PTC Study Results: Religious Content 'Takes a Beating' on Network TV Programming
by Pat Centner
December 15, 2006
(AgapePress) - - In its seventh study regarding how religion is depicted on television, the Parents Television Council (PTC) found that there is far less of it, and what is shown is more negative. A total of 2,271.5 prime time programming hours were examined in the study, "Faith in a Box 2005-2006."A recent PTC news release revealed that the study spanned an entire year (2005-2006) and encompassed 2,271.5 hours of programming, during which 1,425 treatments of religion were found. The 1,425 number represents a 41 percent decrease from the 2,344 religious portrayals made during the 2003-2004 season. In addition, the survey found that in 2005-2006 programming content, there were more negative portrayals of religion than positive ones (35% to 34%).
This was the case, in spite of the fact that a recent Zogby/American Bible Society poll found that 84 percent of adults are not offended when references to God or the Bible are made on network TV shows. Fifty-one percent of those polled also said the networks should develop shows with positive messages that even specifically refer to God and the Bible.
L. Brent Bozell, president of PTC, said, "The results of this study clearly show that the entertainment industry is not reflecting the strong religious beliefs of Americans in its television programming. The industry is in fact hostile to people of faith - no matter if the person is Christian, Jewish, or Muslim.
After Mel Gibson's film The Passion of the Christ, there was a lot of talk that Hollywood finally had found religion. But with television, sadly that wasn't true. In fact, it was the opposite ...."
Bozell also expressed concern regarding the study's outcome with regard to programming format. Positive depictions of religion (57.8%) were found on reality programs, while an incredible 95.5% of negative portrayals came from Hollywood-scripted drama and comedy programs.
"The irony is that in reality shows such as Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and The Amazing Race, where real characters freely express themselves, faith and religion are positively portrayed. But in scripted shows, where Hollywood writers express their worldview, faith and religion become four-letters words .... This is an industry that is completely out of touch with reality."
That is an obvious fact from "Faith in a Box" since the study found that many of the major networks negatively portrayed religion. Fox won first prize with nearly one in every two (49.3%) portrayals being negative. NBC came in second with 39.3% negative portrayals. ABC and CBS registered 30.4% and 29%, respectively. The WB network had the fewest negative depictions of religion with a 21% showing.
"The evidence is clear," said Bozell. "On CBS' Two and a Half Men, Charlie Sheen's character uses the melody of 'Joy to the World, I'm getting laid.' Fox's The Family Guy proved to be especially sacrilegious and vile when it showed God in bed with a woman. These examples, and others, show that Hollywood has a clear distaste for religion."
Other key findings of "Faith in a Box 2005-2006" include:
- The later the hour, the more negative the treatment -- During the 8 p.m. hour, negative treatments were at 31.9%; at 9 pm, 33.9%; and during the 10 pm hour, 44.4% of all religious treatments were negative. At no time during these later hours did the positive portrayal of religion ever reach the 50% mark.
- Laypersons -- non-clerical individuals who profess religious faith -- were treated most negatively by entertainment programs -- More than half (50.8%) of all entertainment TV's portrayals of laity were negative, while only 26% were positive.
- Religious institutions also portrayed as negative -- Following closely behind the laity with 47.6% negative portrayals were religious institutions. (These include particular denominations, specific religious beliefs or direct references to Scripture). Sadly, only 18% of depictions of religious institutions were positive.
- Clergy shown in a negative light -- Nearly 70% of prime-time TV's portrayal of clergy were negative, demonstrating a clear bias against people of religious faith.
- Simple religious faith shown positively -- This was the one positive outcome of the study. More than two-thirds (69.6%) of portrayals such as individuals making a simple statement of their belief in God or a higher power, or praying, were shown as positive, with only 14.7% being negative.
In concluding his comments concerning this comprehensive study, Bozell said it "clearly documents the complete disconnect between Hollywood's attitude toward religion and that of the American public.
Pat Centner, an occasional contributor to AgapePress, is a former staff writer for AFA Journal, a monthly publication of the American Family Association.
