Channel 4’s Dispatches ran a documentary, or should I say ‘mockumentary’ last night called ‘In God’s Name’. The programme makers aim was to ‘explore the growth and increasing influence of Christian fundamentalists’. What they actually did was run a show which portrayed Christians as ‘demons’ with a sinister motive to transform Britain into a Christian State, run on Biblical principles (Heaven Forbid). It was edited in a way to make Christians look like crazy, irrational nutters. Admittedly, there are some crazy types out there, but what this show did was just plain sensationalism. Also, the show I felt patronised us for believing in God. It said: ‘believe in God, just not too much though’
I also found it funny when they showed Christian’s protesting… no burning effigies, or people with explosives strapped to their bodies, just a bunch of old biddies – scary! To find out more about one of the main groups featured: ‘Christian Concern For Our Nation’ click here.
Here’s a snippet of the programme description…
As the Human Fertilisation and Embryo Bill continues its way through Parliament, David Modell follows some of the leading members of Christian pressure groups as they attempt to win converts and convince MPs to base laws on Biblical beliefs.
Hard-line Christian activists are now mobilising believers in an attempt to make an impact on society nationally. Followers believe abortion and homosexuality should be illegal, there should be no sex before marriage and that the law of blasphemy should be strictly enforced.
They say the Bible is the definitive word of God and is literally true and are intolerant of other faiths. The film follows well funded and politically active Christian groups and shows them emerging as a significant voice in British politics.
“They say the Bible is the definitive word of God [obviously it isn't]“
What shocked me was that being a Christian is not perceived as normal any more. Society thinks that those who hold a biblical worldview are at best misguided, or at worst mentally deranged. The programme’s tone toward the Christians was patronising and condescending.
“They are intolerant other faiths [as if their faith is actually true]“
Christianity demands that we have faith in God, ‘without faith it is impossible to please Him’. The argument of intolerance is based in the Christian’s faith in God’s word. What people miss is that Christianity is an exclusive religion. It does not believe in ‘other paths’, ‘other gods’, or ‘other truths’ – Jesus said: “I AM the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to God but by me” that is a pretty exclusive claim! So then, believers are faced with either denying their faith to appear popular and intolerant, or holding to Jesus and being seen as intolerant, small minded and anti-social. From its inception Christianity has demanded radical life change from its followers, as I said in an earlier post, Jesus words ‘Follow Me‘ really mean a death to self.
Watch a bit of the show
Conclusion
Being a Christian is no longer acceptable, our beliefs are outside of the norms of an increasingly secular society in which their is no absolute truth, and where the god of tolerance (for all but Christianity) prevails. Watching the show made me sad, frustrated and annoyed at how Christianity was being mocked. The proposition of the show was: ‘its ok to be a Christian, just don’t take your faith too seriously, after all it isn’t true’. And if that is the case, I guess I’ll have to say like Paul ‘after the way called heresy so worship I the God of my fathers…’
Posted by Zainab on May 22, 2008 at 9:14 am
The documentary that was shown on channel 4 ‘dispatches: in the name of God’ was a discriminative, offensive and undermining portrayal of Islam. This is totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
Posted by Adrian on July 28, 2009 at 3:09 pm
What a surprise, Islam being offended by something. I’m sure your God can take the abuse.
Posted by Russ Jones on May 22, 2008 at 11:36 am
I didnt think it was particularly patronising. I have many good friends who are fundamentalists, and they also share the views expressed about homosexuality, creationism, islam etc. Its not that the show sought to find weirdos who share these bizarre uninformed viewpoints, its simply that many fundamentalists DO have these beliefs. Therefore I thought it was pretty accurate.
Posted by chak on May 22, 2008 at 6:21 pm
i don’t really care for what religions people are from as long as they don’t impose it on others.
However, when religious organisations (for the sake of argument, lets say christianity) try to impose their views on others (I.e. on ‘morals’ and ‘ethic’) it gets unbelievably frustrating.
