Fraser on the BBC

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Giles Fraser on the spirituality of the rusty tromboners of Conservatism.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/31/thought-for-the-day-faith-bbc-religion-radio-4-today

[Shaker]

"Like what I like" complains ignored broadcaster - exclusive, pages 4, 5 and 6.

[Enki]

http://www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/2017/07/the-bbc-is-overdoing-religion

[SusanDoris]

Enki

thank you for posting the link. A welcome breath of clarity after some of the religious nonsense I have just been reading - and challenging!! - on GH.

[Shaker]

GH?

[SusanDoris]

The Graham Hancock forum.

It was the first forum I found when new to the internet. After thatt I found and joined BBC and JREF and have remained with them all ever since. A poster, The Atheisst, in JREF, liked what I posted and suggestedI joined Ship of Fools, so that makes up the four I visit. All quite different in character.

[Shaker]

Ah, thank you.

[Walt Zingmatilder]

http://www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/2017/07/the-bbc-is-overdoing-religion

I'm really surprised the National Secular Society thinks there is too much religion on the BBC.

[Walt Zingmatilder]

http://www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/2017/07/the-bbc-is-overdoing-religion

A quick ballpark calculation based on airtime available over 2 TVs networks.....I discounted BBC 4 since it's only on from 7 pm......and 7 national radio networks.

Religion in terms of airtime thus takes up 0.0073 % of the BBC airtime.
How are the BBC overdoing religion?

[ProfessorDavey]

Giles Fraser on the spirituality of the rusty tromboners of Conservatism.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/31/thought-for-the-day-faith-bbc-religion-radio-4-today

So a guy who is given the opportunity, completely unchallenged, to promulgate his views for 3 minutes smack in the middle of BBC radio's flagship news programme, while others with differing views are completely banned supports a slot where only religious people can promulgate their views for 3 minutes at peak radio prime-time unchallenged while non religious people are banned.

Do bears defecate near trees.

Much more interesting, of course, are the views of Justin Webb and John Humphries - particularly Justin Webb who hits the nail on the head that the unchallenged approach leads to completely vacuous and deeply disingenuous 'let's all be nice to each other ... cos my god says so' platitudes day after day (only the god changes), while all around religions practice huge intolerance that legitimises discrimination and violence - and in many cases violence is practice directly in the name of religion.

If an organisation doesn't practice what it preaches its views are frankly worthless - and lets not forget the virtually all contributors to TFTD are directly representing religious organisations - they aren't merely giving their own personal views while also being a person of faith. Giles Fraser wouldn't be on TFTD were he not a CofE priest.

[Walt Zingmatilder]

So a guy who is given the opportunity, completely unchallenged, to promulgate his views for 3 minutes smack in the middle of BBC radio's flagship news programme, while others with differing views are completely banned supports a slot where only religious people can promulgate their views for 3 minutes at peak radio prime-time unchallenged while non religious people are banned.

Do bears defecate near trees.

Much more interesting, of course, are the views of Justin Webb and John Humphries - particularly Justin Webb who hits the nail on the head that the unchallenged approach leads to completely vacuous and deeply disingenuous 'let's all be nice to each other ... cos my god says so' platitudes day after day (only the god changes), while all around religions practice huge intolerance that legitimises discrimination and violence - and in many cases violence is practice directly in the name of religion.

If an organisation doesn't practice what it preach its views are frankly worthless - and lets not forget the virtually all contributors to TFTD are directly representing religious organisations - they are merely giving their own personal views while also being a person of faith. Giles Fraser wouldn't be on TFTD were he not a CofE priest.

Given that religious coverage is a minute fraction of the BBC don't you think you are being unrealistic over privilege and more than a tad imperialistic?

[ProfessorDavey]

Given that religious coverage is a minute fraction of the BBC don't you think you are being unrealistic over privilege and more than a tad imperialistic?

Impartiality is impartiality regardless of the length of the opinion piece. And actually its length, and most specifically its position smack in the middle of the BBC's flagship radio news programme is a large part of the problem. Were is a 30 minute slot at 9pm it wouldn't be anything like so much of an issue - people would simply turn off. As it is short and sandwiched into the Today programme (with variable start time) I'm sure loads of people who otherwise would vote with their feet end up being, in effect 'forced' to listen, as they don't want to miss the next item.

