Get Religion is a national and global journalism site focusing on how the mainstream press covers religion news in politics, entertainment, business and sports.
About a year ago, during a book tour to promote “Blind Spot: When Journalists Don’t Get Religion,” I had a chance to take part in a forum for young journalists at a media institute in Bangalore, India. As you would expect, the topic for the day was improving mainstream media coverage of religion.
Washington Nationals fans are having a great time right now. I know it’s only May, but the team has an above .500 record and locals are elated. Last year they ended the season with the worst average in baseball: .364. And the most exciting news is related to pitching phenom Stephen Strasburg. He’s expected to make his Major League Debut here pretty soon and, well, let’s just say I’ve already bought my tickets.
Last month, after a Utah death-row inmate chose a firing squad as his form of execution, I complained about the pitiful coverage of the religion angle. In the comments section, reader Chas Clifton brought up an angle that I had not even considered:
One of the worst movie experiences of my life was watching Sex and the City. I know it was a big hit but the whole thing just annoyed me. And not just because of the jokes about losing control of one’s bowels. Certainly the moral message of the film didn’t sit well with me either. It’s not like I’m a snobby consumer of entertainment. I was an enthusiastic watcher of the HBO series. (I know, I know.)
If you are interested in church-state separation issues, and you happened to pick up one of the big American newspapers this morning, that sound you are probably hearing is the theme from “Jaws.” Here’s the top of the A1 report from the Washington Post:
Previously on LOST. (Spoilers ahead) A highly addictive show about a plane crashing on and island finished its 6-season streak with a heaven-like love fest.
Don’t read this compelling piece of journalism by The Associated Press’ Michelle Faul unless you’re ready to shed a few tears — or a whole lot of tears.
While this may sound rather strange, a recent Religion News Service piece on the debates surrounding Rima Fakih — “Muslim Miss USA: Progress, or immodesty?” — sort of ticked me off, but for the same reason that I also wanted to praise it.
So the Detroit Free Press has a huge article about the Apostolic Visitation of women religious orders here in the United States. What’s that? Well, a year or two ago, the Vatican’s Congregation for Religious ordered a review of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious. That’s the group recently in the news for being involved in the 11th hour endorsement of health care legislation.
