MEDIA WATCH
More harm than help: Evangelicals’ social media use not in line with belief
Fifty-four percent of evangelicals believe social media is more harmful than helpful to the Christian faith, but they use social media anyway, according to a report by Infinity Concepts and Grey Matter Research. This and other findings can be found in their latest report “Helpful or Harmful? Evangelicals and Social Media.”
A total of 1,039 evangelical Protestants, according to the report, participated in this study. Data for the report was gathered in early 2024, a news release noted. “Those who are more actively engaged in their faith — regular Bible readership, worship attendance, prayer, etc.— are more likely to see social media as helpful,” the two groups said in the release. “Some of the primary reasons social media was considered more helpful than harmful include evangelism, easy access to Christian content, connecting with community and encouragement in their faith.” (Alabama Baptist 12/18/24) READ MORE>>>>>
Fifty-four percent of evangelicals believe social media is more harmful than helpful to the Christian faith, but they use social media anyway, according to a report by Infinity Concepts and Grey Matter Research. This and other findings can be found in their latest report “Helpful or Harmful? Evangelicals and Social Media.”
A total of 1,039 evangelical Protestants, according to the report, participated in this study. Data for the report was gathered in early 2024, a news release noted. “Those who are more actively engaged in their faith — regular Bible readership, worship attendance, prayer, etc.— are more likely to see social media as helpful,” the two groups said in the release. “Some of the primary reasons social media was considered more helpful than harmful include evangelism, easy access to Christian content, connecting with community and encouragement in their faith.” (Alabama Baptist 12/18/24) READ MORE>>>>>
Report: 31% of Evangelicals Did Not Give to Church or Charity in Previous Year
Charitable giving is down among evangelicals, according to a new report from Grey Matter Research and Infinity Concepts. According to the report, evangelicals’ financial generosity is down in every metric measured in a similar survey conducted three years ago. In 2021, Grey Matter Research and Infinity Concepts found that the average evangelical gave away only 3.2% of their household income to either church or charity, and 19% had not made any charitable gifts in the previous 12 months.
(Church Leader 1/3/24) READ MORE>>>>>
Charitable giving is down among evangelicals, according to a new report from Grey Matter Research and Infinity Concepts. According to the report, evangelicals’ financial generosity is down in every metric measured in a similar survey conducted three years ago. In 2021, Grey Matter Research and Infinity Concepts found that the average evangelical gave away only 3.2% of their household income to either church or charity, and 19% had not made any charitable gifts in the previous 12 months.
(Church Leader 1/3/24) READ MORE>>>>>
Christian media figures may face defamation trials before November election
Christian media celebrities and the companies that platform them are getting closer to facing the legal consequences of falsehoods they spread about the 2020 elections. Christian radio host Eric Metaxas, MyPillow founder Mike Lindell, Clay Clark of the ReAwaken America Tour and Dinesh D’Souza, the conspiracist behind the movie 2000 Mules, are among the celebrities facing defamation lawsuits and running out of legal options.
(Baptist News Global 6.4.24) Read More>>>>>
Christian media celebrities and the companies that platform them are getting closer to facing the legal consequences of falsehoods they spread about the 2020 elections. Christian radio host Eric Metaxas, MyPillow founder Mike Lindell, Clay Clark of the ReAwaken America Tour and Dinesh D’Souza, the conspiracist behind the movie 2000 Mules, are among the celebrities facing defamation lawsuits and running out of legal options.
(Baptist News Global 6.4.24) Read More>>>>>
The Christian right’s wish list for Trump is worse than you think
At this year’s edition of Pray Vote Stand, the Christian right’s most influential political gathering, activists previewed their campaign to further cement Trump’s Christianization of the federal bench. The Center for Judicial Renewal, which is run by the political arm of the far-right American Family Association, presented a list of lawyers and judges who it says adhere to “Christian faith” and a “biblical worldview,” according to a report by Peter Montgomery at People For the American Way’s Right Wing Watch. The list includes Kristen Waggoner, Supreme Court litigator and president of the Christian right legal powerhouse Alliance Defending Freedom; current federal appellate judges James Ho, Kyle Duncan and Lawrence VanDyke; and current and former deans of the nation’s top evangelical law schools at Regent University and Liberty University. If Republicans regain the White House and the Senate in 2024, they will have additional opportunities to further one of Trump’s top achievements in the eyes of his loyal evangelical base: stacking the federal courts with Christian nationalist ideologues. (Sarah Posner/MSNBC 9/21/23) READ MORE>>>>>
At this year’s edition of Pray Vote Stand, the Christian right’s most influential political gathering, activists previewed their campaign to further cement Trump’s Christianization of the federal bench. The Center for Judicial Renewal, which is run by the political arm of the far-right American Family Association, presented a list of lawyers and judges who it says adhere to “Christian faith” and a “biblical worldview,” according to a report by Peter Montgomery at People For the American Way’s Right Wing Watch. The list includes Kristen Waggoner, Supreme Court litigator and president of the Christian right legal powerhouse Alliance Defending Freedom; current federal appellate judges James Ho, Kyle Duncan and Lawrence VanDyke; and current and former deans of the nation’s top evangelical law schools at Regent University and Liberty University. If Republicans regain the White House and the Senate in 2024, they will have additional opportunities to further one of Trump’s top achievements in the eyes of his loyal evangelical base: stacking the federal courts with Christian nationalist ideologues. (Sarah Posner/MSNBC 9/21/23) READ MORE>>>>>
April 27, 2023: Metro Voice: Fox News settlement raises stakes for Christian media influencers
Lies have consequences, as Fox News confirmed when it agreed to pay Dominion Voting Systems a $787.5 million settlement for repeatedly broadcasting election fraud falsehoods that defamed the company. Fox faces more lawsuits.
