CHRISTIANITY and the MEDIA Key points:- Key points:- Some Christians would like to see a form of censorship in the media. Some Christians would like to see a form of censorship in the media. Some Christians feel they should be free to decide what they should see, watch and hear. Some Christians feel they should be free to decide what they should see, watch and hear. The Law of Blasphemy only applies to the Christian religion and is rarely used these days. The Law of Blasphemy only applies to the Christian religion and is rarely used these days.

Christians and the Media  Some Christians hold the media, in part, responsible for what they see as the decline in moral standards.  Christians call upon all areas of the media to act responsibly.  The Church seems especially concerned of late with the portrayal of moral issues on T.V. e.g. the soaps have a very strong grip on the viewing habits of the U.K.  Some Christians are also concerned that the media judge the public mood accurately. When a spoof on paedophilia was shown on Channel 4 in 2001 there was a public outcry about its distastefulness

Christians and Censorship  Until quite recently, the Roman Catholic Church had a list of books which Catholics had an instruction not to read!  Some Christians see the modern media as having enormous potential to spread the Christian message.

Christians and Censorship  Most Christian organisations have a web site that explains the work they are doing.  There are many Christian radio stations e.g. UCB – United Christian Broadcasters who offer Christian radio for the nation.  Some Christians feel that if we do not censor the media they will have too much influence on the public.

Christians and Blasphemy  The Law on blasphemy is in place to protect the Christian religion in this country.  It is only used very occasionally.  Two successful prosecutions for blasphemy were carried out in 1922 and 1977

Christians and Blasphemy  Blasphemy occurs when material that speaks contemptuously of God or Jesus Christ is published or broadcast.  In 1977 Gay News, a magazine with a very small circulation, was prosecuted for publishing a poem that described the sexual feelings of a gay Roman soldier for the crucified Christ

Christians and Blasphemy  More recently a classification certificate was refused to the makers of ‘Visions of Ecstasy’, a film in which a saint, Theresa of Avila, had sexual feelings for the crucified Jesus.  The law does not extend the notion of blasphemy to any religion apart from Christianity.