[Oe List ...] ABC Radio National scrapping of programs

[frank bremner]

Dear colleagues
 
A week ago it was announced that ABC Radio National would be scrapping the weekly Religion Report (a digest of religion and current afffairs), and The Ark (more concerned with 
historical and archeological matters).
 
This brought about some protest - notice how patronising the attached reply (to one writer) is about these passionate people.
 
Last week's Media Watch, from John Holmes, after Four Corners on Monday night on ABC1 TV, repeated late on Tuesday night, revealed how Stephen Crittenden was suspended from his role as 
Religion Report presenter.  Apparently he revealed his opinion of the above moves - on air!  (You mean he's not only a journalist but a person with opinions?)  Stephen also has ruffled feathers when 
interviewing some people.
 
John Holmes, and others, have pointed out the role that religion plays in current affairs, from the Religious Right and George W Bush to fundamentalist Islam, from the well-articulated beliefs of 
some politicians to the superficial statements of others, from the influence of the Exclusive Brethren on Liberal politics recently to the appointment of a Catholic monsignor to a position with the 
SA ALP government - all demonstrate the point.  
 
Cardinal George Pell of Sydney, with whom I would personally disagree on much, has a keen mind and is no cliched Vatican-lackey.  In a recent article his concern was expressed re secularism, 
in particular the view in government departments etc that "religion doesn't matter".  I feel that no matter what your opinion on secular/sacred matters, George Pell's point is a salient one.  No matter how
Atheist Societies and the like would like the phenomenon of "religion" to disappear, it just doesn't!
 
Some dismiss "religion" as "fairy tales and superstition" yet their allegiance to their favourite AFL team fits all the categories.  Some are not church-goers or church-worshippers, but describe themselves 
as "Christian" in their ethical standpoints, or as "spiritual but not religious".  You could write a book, one at least, on each of these distinctions.
 
One of my concerns with the reply to John Henderson is that it is couched in the language of "spin" - patronising PR language that praises the initial writer (briefly) and then launches into a spiel on 
"how great we art" (allusion intended).
 
If you want to follow this up, check onto the ABC websites and explore the Radio National links to see details of the programs on religion and ethics, and the TV links to chase up Media Watch.  At least
Media Watch had the guts to report on the issue.  
 
Best wishes from Adelaide, where we rejoiced in the US election results
 
Frank Bremner
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