Turning a blind eye: The media, religion and the culture of avoidance

by Chris Sparks

American culture suffers from over-politicization of the idea of separation of church and state. What Jefferson intended as a political distinction, the separation of church and state, is instead a cultural reality for many Americans. Religion, kept out of the public eye and tucked into homes and places of worship, is not mentioned in public schools and is often scorned by the secularized masses whenever it is made a public affair. As a result, whenever religious issues come up in the media, such as the stories about the rite of exorcism and those who practice it that appeared last year, our society is unable to treat the issue as it is: a serious article of faith and something to be shared, not avoided.

Jefferson proposed the separation between church and state to ensure freedom of conscience in this country. Wary of the linked church and state power structures of France and England which were invariably dangerous to the freedoms of thought and expression, Jefferson sought a solution that divorced political power from religious structures, ensuring that there were no religious requirements for participation in political institutions, no state religion, and no civil penalties for individual beliefs.

Jefferson's vision is vastly different from the current American cultural norm, where religion is pulled from the shadows in the event of tragedies or memorials, and quickly swept under the rug as soon as the last tear has dried. Any mention of religion in public schools, any prayer group, Bible club, or faith-based organization is immediately subject to scrutiny and, in some cases, lawsuits. Religious belief makes most people in this country nervous. Perhaps primarily caused by a mistaken idea of tolerance which could be called the "separation of church and communication," we are brought up believing the old adage that religion and politics should be avoided in polite conversation. What a terrible idea to embrace. Though these issues are two of the most defining aspects of anyone's life, we are strongly discouraged from speaking about them. Until we can and do share our faiths, our political views, in essence, our deepest values and goals, we are not going to be a nation of community, but rather a nation of partisanship and strife, of untested beliefs and unchallenged political views, and a nation whose media is not used to truly talking about the deeper issues with a straight face.

We have cordoned off a whole segment of human history with these prohibitions and made it nearly impossible to understand the motivations of the enemy in the war in which we currently find ourselves. A refusal to allow religion and religious differences into conversations amongst ourselves renders us unable to find common ground. Refusing to allow disagreements in public, on television, occasionally with raised voices, ensures that whenever conversation does break out, it is held at full volume and with little rationality until tempers cool and people relapse back into silence. Right now, public discussion centered around religion is marked by awkwardness and an unwillingness to take other religions seriously. As a nation, we avoid conversations about faith with those who disagree with us.

This past winter, the media revealed that the Vatican's university in Rome was offering classes in exorcism. The story made international news, partly because people are fixated on anything that's spooky and has to do with angels, fallen or not. The news anchors from each country illustrated differing cultural attitudes. The reporter in Rome, a native Italian, was perfectly serious, sober, and quite solemn. He clearly took the story seriously. The American anchors related the story with wide eyes and slightly incredulous grins on their faces, nervously looking at each other as if they were asking, "Did that really just happen?" With slightly dazed comments and barely suppressed laughter, they moved quickly on to the next news story.

In the fall, the story gained momentum. Speaking to a general audience, Pope Benedict thanked the Italian convention of exorcists who were present, praising them for the wonderful work they were doing that was of such importance to the Church. This was enough to spur international headlines, probably for several reasons. Many people had no idea that exorcists held conventions, nor that there were enough of them to do so. But most surprising, Benedict treated them in a perfectly serious manner.

The American news media was not prepared for the leader of one of the largest religions on earth to take such a subject seriously. Most reporters considered exorcism an archaic, superstitious practice. Believing that such things were dated and outmoded in the modern era of science and technology, many felt, perhaps unconsciously, that only the uneducated, foolish or Hollywood held on to such notions. With enough real life spook value and closely tied to American pop culture, the story became the joke that couldn't quite be funny. Initially covered as curiosities, the media soon found that the people involved didn't see anything funny. The media was left confused. What do people believe these days? Why? How is that still around? And how do we deal with religious practices that we find strange? The reporters had no experience dealing with the articles of faith of a people who watch the news, vote, buy advertising time, and, in the capitalistic scheme of things, really matter. The news can and often does treat issues such as the quandary of a Jehovah's Witness who will not swear an oath in court or a Muslim woman who will not take off her headscarf for her driver's license as funny aberrations in the secular flow of American life.

True tolerance is not "respectful" silence. Instead it involves talking about faith, our own and that of others. It shouldn't shy from controversy. It should come face to face with sincere belief instead of skipping to other news as fast as possible while trying to remove the smirk from your face. True tolerance is a community where everyone may be "out and proud" as a Catholic, Protestant, Wiccan, Zoroastrian, Buddhist, Muslim, etc., and where all are free to talk about their faith. We do have a great deal in common, as well as significant and deep differences, and we have a lot to talk about. We can become better by knowing who our brothers and sisters really are. Religious affairs have been the funny stories for long enough. Yes, there are some odd beliefs in the different faiths, but let that not be the only side of the faith people see, and do not let the odd aspects remain odd. Why do they believe it? What exactly is the belief, and how is it followed? Can we learn anything from it?

The news media's issue with religion is merely a symptom of the general American unwillingness to "go there" and explore these important topics. Confusing avoidance with tolerance, journalists and reporters exemplify America's mistaken ideas about secularism, believing that religion cannot find a place in the public life of a secular nation. We have made the mistake of thinking that a secular nation is the same thing as a nation with a secular culture, that it is impossible to differ politely and continue the conversation. It is clear that political institutions must remain divorced from religious institutions because every religion is the "faith of the unbelievers" to every other religion, but the culture of the country is shaped by the active participation of all its citizens, all firmly tied to their ethnicity, patriotism, religion, and community. Tolerance is only possible if true understanding exists, and mutual understanding is only possible with mutual self-disclosure.

The media's unease with the topic of exorcism is not a problem merely with the media, but with American culture. Though many of us believe differently, we lose the chance to grow closer and deepen our understanding of each other by avoiding the serious, respectful conversations that could bridge gaps of misunderstanding, bigotry and scorn.

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