** Updated and bumped **
I just read Lorie Byrd’s excellent review of this show at PoliPundit. I missed it Friday (was busy, not purposely boycotting the show) and based on her review now I probably won’t bother. But I am perplexed at why the entertainment industry tries so hard to reach out, to understand, and “fairly” portray even terrorists – but they just can’t figure out Christians.
————Original post———
No, I’m not talking about the book in the bible. I’m talking about the “quirky”
- an
Episcopalian minister with an addiction to Vicodin - his alcoholic wife, grieving the loss of one of their children to leukemia
- his drug pusher daughter
- his gay Republican son
- his adopted son, who is having sex with the bishop’s daughter
- his embezzling (from the church, yet!) brother in law who is soon murdered
- his lesbian secretary who is sleeping with his sister in law
- his church member Phyllis Diller
- his bishop Ellen Burstyn
- and last but not least… his hip, fun Savior, who ‘tries to cheer up Daniel by inventing self-help book titles like “Jesus’ Guide to a Comfortable Life” and “My Tuesdays With Jesus.”‘
Yes, that’s certainly a accurate portrayal of
Sources: “New NBC Drama Show Mocks Christianity“, “The Book of Daniel“, “TV Gets Religion“, “New NBC show stars Jesus, pill-popping priest“, “TV’s New Religious Saga”
I seriously doubt protesting will do much good. The thing to do is watch for the advertisers paying for the show and protest to them. One day we’ll learn that theology does not come from Hollywood, but from the Bible.
If people are going to protest this show. Then they should be protesting almost every show on TV. It’ s just a TV
show. Everyone has the ablity to choose what they want to watch.
Perhaps- if you watch the show you may see the good in it.
Like the concept of God and Jesus to a nonbeliever.
I seriously doubt one would go prime time television to learn theology.
Obviously everyone can choose what they want to see and if you re-read it you’ll see that I did not recommmend people protest it. I suggested they use this TV show’s bad theology and bad portrayal of Christianity as an evangelistic tool.
I agree that most people don’t go to TV to learn theology but it promotes inaccurate, worldly views of Christianity and Christ; views that Christians will need to debunk.
I have let the local NBC affiliate know that I consider it an insult to Christian people. Let’s face it, if this was about a Jewish or Islamic person the show would never have made it to the air and might even have been sued. I do agree that protesting to the network will likely not do any good, but saying that people can just choose to watch anything and we should just shut up and take it while our Lord is being insulted is not the answer either. Let’s face it, the show is offensive to believing and practicing Christians. I agree that the sponsors are where the real leverage will show. People (the 85 or so % of America that says it is Chritian) need to let both the local affiliates and the sponsors know that they will not support this show, the sponsors that pay for it, or the affiliates that air it.
Local tv stations do not have to show it, and the networks can’t make them. NBC is so far refusing to tell who the network sponsors are going to be, but it will be known as soon as the show airs. The American Family Association has identified 10 likely sponsors, and even has a link to send them a letter asking them not to sponsor the show (https://secure.afa.net/afa/afapetition/takeaction.asp?id=177 ). I think this a likely good way to get a good response.
This world is not my home…I’m just passing through.
I’m so busy blogging, posting on baords and listen to sermons…that I hardly know what is on TV or at the Theater. You folks are my family…and I’ll spend more time in your living room than NBC, CBS or ABC ever will.
I notice that the date on everyone’s comments are all BEFORE the show was even aired. How can you give valid commentary on something you’ve never seen? Who’s feeding you information? Pat Robertson? Better find a better source than the 700 Club or the AFA… Being an Episcopalian for almost 40 years I’m a true believer in Jesus Christ and the price he paid for me. So my comments are NOT anti-Christian but are anti-mindless following of another human being. I challenge you that if your faith is as strong and devout as all of you say it is… Watch the show and make some decisions about it on your own. You may like it or you may not… but it will be your decision and not that of some faceless Corporate Church official or some right wing Christian blanket emailing.
Derek,
the post states clearly that the show had not aired at the time of the writing. Additionally, my sources were listed at the bottom of the post; I was not “fed” information unless Googling can fairly be called “feeding.” If you care to dispute any facts in the post, please do so, rather than engaging in vague criticism or implying that people who find this show’s subject matter distasteful are mindless.
Nowhere in the post – or the comments – will you find a slam against the Episcopalian faith. On the contrary, I’m suggesting that the characters are an over-the-top assemblage that is NOT representative of Christianity. It seems that Hollywood is incapable of portraying Christianity or Jesus except as wackos or else just like the world.
And for the record, I suggested that my readers DO watch the show at least once, and use it as water-cooler conversation fodder about what Christianity is NOT. Unless they engage in a major rewrite, which is unlikely, or all the sources I listed including the Wall St. Journal are incorrect, this show pretends to promote Christian values but in fact will portray Christianity negatively.