Question by Jay T: Do you think less of a news writer’s credibility when they reference the Holy Bible in a news story?
Take for example, this special interest piece on Yahoo’s front page where the writer is describing a “sinking hole” phenomenon along the coast of the Dead Sea:
“The parched moonscape, famous as the site of biblical Sodom and Gomorra, is the lowest point on earth and runs more than 60 miles through Israel and the West Bank.”
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20090623/ap_tr_ge/ml_travel_brief_israel_dead_sea_sinkholes
Here, we have two potential problems:
1) The author uses the word “moonscape” to describe a location which is not on the moon. This would be an acceptable metaphor in fiction writing where accuracy is not as important as mood. But in a news-type science article, it’s not considered acceptable by most editors.
2) The author lends credulence to the stories of the Christian Bible as he understands them by indicating that the area he is writing about is the location of a major Biblical event. He does not use any words like “fabled” or “mythical” or “supposed” or “speculated”. He states the location as fact.
It is NOT fact that God destroyed two cities along the Dead Sea because of their disobedience to him. It may be a widely held belief – but not a fact.
I’ve been noticing Biblical references in Yahoo’s News Stories, Fox News and other sites which utilize the Associated Press for quite some time now, and I’d almost be willing to wager that they come from the same little group of AP authors.
Whether you are a religious person or not, do these sorts of poetic or “accidental” oversights bother you to the point that you would consider them propaganda?
Best answer:
Answer by secondhanddan
what wrong with that it is the truth if you are a non believer that’s your business but please keep it to your self instead of asking questions you no will make people Mad you can not change te mind of a christian and we don’t care what you believe thank you god bless
Give your answer to this question below!
Actually, despite a lot of people not necessarily believing in what the Bible preaches, most of the stories in it are widely employed in various forms of literature, and are also examined for their historical significance.
The ‘moonscape’ thing is a bit over the top, but certainly within the writer’s prerogative. As for the reference to Sodom and Gomorra, yes, it was in the Bible. However, the city of Gomorra did likely exist, and something terrible likely happened to this city. As far as being destroyed by angels…I’m skeptical; nevertheless, a crisis, some sort of disaster took place and made that city famous throughout history.
Additionally, even if you don’t believe in what the Bible teaches, it has had an undeniable influence on global culture and history.
You don’t have to be a Christian, or even religious at all, to appreciate the literary and historical signifigance of the Bible. It’s not just a religious script, it’s a window to the stories and events of the past.
I wouldn’t call what this writer did propaganda, as he was referring more to the imagery of a ruined city, rather than the lesson that went along with the story along that background. However, a lot of other writers I’ve seen aren’t as careful as this one.
*edit* however, when news agencies try to use the Bible for moral-cause justifications, they’re fighting a losing battle.
1) America is a nation of many different religions, and they don’t all share the same values as Christianity
2) There are several contradictions in the ‘lesson’ part of the Bible, which likely lead to how secular Christianity is nowadays.
3) There are many different interpretations to Christianity, so what may be ‘moral highground’ for some, is acceptable for others.
4) I really dislike Bill O’Reilly…just thought I’d throw that out there
No, in fact it actually shows me that the guy has some literary knowledge, just as if he had used a reference to Shakespeare it shows that he is referencing something that many people know of, if you have a problem with a reference to christianity then don’t read it.
So you know what is fact even though the Bible has been around a couple of more years than you. What makes you the expert?
If I can put up with the Obama worship in the media surely you can put up with a few references of the Bible. Those happen once every five years while the bowing to king bo news is constant.
No.
Don’t think so.
Look in the real world.
Decode this lyrics ” You’ll see ”
Just a guide in communication with the Book of the Living.
Sink hole?
Created from pumping water out from underground water cavity.
Then packed it as mineral water for drinking?
Drink a few drops of it then throw the whole bottle with it away while paying for it in time
That took centuries to build up from drips of water from stalagmites and stalactites.
Simple science and geography don’t know?
Luke 21.30-36
Luke 6.39-40,41-45,46-49
Luke 8.10,17
What do you think?