Lies have consequences, as Fox News confirmed when it agreed to pay Dominion Voting Systems a $787.5 million settlement for repeatedly broadcasting election fraud falsehoods that defamed the company. Fox faces more lawsuits.
March 10, 2023: Religion News: ‘Spiritual exemplars’ change the media narrative about religion
Media stories about religion often focus on corruption in religious institutions, politicians’ alliances with conservative Christians and institutional abuses of power. These important stories need to be reported. But there is another dimension to religion that makes an impact on our society: Religious values inspire people to confront difficult social problems, their beliefs help them reframe issues in hopeful and life-affirming ways and their spiritual practices sustain them in their struggles.
Media stories about religion often focus on corruption in religious institutions, politicians’ alliances with conservative Christians and institutional abuses of power. These important stories need to be reported. But there is another dimension to religion that makes an impact on our society: Religious values inspire people to confront difficult social problems, their beliefs help them reframe issues in hopeful and life-affirming ways and their spiritual practices sustain them in their struggles.
March 8, 2023: Baptist News Global: Tucker Carlson takes on Russell Moore, Beth Moore, Tim Keller and David French
It’s not just “liberals” who draw Tucker Carlson’s scorn these days. Even some stalwarts of evangelical conservativism are too “woke” to please the acerbic Fox News personality.
It’s not just “liberals” who draw Tucker Carlson’s scorn these days. Even some stalwarts of evangelical conservativism are too “woke” to please the acerbic Fox News personality.
Feb 20, 2023: Movie Guide: PURE FLIX CEO BELIEVES CHRISTIAN MEDIA ‘WILL CONTINUE TO GET BETTER AND BETTER’
In a recent interview, Pure Flix CEO Michael Scott confronted the criticism that Christian movies are “cheesy.”
“Especially years ago, I’d hear it even more and more–‘Oh, it’s cheesy, it’s not that good, the acting is terrible,” Scott said.
When asked how he would respond to this criticism, Scott responded, “I would say first off, which films have you seen, and let me give you three or four to go watch.
In a recent interview, Pure Flix CEO Michael Scott confronted the criticism that Christian movies are “cheesy.”
“Especially years ago, I’d hear it even more and more–‘Oh, it’s cheesy, it’s not that good, the acting is terrible,” Scott said.
When asked how he would respond to this criticism, Scott responded, “I would say first off, which films have you seen, and let me give you three or four to go watch.
Hacking Christianity: Punching Down: Behind the Babylon Bee’s practice of Christian Mockery
"There’s a world of difference between mockery and satire. Mockery has a victim. Mockery’s goal is to hurt and wound. Satire is humor with a purpose. And my ultimate purpose is to share the love of Christ. The bottom line is that mockery is a great shortcut to laugh but it removes your ability to speak and love later…My goal is to make this huge mirror that is big enough that we can all look in it and go “hey is that us? Are we okay with that? Is that what love looks like?” 8.16.22
"There’s a world of difference between mockery and satire. Mockery has a victim. Mockery’s goal is to hurt and wound. Satire is humor with a purpose. And my ultimate purpose is to share the love of Christ. The bottom line is that mockery is a great shortcut to laugh but it removes your ability to speak and love later…My goal is to make this huge mirror that is big enough that we can all look in it and go “hey is that us? Are we okay with that? Is that what love looks like?” 8.16.22
June 15, 2022: Answers in Genesis: Fact-Checking the Bible
Does archaeological evidence line up with the Bible’s historical claims? Today, a whole industry has sprung up around ensuring that the media are reporting news stories accurately. While sometimes fact-checking can be partisan, like when the satire site Babylon Bee was hilariously flagged as “fake news,” Christians can get behind the idea that facts should be reported truthfully.
Does archaeological evidence line up with the Bible’s historical claims? Today, a whole industry has sprung up around ensuring that the media are reporting news stories accurately. While sometimes fact-checking can be partisan, like when the satire site Babylon Bee was hilariously flagged as “fake news,” Christians can get behind the idea that facts should be reported truthfully.
Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), which calls itself the world's largest Christian television broadcaster, is launching a news show called “Centerpoint” with Fox News alums.
