Is "The Media" Out to Harm Religion

The New York Times, in my amateur observation, devotes more inches to religion than any other paper in the U.S. Maybe more than any paper in the world. The print media has it tricks to get readers, but it is not as emotion driven as the video on a screen. It was so refreshing to read an interview with a writer about religion whose work appears the the Times as well as other places. He admits writers like himself can influence how a particular kind of religion, or branch of Christianity, is seen by the public. He also knows religious groups often use the media to publicize themselves.

This fellow, Sam Kestenbaum, agreed with the link author he is attracted to religious groups out on the edge. When the author asked if it was a slur to call some of them "cults," Kestenbaum agreed one of the most condescending practice of any religious group is to refer to another as a cult. Mostly, it is the ultimate insult.

But he noted this is not universally the case. There are religious groups who want to be known as cults. They relish being centered on one personality and whatever beliefs go with it.

And, there is the click bate factor. We all find the bizarre more interesting than the "normal."

Kestenbaum tries to navigate between not believing what most religious groups claim is true and not being disrespectful. It is inevitable some groups he writes about will find him disrespectful but he tries to let their story be heard in his articles.  

He grew up in the only Jewish family on a remote island in Maine. Early on he learned how to navigate the boundaries of religion. I suspect that meant listening and not commenting on how the Jews killed Jesus. He wrote about other topics but came to realize religion is the best way to tell the story of the United States. It is the best way to tell the story of any country even if the country is not very religious.

In reading the article I was reminded of writer and scholar Joseph Campbell. He held a regular university teaching job but spent his summers searching the world for religions others had not discovered or written about. 

To me, it's a joy to read Campell and Kestenbaum and explore how far off the tracks some humans have become about religion. While it is full of myths and incorrect facts it is a force in war and peace and wealth and poverty.