsing that Anderson Cooper did the natation in one story since he selected a lifestyle which blames christianity for the lifestyle not being accepted in society.
Christian charity should start in love of Christ, and as seeing each person as Christ coming to us. Charity is more than just doing good. Charity done in the name of Christ should transform the giver, and can transform the receiver.
Government sponsored charity programs tend to treat people like they were commodities, and frequently makes the situation worse.
IMHO. Your mileage may vary.
There are no "government sponsored charity programs". If it is a government program it is, by definition, coercive. Some people are "forced" to give something to other people. This is not charity, regardless of how "worthy" the beneficiaries.
Excellent.
I don't think the President's intentions were to "support" faith based charities. My understanding is that the president wanted to use the largely volunteer efforts of private charities, faith based or otherwise, to administer welfare programs already established by the Federal Government. This would, in effect, get more "bang for the buck" by utilizing mostly unpaid volunteers to do what otherwise would be done by paid government employees or what otherwise wouldn't be done at all because of the lack of manpower.
I didn't see this. This term Social Justice" can mean different things to different people it appears. As for helping the poor, the suffering, and the lost Evangelicals don't even have a close second in the works they do on behalf of Christ around the world. Jesus is very very clear on His "real" followers actions towards the poor, the suffering, and the lost. Matt 25 and Luke 14 are just 2 of the many places He instructs and warns us about this issue.
Jesus was no socialist but He in no way neglects the poor, suffering or lost. We must be careful our political zeal does not diminish our ability to hear and do what our Lord instructs us. I am a Christian first a Conservative second.
I would not trust CNN as far as I could throw my TV. I suspect we will be hearing the virtues of the new religion Bill and Jimmy have recently organized, a lot in coming days. Was their new religion [forget name of org] represented in this?
I rarely watch CNN, so I didn’t see these specials. I would be extremely surprised, however, if they were truly ‘even handed’.
“The left co-opts and seduces those it hates.”
You got it....
There are a lot of Rick Warren threads to read on FR. Sorry but I am not a “CFR, NWO, globalists, lets all hug, put our differences aside, erase all the borders, erase all the difference between the world religions, find a new and improved savior, someone besides Jesus Christ, someone we can all agree on as a savior” type so as to reign in a thousand years of universal peace. Some in the church are making a big mistake, walking into a trap, getting used and playing a big part in setting up the end times one world religion of the Antichrist - Caution danger ahead! As plain as day for all to see in my opinion. CNN doing their part ecumenically to bring us all together into one, doing their part to erase the differences with a little peer pressure by showing us nice come together ecumenical snapshots.
The Gospel that Jesus Christ came, died for our sins, was buried, rose again and that we must believe in Him, call on His name ONLY for salvation from our sin, that sin that will send us to Hell for all eternity is what the church needs to be broadcasting loudly now!
There is No other name, no other messiah - Just Jesus and His name must be called upon to be saved from an Eternity in Hell!
We watch a lot of PBS lately. They show many programs that you mention plus wildlife shows, minus the commercials that give my kids nightmares or have an “R” rating.
A Fool and a tool, the author is.
The Left openly declared its strategy for corrupting the “Religious Right,” and this is it.
What’s interesting is that the “social justice” folks give much less of their own money or effort to the poor, weak, despised, sick and out of favor.
If God would use a DONKEY, Why not CNN!
Nevertheless, to GOD BE THE GLORY!!!
Can you show me, from Scripture, just where Christ gave away some of HIS earthly stuff to the 'poor'?
Jesus tells others often to sell what they have and to give it to the poor. Mark 10:21 for example - Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, "One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."
The early church as shown in Acts followed this instruction. Act 4:34 For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales Act 4:35 and lay them at the apostles' feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need. Act 4:36 Now Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement), Act 4:37 and who owned a tract of land, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.
Does this help?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.