Extended learning

• Revision on Marriage and Family + Belief in God for test Monday after half term

• Use your RE books, Office 365, school website and RE youtube to help you

• RedhillRE Youtube

• Be prepared, try your best, learn content AND exam technique and good luck!

29/02/2016Religion and the Media

LO: To be able to give examples how the media tackles religious issues and to evaluate whether the media treats religious issues fairly.

The power of media

• There is no denying that the media is powerful –capable of swaying public opinion and able to convince society to believe pretty much anything.

• Religion features in the media regularly, in the news, on the internet, in the printed press and on television – both in entertainment shows and documentaries.

• The question is – do you think religion is treated fairly?

You need to know…

• For the purpose of the course you need to be able to refer to at least two examples of media that deal with religion.

• You need to be able to say whether you think that the media is able to convince a person to either believe or disbelieve in God.

• You can also refer to films like Bruce Almighty or any other film with a religious theme you may have seen.

GCSE Exam Question (d)

d) “The media shows a positive image of religion today.”

i) Do you agree? Give reasons (3)

ii) Give reasons why some people may disagree with you. (3)

Tip: refer to Christianity in your answer and give examples of at least 2 different programs

d) “The media shows a positive image of religion today.”Agree:• Films show religion positively e.g. talking about their experiences of

God (God is seen working miracles in Bruce Almighty)• Examples of positive images in the media (e.g. God helping people in

their lives)• TV can correct wrong ideas people have about religion and have a

positive impact on their belief in God

Disagree:• Many programs (e.g. news or cartoons) show religion negatively

for example religious wars• TV often shows religion to be extreme and strange which does

not give a positive image (e.g. scientology documentary)• Religious programs can be boring (e.g. songs of praise or BIG

questions)

d) “The media shows a positive image of religion today.”Agree:• Films show religion positively e.g. talking about their experiences of

God (God is seen working miracles in Bruce Almighty)• Examples of positive images in the media (e.g. God helping people in

their lives)• TV can correct wrong ideas people have about religion and have a

positive impact on their belief in God

Disagree:• Many programs (e.g. news or cartoons) show religion negatively

for example religious wars• TV often shows religion to be extreme and strange which does

not give a positive image (e.g. scientology documentary)• Religious programs can be boring (e.g. songs of praise or BIG

questions)

Agree:

• God exists

• Free will is shown in a balanced way

• Shows how hard it is to be God!!!

• God answers the truly selfless prayers

• Portrays a personal God

• God seen to exist throughout society and at all levels.

Disagree:

• Does not include different types of prayer.

• Seems to mock some Biblical events e.g. parting of the sea, walking on water…

• Seems unfair that good Christians do not get prayers answered but Bruce does.

• God being human may seem demeaning

• Comedy may be seen as a disrespectful way of dealing with these issues

Film Analysis d) “Bruce Almighty would not offend Christians”

Religion in film

• Religion is also regularly dealt with in film.

• Films such as Bruce Almighty, The Da Vinci Code, The Invention of Lying, Heaven is for Real, Noah etc. all deal with religious ideas and could affect a person’s beliefs.

• Do you think films should be made about religion?

Plot Summary;

Which religious issues and aspects of God are dealt with in the film?

Film Analysis

When things go wrong for Bruce, he gets angry at God and compares God to “a mean kid sitting on an ant hill”;

How might Christians feel about the way this was shown in the film?

Film Analysis

God is shown in Human Form;

Why might some religious people be offended at the idea of God becoming human?

Why might some Christians be sympathetic of God being portrayed as a human?

Film Analysis

Bruce is given all of God’s powers;

Discuss how fair this is to Christian views about God.

Ext: How might Christians feel about Bruce’s use of God’s powers?

Film Analysis

Bruce is driven mad by people praying. He simply says ‘yes’ to all.

Discuss how Christians might feel about this comparison to God in the film?

Ext: How well does it discuss the problem of unanswered prayers?

Film Analysis

Bruce Almighty is a comedy film.

