Many in newsrooms across the world see religion as a niche area of reporting. Increasing numbers, however, are waking up to the fact that God is at the heart of major news events in more ways than one. Here’s a whistle-stop tour of 5 of the top stories from the past 5 years – and how religion has been a key factor, visible or invisible, in each of them. Photo: Tony the Misfit
Facebook: Religion is Deprivatised (February 2004)
The launch of Facebook in 2004 revolutionised the way a whole generation relates to the world. Coming hot on the heels of its predecessor Myspace, Facebook has encouraged an internet-savvy generation to chronicle their lives online. Facebook and Myspace actively invites users to express, if they so wish, their religious beliefs on their profiles. Half of social networkers choose to do so. The phenomenon has finally provided that window into men’s souls that Elizabeth I so dreaded. As a ‘new media’ story, for some reason this one seems to have passed reporters by.
The Asian Tsunami: Where was God? (December 2004)
Killing 225,000 people across 11 countries, the Asian Tsunami was one of the worst natural disasters in world history. It prompted many to ask how a good God could allow natural disasters – and even question his very existence. Others pondered whether it was God’s judgment or sought to find meaning for it in the concept of karma. Media commentators were not slow in discussing the theological meaning of the disaster.
7/7: Suicide Bombs for God (July 2005)
On 7th July 2005, extremist British Muslims detonated a series of bombs on London’s transport system, killing 52 people in what was the deadliest attack on the capital since World War II. The bombing triggered heated discussions about the nature and role of religion in British society. It has also caused debate about whether Britain should be viewed as a ‘Christian’, multi-faith or secularist country. Again, journalists were quick to latch onto the religious angle of the tragedy. More recently, a government report about the divisive impact of the bombings secured blanket media coverage.
The Credit Crunch: The Love of Money (April 2007 onwards)
Reckless mortgage lending and poor risk management by the big banks has sparked a global recession that may yet prove as bad as the Great Depression of 1929. While early warning signs were seen as early as 2007, the eye of the storm came in September 2008, when the historic investment bank Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy. The credit crunch is such a live issue that religious leaders, from the Archbishop of Canterbury to Pope Benedict XVI, have chosen to make public observations about the roots of the crisis. Newsrooms the world over scrambled to cover the religious aspect of the debate.
Election of Barack Obama: Praise the Lord? (November 2008)
The election of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States was truly a landmark in world history. Not only was Obama the USA’s first black president, but his was the first election campaign to owe its success to the internet. His election also signalled a shift away from Bush’s crusading rhetoric towards the caring side of the Bible. Journalists noted how his religious beliefs remained an important factor in his election campaign and in the minds of the US electorate.