Especially when the religion it self is founded and based upon the persecution of others that don’t agree with them lol
Posted by Pennie on May 27, 2008 at 12:48 pm
The film included a “Science” test which was taken by a six year old. The questions visible during the piece were as follows: (capitalised words are the answers given by the child)
Jesus LIVES in God
God called the dark time NIGHT
Long ago there was no WORLD
God made the SKY and clouds on day five
God made the world in SIX days
God called the sky HEAVEN
God made the light on day ONE
God made the clouds to HOLD water
God called the light time DAY
God made the LAND and plants on day three
At the senior level, a science textbook being used by a 14 year old student at the school included a page which stated:
“It was very exciting when the first men walked on the moon in 1969. When scientists eagerly studied the moon soil and moon rocks, they found out that the moon appeared to be between 6,000 and 10,000 years old. This was not surprising to scientists who were Christians because the Bible indicates that Earth is also somewhere between 6,000 and 10,000 years old. We know that our moon and Earth are about the same age since God created Earth on the third day and the moon on the fourth day of creation”.
This statement is absolutely untrue. The scientists who studied the moon dust and rocks did not find out that the moon appeared to be between 6,000 and 10,000 years old.
Can someone explain the justification for lying to children like this, and calling it “science”? If the creationists are so sure of their ground, why would they have to lie?
Posted by JULIE on May 28, 2008 at 4:19 pm
U C I NU THEY WOULD PORTRAY IT THAT WAY WHICH I Y I MADE A CONSCIENCIOUS DECISION NOT 2 WATCH IT….I KNEW ALL IT WOULD DO IS INFURIATE ME…ITS QUITE AMAZING AT HOW WHATS SUPPOSED 2 B A ‘CHRISTIAN’ COUNTRY, CAN TOLERATE CERTAIN THINGS. BUT THIS IS ALL A LIE FROM THE ENEMY SENT 2 DISCOURAGE BELIEVERS N WE CNT GIV IN…….WE AV 2 STAND STRONG N B AN EXAMPLE N SHOW PEOPLE THAT GOD IS ALIVE N WELL N IS AT WORK IN OUR EVERYDAY LIVE N MOST OF ALL HE LOVES US EVEN THOUGH WE 4GET HIM!!
Posted by M on May 29, 2008 at 5:29 pm
I think you’re missing the irony or perhaps just plain hypocrisy in calling the show’s portrayal patronising, when a good majority of what the people on it were quoted as saying was patronising in the extreme, not to mention bigoted and just plain wrong.
I come from a family background of Christians just like those shown in the program, and am gay. Therefore I have felt firsthand the painful effects of their prejudice and hatred towards homosexuality. It cost me my relationship with my family. Then I watch a Christian protestor say that “I don’t want my grandchildren taught that it’s okay to get s*** on your penis, because in the end that’s what it’s about”, and then read someone having the audacity to say that the portrayal of these people was patronising.
Personally, i felt that the editing and interviewing was reasonably neutral – he didn’t try and force his subjects into seeming more extremist or ridiculous. If anything, they walked into that themselves. But in fairness, it may be entirely possible that plenty of footage was omitted that didn’t seem quite so sensationalist — but i have witnessed and experienced people like that, and I don’t think they were particularly misrepresented. However, i also grew up in a church, and have many Christian friends, none of whom are like this — but they’re not out trying to influence everyone, and that is why I respect them. The show did show extremism, and as that was the focus of the show, it can hardly be called misrepresentation… especially not when fundamentalists like this are horribly real.
Posted by In God’s Name: Rev Joel Edwards Open Letter to Channel 4 « The Jesus Blog on May 31, 2008 at 9:25 pm
[...] God, gods name, Jesus, joel edwards, letter, open, pentecostal, religion, Theology Following my previous post on the C4 Dispatches programme ‘In God’s Name’ Rev Joel Edwards of the [...]