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A journalist is not a pastor
Q: Is there widespread media bias against Christianity? Against evangelicals such as Brit Hume and Sarah Palin? Against public figures who speak openly and directly about their faith? Against people who believe as you do?
The news media are tasked with being skeptical. Religions are tasked with being certain. There is an inherent conflict between skepticism and certainty, and the degree of conflict escalates with the degree of (presumed) certainty. Britt Hume has practiced that skepticism in his role as a journalist when examining the equally certain claims of other true believers in Islam and Judaism, certain political ideologies and passionate opponents of the United States. It is not clear to me why he is surprised that other responsible journalists are skeptical about his certainty.
I think some folks believe that religious conviction provides immunity from scrutiny. The attitude is not limited to Christians, by any means, but it rarely extends beyond the bounds of a person's own personal convictions. In fact, my experience with journalists is that the best among them give the benefit of the doubt to religious communities; precisely because they do not see religious conviction from inside, they are careful not to overstep their expertise.
But a journalist who promotes one religion over another is like a pastor, rabbi or imam who endorses a political candidate from the pulpit -- by conflating the Bill of Rights with Articles of Faith, damage is done to the integrity of both sets of values.
By
Jack Moline
|
January 11, 2010; 4:45 PM ET
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Posted by: grohlik | January 12, 2010 8:40 PM
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I like Mr. Moline's comments. He reminds me of my pastor who I couldn't tell you to this day if he voted for Obama or McCain in the last election. He doesn't bring politics to our worship. My journalist I would like to do the same keep their religion out of their reporting.
Posted by: mike_hill | January 12, 2010 7:19 PM
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Hume is no journalist. There are no journalists at Fox News. They all deal in the certainty (aka religion) of conservatism, which happens to include their brand of christianity. Therefore, I am not surprised at anything that is said by these people.
Posted by: schaeffz | January 12, 2010 12:40 PM
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Journalists, truck drivers, anyone. Since con artists like Jack here only use religion to deceive people into buying their liberal bs, there is a need for SOMEONE to offer some sincere belief.