Discuss if this is a fair way to view Christian ideas about God?

Film Analysis

• The film ‘Bruce Almighty’ deals with the religious theme of God’s power and the limits of those powers. The film sees Bruce cursing God for not giving him everything that he wants after being turned down for a promotion at work. This part of the film is very funny as we watch Bruce completely over react. However, some Christians might be offended as at one point Bruce compares God to ‘a mean kid sitting on an ant hill burning off our feelers with a magnifying glass.’ This seems to be a very insulting and unfair way to talk about God if you are a believer.

• Bruce then meets God and is given his powers. Christians believe that God is omnipotent (all powerful), omniscient (all knowing) and benevolent (all loving). Bruce clearly is not God as he does not act with love at the start. He is very selfish in giving himself a sports car and a promotion at work. Some Christians might not be offended by this part of the film as it shows that even with God’s powers humans can not cope or indeed act in the way that God would.

• During the film Bruce is driven mad by people praying. He simply says ‘yes’ to all. This part of the film is very funny as so many people win the lottery that all they get is about $17. Christians may like this part of the film as it demonstrates one of God’s many difficulties. People say God does not exist because he does not answer prayers. However, this film shows that God can not answer all prayers as it would cause many more problems for humans.

• Overall, the fact that the film is a comedy may appear an unfair way to discuss Christian views on God. However, it gets across a very important point that even though God does not answer all prayers does not mean he is not there. This is something that Christians would like and is fair to them.

Film Analysis Answers

Religion on TV

• Many shows such as the ones we have looked at are considered entertaining. They may be of interest to non-believers as well as believers.

• Other shows may be directed at religious believers such as Songs of Praise which enable people to engage in worship without having to leave their house.

• Other shows may be directly connected to religion but could possibly affect viewer attitudes about religious faith such as dramas, documentaries and soap operas.

Example 1

• The Vicar of Dibley was a very popular family comedy that ran for 10 seasons throughout the 90’s.

• It was broadcast not long after it was first made possible for women to become Vicars in the Church of England.

• Many people were unsure about this decision and this programme was intended to help women vicars be accepted by society.

• This much loved programme was very much a comedy – but does it poke fun at religion?

• Does it laugh AT believers or WITH them?

1. Which characters seem old fashioned?

2. Describe the character for the ‘Vicar of Dibley’

3. ‘The Vicar of Dibley makes all Christians

seem old fashioned’

Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer.

TV Program Analysis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKv06

HTgqNY

Example 2

• The Simpsons regularly deals with religious ideas.

• There are religious characters (Ned Flanders, Rev. Lovejoy and Apu) and Christian morals are taught in the Simpson household.

• Do you think that The Simpsons supports religion? Or does it make fun of it?

• Could religious believers be offended?

b) Do you think Television Programs encourage people to believe in God?

Give 2 reasons for your point of view. (4)

GCSE Exam Question (b)

Task

Write a brief summary of each programme

Decide which parts of the programme might have encouraged belief in God and those that may havediscouraged it. (try to write four points for each using evidence and examples from each programme)

Decide what effect the programme had on your own attitude – do you think it was a positive or negative portrayal of religion?

Why might this depiction of Jesus in South Park offend Christians?

Do you think it is offensive?

The influence of the Media

• The media can have a very powerful influence over all of our lives. Most people have the radio or the TV on and the internet means we are connected to the media wherever we go.

• When it comes to religion, some programmes show religion in a positive light, as something to be encouraged. These programmes may show that belief in God can benefit a person and fulfil their life.

• However, some shows show religious belief more negatively and present it as something to laugh at and ridicule. They may suggest that people who believe in God are crazy, strange or even dangerous. How might his affect attitudes to religious people?

People aren’t stupid. They know that TV dramas and soaps are just made up to entertain us. Nobody would expect all Christians to act

like Dot Cotton on Eastenders.

I think the media affects everyone hugely, even though we don’t like to admit it. If we see loads of programmes like The Vicar of Dibley where the Christians are all weird, then that’s bound to affect our views of Christians generally.

