Louisa Andrusko: Blog #3-Reading

In Hosseni’s Religion and Media, Religious Media, or Media Religion: Theoretical Studies, Hosseni raises the question we brought up on the first day of class: Will films ever be sacred? To answer this question, Hosseni cites several arguments by some of the most well-known communication scholars and critiques such as Neil Postman and Marshall Mcluhan. Postman uses the term “technolopy” to explain the monopoly technology has created. The reliance on technology, according to Postman, has developed into some sort of worship, blurring the lines between the sacred and profane. Postman warns, “Because television, by nature is worldly, the integration of [media and religion] would result in turning a holy concept to a materialistic ritual” (67). Television, or technology, cannot offer life’s necessity the way religion can. Postman continues, “The function of television is to support consumerism, only satisfying people’s desires.” If we allow complete interconnectedness between religion and media, “this would result in the destruction of religion and holiness to nonsacredness” (68). The idea that film, or media, would ever be able to explain the profound concepts of religion is impossible, to Postman. Hosseni, on the other hand, approaches the idea of religion in media from a viewpoint similar to that used in class. According to Hosseni, “mediated religion” uses media to achieve religious objectives, ultimate goals, and divine aspirations rather than beliefs of religion. The purpose of religion in film is to cause audiences to not only receive notions of religion and faith, but to question and evaluate them. Mediated religion cannot even attempt to explain the complexities of religion, as Hosseni notes. Because technology is so involved in our everyday lives, the idea of religion intertwining with religion is inevitable. However, one question I do have is what happens when the line between the sacred and the profane blurs? Further, will people ever rely completely on media for religious teachings?