This is a nice explanation, karen, but does not fit the facts as I have observed them wrt to the Beeb.
There is a discernible difference between 'showing the warts' on an institution in a reform minded way and a disdainful way, and I would say that the BBC does more of the latter wrt to Christianity. Also, given that the BBC is a British institution, and Britain has a long history of official anti-Catholicism, it is very questionable whether British lampooning of the Catholic Church can be viewed as comments on the "dominant" religion. If the BBC were lampooning the Church of England it would be different.
Also, did I mention my opinion of the BBC's treatment of Judaism? As far as I can tell, the beeb thinks Judaism does not exist, certainly not as a religion. Certainly as regards the Middle East, only Muslims are mentioned as having religious sentiments, though they will occasionally mention that places like the Temple Mount are sacred to 3 religions. Though even there, I have heard them call it by its Arab name, al Haram al Sharif, as the primary name for the place.
I think that Israelis, who are viewed as "western" are supposed to be atheists like all good westerners. (Indeed, most Israelis are secular.) The only time the BBC mentions Judaism as a religion is in the context of the religious Zionists, whose religious views they can safely dismiss as lunacy, and offensive colonialist lunacy at that. |