Why it matters: TBN is looking to build a "Christian lifestyle brand" rather than just "preaching and teaching," TBN VP of Marketing Nate Daniels told Axios. 3.8.22
Why it matters: TBN is looking to build a "Christian lifestyle brand" rather than just "preaching and teaching," TBN VP of Marketing Nate Daniels told Axios. 3.8.22
Aug 19, 2021: USA Today: Fact check: No evidence Taliban sentenced 229 Christian missionaries to death
A decade-old old hoax about the death of Christian missionaries is spreading on social media platforms and messaging apps in the wake of the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan.
"Please pray for the 229 Christian missionaries, who have been sentenced to death tomorrow afternoon by the Afghan Islamists," reads text in a screenshot of a Facebook message, shared in an Aug. 17 post from a page called In God We Trust.
The message claims the missionaries were sentenced to death after "the radical Islamic group" took over Qaraqosh, a city "where there are hundreds of Christian men, women and children who are being beheaded."
A decade-old old hoax about the death of Christian missionaries is spreading on social media platforms and messaging apps in the wake of the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan.
"Please pray for the 229 Christian missionaries, who have been sentenced to death tomorrow afternoon by the Afghan Islamists," reads text in a screenshot of a Facebook message, shared in an Aug. 17 post from a page called In God We Trust.
The message claims the missionaries were sentenced to death after "the radical Islamic group" took over Qaraqosh, a city "where there are hundreds of Christian men, women and children who are being beheaded."
May 23, 2018: Nieman Lab: From Bible study to Google: How some Christian conservatives fact-check the news and end up confirming their existing beliefs
“I think that when people go to Google, they think about Google weighing facts instead of ranking results.”
“I think that when people go to Google, they think about Google weighing facts instead of ranking results.”
Jan 29, 2017: NPR: FACT CHECK: Trump's Tweets On Christians, ISIS And Vetting Miss The Bigger Picture
But here's the reality: While Christians in Iraq and Syria have been killed by ISIS, Muslims have been the group's victims far more frequently and represent the strong majority. Shiite Muslims are killed by ongoing waves of ISIS bombings of Shiite neighborhoods, and Shiite members of Iraq's security forces have been victims of mass ISIS executions. But even as ISIS claims it fights for Sunni Islam, fellow Sunni Muslims have also been killed and displaced in greater numbers than Christians. That is in part because ISIS operates mostly in Sunni areas. Hundreds of thousands of Sunnis have been displaced from ISIS areas, as Sunnis, who try to oppose the group or have ties to the Iraqi government, are targeted.
But here's the reality: While Christians in Iraq and Syria have been killed by ISIS, Muslims have been the group's victims far more frequently and represent the strong majority. Shiite Muslims are killed by ongoing waves of ISIS bombings of Shiite neighborhoods, and Shiite members of Iraq's security forces have been victims of mass ISIS executions. But even as ISIS claims it fights for Sunni Islam, fellow Sunni Muslims have also been killed and displaced in greater numbers than Christians. That is in part because ISIS operates mostly in Sunni areas. Hundreds of thousands of Sunnis have been displaced from ISIS areas, as Sunnis, who try to oppose the group or have ties to the Iraqi government, are targeted.
Dec 26, 2016: Christian Century: Fascism can't be stopped by fact-checking
Feb 25, 2015: Religion News: Who’s watching all that Christian media? Christians, but not many others
All the preaching, teaching, music and entertainment beamed by Christian TV and radio is primarily consumed by evangelicals and weekly churchgoers — the folks most often found in the pews. Meanwhile, 2 in 3 Americans are tuned out, a new survey finds.
All the preaching, teaching, music and entertainment beamed by Christian TV and radio is primarily consumed by evangelicals and weekly churchgoers — the folks most often found in the pews. Meanwhile, 2 in 3 Americans are tuned out, a new survey finds.
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August 26, 2008: Fact Check: Obama and the “Christian Nation” Quote
Q: Did Obama say we "are no longer a Christian nation"? A: He said we are no longer "just" a Christian nation, but a nation of many other faiths as well. A chain e-mail drops that key word and thus changes the meaning. |
Given the increasing diversity of America's population, the dangers of sectarianism have never been greater. Whatever we once were, we are no longer just a Christian nation; we are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, a Buddhist nation, a Hindu nation, and a nation of nonbelievers. --Obama, June 28, 2006 |
2007: Sports Media Watch: Jesus Christ! The NFL and the culture war.
On a day when MSNBC referred to Florida governor Charlie Crist as ‘Charlie Christ’, it seemed appropriate to talk about the issue of religion in sports — specifically the NFL.
The NFL and Jesus have been in a surprising amount of headlines together in the past forty-eight hours, with the league perceived as anti-church, anti-gay and pro-church in at least three headlines.
On a day when MSNBC referred to Florida governor Charlie Crist as ‘Charlie Christ’, it seemed appropriate to talk about the issue of religion in sports — specifically the NFL.
The NFL and Jesus have been in a surprising amount of headlines together in the past forty-eight hours, with the league perceived as anti-church, anti-gay and pro-church in at least three headlines.