I’m beginning to believe that myself. I will never forget in 1988 the first time a conservative couple with two small children told me that Sesame Street was bad and liberal. My mind almost exploded.
I wasn’t allowed to watch Mr Rogers. Probably because my mom, between running the church nursery, Vacation Bible School, and the Missionary Board, couldn’t bring herself to love me just the way I was, and didn’t want me to hear that I was loved from Mr Rogers either.
Great article. “It exists to inform, not manipulate.” These people are so used to manipulation they perceive everything as manipulation. What public broadcasting does is so foreign to them because the white evangelicals don’t recognize the manipulative tactics but they are sure they must be there. They are sure that this must, somehow, be a con. If it doesn’t promote their worldview then it simply must be a trick of Satan.
My view of Christianity is that it is one of God's tools to teach about HIS son's love and care for all people, not to control us. Christianity teaches that humans were given free will, not lock step control. Those churches that espouse control of humans obviously haven't ever read the teachings of Jesus.
Projection is always the first thing that you look for when the MAGA or fake Christians object to something. They are the first to accuse others of what they do.
Thank you for this. Because I live in the UK I don't recognize all the programmes you mentioned, but my daughter watched Arthur on the BBC when she was little and we loved the way it illustrated really good values without preaching. We often had really great discussions afterwards about the episode we had just watched and it's one of the influences that has made my daughter into a wonderful human being. I find the defunding of NPR and PBS disgraceful.
I am Christian and often listen to NPR. I find that when they interview Christians they are respectful and very curious. Which is how we should also be.
I think it’s human nature to be curious. Just look at our toddlers & pre-schoolers - they are always busy exploring their world, satisfying their curiosity. And it’s a lucky child whose parents nurture that curiosity.
PBS (15% +/-) and NPR (less than 1%) are independent and only receive a small percent of funding from the government. They mainly exist because of donations. Anything that requires thinking instead of propaganda is a threat to this regime.
I really appreciated this article. I find, increasingly, that many of the major Christian denominations try to influence politics. To me, that’s anti-American & goes against the Constitution.
Ive long been a viewer and a supporter of public broadcasting, but this year, I had been struggling with giving public television a donation because, in my view, there have been entirely too many shows which subtly lend support to Israel at a time when it is committing genocide. Your article has reminded me of public television’s broader focus. So, I’ll recommit to contributing.—I would have anyway because of Trump’s cuts, but your article makes me feel better about doing so.
I grew up in the 70s to early 80s. Mr. Rogers was my friend. My parents, although conservative Christians, didn't see any harm in Mr. Rogers, or Sesame Street, or PBS in general, although they (my dad particularly) were wary of liberals and there was scoffing at the mention of "millions of years" on any nature program. I think at the time he was more worried about what we were being taught in school. I wasn't allowed to take the sex ed unit in Health Class in Jr. High, for example, and when they started a unit in Social Studies called "The New Moral Me" he wrote a letter to my teacher. Questioning and learning to think independently wasn't explicitly forbidden but it was implicitly discouraged. I just listened to and episode of Voxology podcast and they had AJ Swoboda on, and he pointed out that it's possible to learn from people and still disagree with them. My parents were afraid of us learning anything that they disagreed with lest we stop believing in Jesus. Well, I haven't stopped yet. 🙂
So glad I didn’t grow up in *that* kind of “christian” household. My parents encouraged me to watch PBS and we frequently watched NOVA together in the evenings.
Regardless, I recognize the “rhetoric.” Others in our church pushed that bullshit. And I remember having friends who were not allowed to read Harry Potter because “witchcraft!” (Not that there aren’t now perfectly good reasons to avoid HP like the plague, but back then the only objection was that it might drive kids to witchcraft.)
While it will strike a nerve with many, you hit the nail on the head.
Unfortunately, we’ve so intertwined politics, national pride, and Christianity, they’ve become indistinguishable from one another and it’s taking the church down with it.
There are many good Christian churches that don’t tell their congregants what to believe in and just preach the love of Jesus. please remember that this is about evangelicals, this article.
Really great insights, thank you so much. My daughter learned to count in French from Sesame Street, and this joke: “what happened when the cat went over the waterfall? Une, deux, trois, quattre cinq”
As a (somewhat former) evangelical, we never had any problem with NPR or PBS, and encouraged our children to watch Reading Rainbow and Wishbone. We didn't watch Sesame Street or Mister Rogers (who was a Presbyterian pastor as I recall) much, but didn't think of them negatively. But I can see how fundamentalists would have been critical because the shows were not overtly Christian (although the good things you mentioned that they taught, empathy and Kindness, etc., are Christian values). But in the past ten years or so, self-identifying "evangelicals" have gotten very far (IMO) from the message of Jesus, especially the do unto others as you would have them do unto you part, and the love your neighbor as yourself part.
Mr.Rogers was a Presbyterian minister,and the things he taught helped all of us learn to be kind,loving and how to be a good citizen.
The Christianists and Evangelicals don't want any of these.
I don't believe for a minute any of these people even know who God actually is!!
I’m beginning to believe that myself. I will never forget in 1988 the first time a conservative couple with two small children told me that Sesame Street was bad and liberal. My mind almost exploded.
I wasn’t allowed to watch Mr Rogers. Probably because my mom, between running the church nursery, Vacation Bible School, and the Missionary Board, couldn’t bring herself to love me just the way I was, and didn’t want me to hear that I was loved from Mr Rogers either.
How sad for you. I hope you know you are loved now.
That's called painting with a bigoted brush.
