"RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY":"SPOTLIGHT ON MEDIA EMPIRES AND SPIRITUAL WELFARE In the USA"!

Le 06 juillet 2012 par IVOIREBUSINESS - Through this analysis, we would like to share the relevant approach of an american scholar "SARA DIAMOND" , basically an investigate journalist whose work has appeared in numerous international publications and in

programs produced for "pacifica Radio" .Ms "Diamond" has also taught journalism at the university of "California"(USA-Santa Cruz). She received her bachelor of arts and a master in sociology from "Berkeley" university(CALIFORNIA), where she passed her doctorate!(...)("Media empires") As far as her approach is concerned, it's grounded in investigations and facts, because the white-haired evangelist, his lace-bedecked wife and their guests on the TV studio living room set drop to their knees and "lay hands" on a huge world globe. The camera zooms is on the globe and slowly pans across countries marked with colors stickers. These represent territories under assault by "SATAN",(the devil and evil spirits), where the light of christian television has yet penetrated the darkness of unbelief. Father in the name of "Jesus-Christ" the TV evangelist intones, we rebuke the power of "SATAN"."WE CAST OUT THE DEMONS THAT HOLD THIS LAND UNDER THE YOKE OF OPPRESSION, AND BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, WE CLAIM THE NATION OF "EL SALVADOR" FOR YOUR KINGDOM! OH HALLELUJAH I BELIEVE, IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, PARTNERS.WITH YOUR HELP, CHRISTIAN TELEVISION WILL REACH DOWN THERE INTO THAT LITTLE LAND.SATAN, YOUR DAYS ARE NUMBERED"! AMEN! Furthermore, heads lowered, eyes closed, "the prayer warriors" murmur softly to themselves. Meanwhile, a flashing message urges viewers to call the phone number at the bottom of the screen to pledge their financial support and to share their personal troubles with "prayer counselors" staffing the phone lines. This scene is a frequent one for viewers of trinity broadcasting network's "praise the Lord" program at its headquaters in Southern California. Live and by satellite, the program is seen on over (100) stations in the United states and in about a dozen other countries. Trinity broadcasting Network, through 1988, has remained relatively untamished by the scandals engulfing similar media ministries where unscrupulous fundraising practises and preacher sex scandals became synonymous with religious television. "TELEVANGELISM" has been the single most important ingredient in the rise of "Christian right". By (1987), religious broadcasting was (2 billion Usa dollars) a year industry, and religious broadcasters controlled more than (1000) full-time christian radio stations and more than (200) full-time christian TV stations. That means about (10) percent of radio stations and about (14) percent of television stations in the United states are in the full-time religious broadcasting category. Except for the corporate network owners, evangelical christians are the only political constituency to enjoy for decades such unrestrained access to TV and RADIO airwaves, the literal license to bombard the US public with its theo-political message. And that message has not fallen on deaf ears! While statistics on audiences sizes vary, millions of american television viewers regularly watch the TV preachers, and whether or not the medium is an effective tool for recruiting new believers, religious broadcasting is certainly a primary motivator of the already converted, from the mission field to the ballot bow.

(Yves T BOUAZO)(the subtitle and title, intro are from "Ivoirebusiness staff"-"sources":"Spiritual warfare"- from "Sara Diamond")