TV shows might be made up, but soaps and stuff are still based on reality. Some people get so caught up in them that they do believe the characters are real and then they might want to be like them or not

I don’t think anyone

would watch a TV show

or a film and from that

change their minds

about religious

believers or whether

they believe in God or

not. People make up

their own minds; they

don’t need TV to help

them

Task

B) Do you think the media should be allowed to ridicule religion? Give 2 reasons for your opinion

D) “Religious programmes on television or the radio encourage you to believe in God.”

i) Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion.

(3 marks)

ii) Give reasons why some people might disagree with you. (3marks)

Preparing for Assessments

LO: To learn techniques for successful revision and how to prepare fore assessment in GCSE RE.

How will we be assessed?

• On Wednesday you will complete your first formal assessment. The result of this assessment will be included on your first report and will be an indicator of how well you have done so far in GCSE RE.

• For that reason, it is important that you take this assessment seriously and prepare for it appropriately.

• It should be your best work and you should be aiming for your target.

What will we be assessed on?

• You will be assessed on the whole “Believing in God” topic. This includes;

1. Religious Upbringing

2. Religious Experience

3. The Design Argument

4. The Causation Argument

5. Scientific challenges to belief in God

6. The problem of Evil and Christian responses

7. The media and Religious Belief

What will the test look like?

• As in the exam, you will be given a choice of 2 a,b,c,d questions. You only choose to do one set of questions and the choice is yours.

• You will need to read both questions carefully and make a wise choice based on how well you can score the marks.

• You will complete the assessment in a booklet – just like the proper exam.

How long will we have?

• In the exam you have 22 minutes to answer a question. You will have 4 to answer in total in 1 hour and a half.

• I will be giving you 25 minutes to complete an a,b,c,d question.

• No notes, no exercise books….you need to revise.

How should we revise?

• You can take your exercise books home this weekend.

• There also resources online you can use – the BBC website is particularly helpful.

• Revision guides will be available for you to buy by the time we do assessment 2.

How do we revise?

• The easiest way to start revision is to break your work down into smaller chunks - it's not as terrifying if you have lots of smaller sections to look at.

• Look at Believing in God and write down all the separate topics you have covered in this subject. Once you have these lists you have a much clearer and simpler revision programme.

• Now you have your list of things to revise you are ready to start. The most important thing is to condense your work into smaller more memorable notes.

What are some revision techniques?

• Make notes in a notebook including the important points from each section.

• Use Index Cards, these are small cards which you can write basic points on, they are easy to flick through and keep tidy.

• Record your notes by speaking them onto a tape and playing it back to yourself - It may sound stupid but some people respond better to hearing information that reading information, how many sets of song lyrics can you remember off by heart?

• Draw mind map diagrams where you brainstorm the main ideas onto a diagram.

Then what?

• Use these notes as the basis of your revision. Read them through and try to understand each topic by remembering the key points and words.

• You must revise each topic again and again. Don't just read them through once, it takes longer to sink in that just one reading and every time you read them more information will stick in your brain.

• Remember this is only unit 1 – there are 7 more to come! Start early and avoid last minute panic!!

Other ideas

• Try revising with a friend, test each other by asking questions and setting questions.

• Use published revision guides, every exam board will have revision guides written by someone and they are often really brightly coloured and easy to read, ask your teacher which one he/she recommends.

• Use past exam papers, try and answer the questions under exam conditions. It doesn't matter if you get them wrong, you can then go and find out the right answers.

• Use pictures and diagrams as ways to remember things - think of cartoons or rhymes to memorise key points.

• Read through your notes and repeat them to yourself again and again, it will eventually go in.

It is important to remember that everyone revises in different ways and there is no "correct way”. You

will need to experiment with different techniques to see what's

best for you.

How to make a revision sheet

Religious Experience

What is it? What is the definition?

What are the different types of religious experience with examples?

How might religious experiences lead to belief in God? Why?

What do religious people think about religious experiences?

What do you think about religious experience? Think of 3 opinions.