Remember him saying, look for the helpers. I'll always remember that
My daughter grew up with Mr. Rogers — “Won’t you be my Neighbor?” extended a warm welcome to all.
You said what I was going to say. Thanks!
I wasn’t allowed to watch Mr Roger’s either. Parents not evangelical, but very ‘know nothing’ (or if you do, don’t dare mention it).
Great article. “It exists to inform, not manipulate.” These people are so used to manipulation they perceive everything as manipulation. What public broadcasting does is so foreign to them because the white evangelicals don’t recognize the manipulative tactics but they are sure they must be there. They are sure that this must, somehow, be a con. If it doesn’t promote their worldview then it simply must be a trick of Satan.
Exactly. Religion is a tool created by man to control humans.
From the earliest days of the faith, Christianity has been dominated by fear… fear of death, fear of demons, fear of eternal torment.
My view of Christianity is that it is one of God's tools to teach about HIS son's love and care for all people, not to control us. Christianity teaches that humans were given free will, not lock step control. Those churches that espouse control of humans obviously haven't ever read the teachings of Jesus.
Neither has 🍊💩
He did, but he read it upside down 😜
Just got your “1984” reference 👍
Not the Christianity I learned about. It's human desire to control, not God.
Projection is always the first thing that you look for when the MAGA or fake Christians object to something. They are the first to accuse others of what they do.
Thank you for this. Because I live in the UK I don't recognize all the programmes you mentioned, but my daughter watched Arthur on the BBC when she was little and we loved the way it illustrated really good values without preaching. We often had really great discussions afterwards about the episode we had just watched and it's one of the influences that has made my daughter into a wonderful human being. I find the defunding of NPR and PBS disgraceful.
I am Christian and often listen to NPR. I find that when they interview Christians they are respectful and very curious. Which is how we should also be.
They have always been very interested in covering religion. Like everyone notes above, they just don’t tell you what the answers are.
I think it’s human nature to be curious. Just look at our toddlers & pre-schoolers - they are always busy exploring their world, satisfying their curiosity. And it’s a lucky child whose parents nurture that curiosity.
Need a gift for someone? Give a membership in their name to the local PBS or NPR station.
PBS (15% +/-) and NPR (less than 1%) are independent and only receive a small percent of funding from the government. They mainly exist because of donations. Anything that requires thinking instead of propaganda is a threat to this regime.
This is why Republicans hate education and seek to destroy public institutions.
I thought it was because they wanted to re-create a "serf" class.
I really appreciated this article. I find, increasingly, that many of the major Christian denominations try to influence politics. To me, that’s anti-American & goes against the Constitution.
Ive long been a viewer and a supporter of public broadcasting, but this year, I had been struggling with giving public television a donation because, in my view, there have been entirely too many shows which subtly lend support to Israel at a time when it is committing genocide. Your article has reminded me of public television’s broader focus. So, I’ll recommit to contributing.—I would have anyway because of Trump’s cuts, but your article makes me feel better about doing so.
If they want to practice politics, then they need to lose their tax-exempt status.
Thank you for your courageous and urgent words
This is so spot on. Great read!
I grew up in the 70s to early 80s. Mr. Rogers was my friend. My parents, although conservative Christians, didn't see any harm in Mr. Rogers, or Sesame Street, or PBS in general, although they (my dad particularly) were wary of liberals and there was scoffing at the mention of "millions of years" on any nature program. I think at the time he was more worried about what we were being taught in school. I wasn't allowed to take the sex ed unit in Health Class in Jr. High, for example, and when they started a unit in Social Studies called "The New Moral Me" he wrote a letter to my teacher. Questioning and learning to think independently wasn't explicitly forbidden but it was implicitly discouraged. I just listened to and episode of Voxology podcast and they had AJ Swoboda on, and he pointed out that it's possible to learn from people and still disagree with them. My parents were afraid of us learning anything that they disagreed with lest we stop believing in Jesus. Well, I haven't stopped yet. 🙂
So glad I didn’t grow up in *that* kind of “christian” household. My parents encouraged me to watch PBS and we frequently watched NOVA together in the evenings.
Regardless, I recognize the “rhetoric.” Others in our church pushed that bullshit. And I remember having friends who were not allowed to read Harry Potter because “witchcraft!” (Not that there aren’t now perfectly good reasons to avoid HP like the plague, but back then the only objection was that it might drive kids to witchcraft.)
Love that you call this out so directly.
While it will strike a nerve with many, you hit the nail on the head.
Unfortunately, we’ve so intertwined politics, national pride, and Christianity, they’ve become indistinguishable from one another and it’s taking the church down with it.
There are many good Christian churches that don’t tell their congregants what to believe in and just preach the love of Jesus. please remember that this is about evangelicals, this article.
I’m talking about it taking down the body of Christ (Church). I know there are little gatherings (what many call their church) that do a good job.
Really great insights, thank you so much. My daughter learned to count in French from Sesame Street, and this joke: “what happened when the cat went over the waterfall? Une, deux, trois, quattre cinq”
Fear of truth and community.
Fear of an open, welcoming, inclusive community
As a (somewhat former) evangelical, we never had any problem with NPR or PBS, and encouraged our children to watch Reading Rainbow and Wishbone. We didn't watch Sesame Street or Mister Rogers (who was a Presbyterian pastor as I recall) much, but didn't think of them negatively. But I can see how fundamentalists would have been critical because the shows were not overtly Christian (although the good things you mentioned that they taught, empathy and Kindness, etc., are Christian values). But in the past ten years or so, self-identifying "evangelicals" have gotten very far (IMO) from the message of Jesus, especially the do unto others as you would have them do unto you part, and the love your neighbor as yourself part.