Media, Religion, & Politics

 After last week's post, I wanted to dive more into this topic and how it actually affects us. 

Let’s look at how visual Christian media transmits democratic ideals. 

Visual Christian media, especially that created and viewed by believers within a certain faith or belief system, plays an important role in cultural transmission through discussing moral issues. This discussion promotes the voice of the people, a fundamental value of democracy.

In his “Christianity and the Mass Media in America: Toward a Democratic Accommodation” Quentin J. Schultze,  “argues that American mass media and the democratic traditions they influence need the leaven of religious believers who use their own media to debate issues overlooked or misunderstood by mainstream media...This "critical moral discourse" is "fundamentally important to the future of democracy.” (351). 

Considering complex moral topics, perhaps such as homosexuality, abortion, or racism, from a religious viewpoint promotes the voice of the people. Freedom of religion and freedom of speech are both protected by the first amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The healthy examination of moral and political issues by Christian visual media transmits these fundamental freedoms of the U.S. Constitution.

Some visual Christian media transmits democratic values of the Constitution indirectly or directly. For example, the newly-released Vidangel series, “The Chosen,” dramatically and emotionally portrays the life of Jesus Christ and His disciples. Though there is no direct promotion of American democracy whatsoever, the values of freedom of speech and freedom of religion are both evident and promoted through the actions of Christ, the series’ hero. 

To preach His religion, Christ faces religious discrimination from the Pharisees. He is even shown initiating a peaceful public gathering, another right protected in the Constitution’s first amendment. By portraying the well-known Christian protagonist of Christ Himself defending freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and the right to peaceably assemble as positive, morally correct actions, The Chosen indirectly transmits these Constitutional values to viewers.

A more direct presentation of the transmission of these great American ideals occurred just recently in the General Conferences of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day saints. Dallin H. Oaks, the First Counselor in the First Presidency gave a talk entitled “Defending Our Divinely Inspired Constitution.” In it, he discussed how the constitution is inspired by God, and in that declaration, his appeal to Ethos helps to promote the governmental role of democracy. 

He stated “Our belief in divine inspiration gives Latter-day saints a unique responsibility to uphold and defend the United States Constitution and principles of constitutionalism.”

Additionally, he noted that while it is of special importance to members and those in the United States, it also is a common heritage of constitutions around the world and these values are acknowledged and sought for globally. 

Oaks noted five divinely inspired principles in the Constitution that must be upheld by members and citizens across the nation- the source of government is the people, the balanced division of delegated power, the separation of powers, the vital guarantees of individual rights in the Bill of Rights, and that rules are by law and not of men.

Addressing the divinity of the Constitution helped to transmit over mass visual media that they are part of the great doctrine of “Moral Agency.” In stating it as such, these American democratic ideals are directly promoted to these Christian viewers as ones we should uphold and cherish due to their eternal significance. 

In summary, visual Christian media meets the religious desire of already-Christian viewers to confirm their beliefs. Among the important values transmitted through popular Christian tv shows and movies are American government ideals. Discussion of moral issues in Christian visual media plays a crucial role in supporting democracy. Television shows such as The Chosen indirectly promote Constitutional freedoms, while other visual media such as the General Conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints promote these same values in a clear, direct call to action. Interestingly, visual media also provides an opportunity to the common believer to share their Christian beliefs. Through the creation and distribution of faith-promoting videos, as well as sharing existing Christian videos with friends, family, and coworkers alike, anyone can follow Christ's invitation to "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you." Will you answer Christ's call?