Though I don’t watch a lot of TV, when I’m channel surfing I often go past a sequence of maybe three channels in a row which I’ll deem the “Christian channels”. I don’t know their affiliations (or their names for that matter. Only EWTN comes to mind). Several times I’ve ended up stopping on it purely for the shock/entertainment value.
While most of the time it is just religious filth (televangelists like Benny Hinn showing people who have been “cured” by god, or ranting about Satan incessantly), often it borders on offensive. I once saw a portly old man doing his televangelizing wearing a tallit . I know the guy wasn’t Jewish, and this sure wasn’t one of those priest-shawls. This had all the signs of being a tallit (I’m Jewish). I found this very offensive. I watched for a bit more to see the conext, but I couldn’t figure out why he was wearing it.
So today I’m surfing some more, and come to a kids program on EWTN on Evolution. They constantly set up little skits and such with “professors” (kids acting as such) saying how god has been “proven” and science explains impossibilities with more of the same.
The next program it came to atheism. It spoke of how Communism brought atheism and their “evil” beliefs (with the word “ABORTION” flashing on screen in front of a picture of a fetus). At that point I turned off the television.
So, what do you think? Is this type of programming dangerous? It seems to be very, very conservative doctrine- it’s obvious most Christians don’t buy this bull. But will these channels have an impact? Are we going back to the dark ages?
This stuff has been around since the radio days. Father Conklin was the major spiritual forebear of all of the Christian TV productions today.
Getting offended at it is about as effective as getting offended at the crazy lay evangelist who preaches on the steps in front of the classroom building on campus. It’s not going to do you any good or them any bad. The best and most effective thing to do is just keep surfing. Although I admit that the one guy who used to have the college classroom/laboratory-type anti-evolution show on Cornerstone TV made my teeth hurt just from watching him…
Lots of Christians wear a tallit. Certainly not the majority, but a significant minority … and not just Messianic Jews, either (although the guy you saw probably was; I wish you’d caught his name). I’m surprised this is the first you’ve heard of it.
Yes, Christian television is DANGEROUS!!! I have nightmares about it, personally, and I’m terrified of Christian television busting through my door in the middle of the night. Abortion is bad? People claiming to be healed from diseases supernaturally? Evolution not being preached as the gospel truth? Oh my!
For one wonderful moment I thought you said “Benny Hill,” and was picturing him being chased around a park by Satan, the Pope and semi-clad nuns, to the tune of “Yakety Sax” . . .
I’ve never heard of a Christian wearing a tallit. As I said before, there’s some sort of prayer shawl that evolved from the tallit that I believe priests wear. It definitely wasn’t what this guy was wearing. And I don’t think he was Messianic either. My bet is that he was just some intolerant asshole, from what he was saying.
And of course this stuff’s been around. I just don’t remember it being so prevalent in my area, right in between some popular secular channels. The Christian channels used to be way separated, in the 70’s or 80’s on my TV (regular cable).
Is this stuff on the rise? I’d hate to fear that intolerance is spreading.
There’s also a movement–I’m not sure it is more than a tiny one though–to make Christianity more Jewish. My Brother’s church has started holding Passover services and dabbling with other Jewish holidays, and a few other churches I know have done the same.
Anyway, I’m pretty sure this isn’t intended to trick Jews or anything. While some evangelical Christians are anti-Jewish, a very large number are not.
Actually, Christian liturgical vestments are all derived from Roman civilian clothing, and in the case of episcopal vestments, imperial dress. There are several vestments that could be described as vaguely tallis-like, but none of them are descended from it. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Ethiopians had a vestment descended from the tallis, seeing as they are so Judaized, but I am exceedingly unfamiliar with their rite and so don’t know for sure, but the Latin, Byzantine, Coptic, Syriac, and Armenian rites definitely don’t have any.
From what I’ve seen of it recently, a growing number of Christian evangelicals (including a lot of the big names like Pat Robertson and company) are very strongly (in some cases rabidly) pro-Jewish and pro-Isreal, and are starting Christian charities to send elderly Russian Jews to Isreal and the like. If I were Jewish I’d be vaguely creeped out.
I’m not even vaguely Jewish, and I’m totally creeped out! It has squat to do with the Jews as people, but as character actors in some kind of Apocalyptic scenario. According to a theology that mixes St. John of Revelations with Stephen King, the average Xtian can help expedite the arrival of Armageddon by assisting in getting the Jews back to Israel.
I don’t think it’s any more dangerous than growing up in a household that would encourage children to watch such programming uncritically. Worrying about Televangelizing Jesus Freaks will just keep you up at night to no good effect. The meme is running amock out there, has been for centuries, and will exploit any and all routes of entry into receptive minds; so I just don’t think it’s worth worrying about any particular media outlet. Actually, it’s probably not worth worrying about all of them together, either, unless you enjoy losing sleep.
I think he just mentioned EWTN as one of the Christian stations on his cable lineup. Although if you listen to Mother Angelica long enough, you start to wonder if Vatican II actually happened.
cowers in corner Can’t sleep…scary, ancient, one-eyed nun will eat me! Can’t sleep…scary, ancient, one-eyed nun will eat me! Can’t sleep…