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Article Category: 2007 January

In world awash in lies, religion and journalism hold key to truth

Description: Exactly. Is anyone telling us the truth?

Article originally prepared on : 24 January 2007

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070113/LIVING09/701130401/1007/CUSTOMPUB21

 

In world awash in lies, religion and journalism hold key to truth

 

Balmy days in January, a snowless winter in theNortheast, a polar ice cap crumbling, predictions of the hottest yearin Earth's recorded history -- sounds like "global warming" to me.

But what do I know?

Exactly. Is anyone telling us the truth?

Withthe petroleum industry engaged in disinformation and the auto industryresisting change; with politicians rewarding friends at the expense oftruth about human-caused greenhouse gases; and with religion focused onissues of disturbing triviality, who will help the public make informeddecisions about global warming?

Or, for that matter, any issue? Every day, one more lid is lifted and a pattern of deceit revealed.

Fromthe handling of post-Katrina relief funds to sexual abuse by clergy tothe state of affairs in Iraq to stock options awarded to titans ofindustry, we are awash in lies. It's as if leaders in government,athletics, industry, finance and education all concluded that stayingahead justifies pathological dishonesty.

The world is confusing and dangerous enough if one considers facts.

Howmuch more bewildering it seems when facts cannot be had, publicdisclosure comes out as "spin" and it takes lawsuits to unlock publicrecords.

Two institutions hold the key --journalism and religion -- because of their historic commission topursue unpopular truths. But they are, unfortunately, on the bubble.

Ata time of declining circulation and pressure from online media,traditional news sources such as newspapers and television faceconstant pressure to slant their coverage and comply with the powerful.

Somepressure comes from short-sighted advertisers who want numbers, notinformed consumers. Some comes from journalism itself, as profit-mindedcorporations acquire media outlets and show little appetite forboat-rocking, and as ambitious journalists play loose with facts.

Somepressure comes from government, which chips away at freedom of thepress to the point where reporters face imprisonment just for doingtheir jobs.

Religion, while claiming to bein the "truth" business, seems more concerned with preserving itsfranchise through selective interpretations of Scripture, resistingscience, seeking political allies and telling congregants what theywant to hear.

It's a rare preacher who willtell the truth to people wanting comfort, especially when probing fortruth leads inexorably away from the false certainties of doctrine andinstitution and toward self-examination and self-sacrifice.

Ifthis age of dishonesty isn't to overwhelm us, journalism mustrediscover its zeal for informing the populace, rather than presentingus as a prize to advertisers. We, in turn, must give up our preferencefor being entertained rather than informed.

Religionmust stop making franchise-protection its top priority and partisanshouting its preferred voice. Speaking with false certainty, justbecause people crave certainty, trivializes the religious enterpriseand underestimates the faithful.

We, in turn, must seek that maturity that doesn't need false certainty.

Otherwise,catastrophes like global warming will catch us unprepared, politicianswill destroy democracy and our common life will crumble.

Honestly, it's that serious.

Tom Ehrich is an Episcopal priest, writer and consultant and leader of workshops. His Web site is www.onajourney.org.

 

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