Promotional Information

How is religion portrayed on prime time entertainment television and what effect does this have on our society? These issues are presented and debated through a series of essays by spokespersons for the major religions as well as academics, media critics, and members of the entertainment industry.

Table of Contents

Conference Speeches by Religious Figures It Is Time to End Religious Bigotry by Donald E. Wildmon Why Not More Programs Like "The Waltons"? by John Patrick Foley Tuning In to Common Concerns: An Invitation from the Churches to the Media Industry by Joan Brown Campbell Articles by Religious Leaders God Taboo in Prime Time? by Ellwood Kieser Unbelievers and Prime Time Television by Dan Barker On Bringing the Religious and Television Communities Together by A. James Rudin The Buddhist Perspective on Television Programming by Havanpola Ratanasara Articles by Academics What You See Is What You Get: Religion on Prime Time Fiction Television by Margaret R. Miles Reflections on Culture Wars: Churches, Communication Content, and Consequences by Judith M. Buddenbaum Blurred Boundaries: Religion and Prime Time Television by Wade Clark Roof Do We Really Need More Religion on Fiction Television? by Michael Suman Reel Arabs and Muslims by Jack G. Shaheen Articles by Media Critics/Journalists Religion and Prime Time Television by Thomas Plate Hollywood Makes Room for Religion by Michael Medved A Cacophony of Prime Time Religions? by Theodore Baehr Articles by Industry Representatives Religion, Revenue, and Ratings: Some Thoughts on Faith in Prime Time Television by Lionel Chetwynd Ramblings on Why Things Are the Way They Are by Bob Gale A Contrariant View of Religion and TV by Danny Goldberg Addendum: In Response to Wildmon by Gabriel Rossman

About the Author

MICHAEL SUMAN is Research Director of the UCLA Center for Communication Policy and a member of the faculty of the UCLA Department of Communication Studies.

Reviews

"The diversity of views expressed is a strength of this text...[This] is a useful set of essays/speeches"-Interact, Vol 4, #1, 1999

?The diversity of views expressed is a strength of this text...[This] is a useful set of essays/speeches?-Interact, Vol 4, #1, 1999

?The mere fact of this book's existence should please anyone interested in religion and television. That it contains such a diversity of good material makes it doubly welcome.?-media development

?The 18 chapters on the controversy about prime-time TV presented here would make an excellent group reading and discussion series.?-Church and Synagogue Libraries

"The 18 chapters on the controversy about prime-time TV presented here would make an excellent group reading and discussion series."-Church and Synagogue Libraries

"The mere fact of this book's existence should please anyone interested in religion and television. That it contains such a diversity of good material makes it doubly welcome."-media development