Bottom line - if it is such a great format - why not open it up to non religious philosophical 'thoughts' delivered by people who aren't religious too.

[Walt Zingmatilder]

So a guy who is given the opportunity, completely unchallenged, to promulgate his views for 3 minutes smack in the middle of BBC radio's flagship news programme, while others with differing views are completely banned supports a slot where only religious people can promulgate their views for 3 minutes at peak radio prime-time unchallenged while non religious people are banned.

Do bears defecate near trees.

Much more interesting, of course, are the views of Justin Webb and John Humphries - particularly Justin Webb who hits the nail on the head that the unchallenged approach leads to completely vacuous and deeply disingenuous 'let's all be nice to each other ... cos my god says so' platitudes day after day (only the god changes), while all around religions practice huge intolerance that legitimises discrimination and violence - and in many cases violence is practice directly in the name of religion.

If an organisation doesn't practice what it preaches its views are frankly worthless - and lets not forget the virtually all contributors to TFTD are directly representing religious organisations - they aren't merely giving their own personal views while also being a person of faith. Giles Fraser wouldn't be on TFTD were he not a CofE priest.

Imho Justin Webb and co are fine ones to talk about the Unchallenged.
They never stop giving opinion when interviewing the political opposition.
When it's the other party all I hear from the "team" is the gentle application of shoe shine apparatus.
I almost half expect Robinson to ask a minister once the interview if he needs anything for the weekend, sir?

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Impartiality is impartiality regardless of the length of the opinion piece. And actually its length, and most specifically its position smack in the middle of the BBC's flagship radio news programme is a large part of the problem. Were is a 30 minute slot at 9pm it wouldn't be anything like so much of an issue - people would simply turn off. As it is short and sandwiched into the Today programme (with variable start time) I'm sure loads of people who otherwise would vote with their feet end up being, in effect 'forced' to listen, as they don't want to miss the next item.

Bottom line - if it is such a great format - why not open it up to non religious philosophical 'thoughts' delivered by people who aren't religious too.

You can hardly call the overwhelming secularity of the BBC,s output partial towards religion.
Any inclusion of a secular organisation marginalises religion even further.

You are being unreasonable.

[Rhiannon]

I want TFTD to be opened up to all faiths and none. Have they had s pagan speaker yet?

That aside, GF is generally a good egg.

[Walt Zingmatilder]

I want TFTD to be opened up to all faiths and none. Have they had s pagan speaker yet?

That aside, GF is generally a good egg.

Yes Pagans should be there too. But having seen the figures secularism gets a phenomenal share of airtime.

[SteveH]

The Graham Hancock forum.

It was the first forum I found when new to the internet. After thatt I found and joined BBC and JREF and have remained with them all ever since. A poster, The Atheisst, in JREF, liked what I posted and suggestedI joined Ship of Fools, so that makes up the four I visit. All quite different in character.

I've been banned twice from "Ship of Fools", a fact of which I'm quite proud - I found it thoroughly unpleasant and cynical.

[Nearly Sane]

Yes Pagans should be there too. But having seen the figures secularism gets a phenomenal share of airtime.

Just to note reporting sport, or politics, or programmes about baking etc etc is not secularism

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Just to note reporting sport, or politics, or programmes about baking etc etc is not secularism

Surely the freedom from religion counts as secular? Or are you saying there is more to secularism?

[Nearly Sane]

Surely the freedom from religion counts as secular? Or are you saying there is more to secularism?

You talked of secularism which is the principle of separation of the state from religious institutions. This has nothing to do with the Great British Bake Off.

[Sebastian Toe]

Surely the freedom from religion counts as secular? Or are you saying there is more to secularism?

Is everyone who participates in all of those programs non-religious?

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Is everyone who participates in all of those programs non-religious?

So you think Richard Coles appearance on Strictly represents religious output then.
Richard Dawkins appearance on Dr Who was five minutes coverage of stealth religion new atheism?
I think you can see where this is going.

[Walt Zingmatilder]

You talked of secularism which is the principle of separation of the state from religious institutions. This has nothing to do with the Great British Bake Off.

I think you hold the narrow view there.

[Nearly Sane]

I think you hold the narrow view there.

  It's what secularism is. Man Utd vs  Wheeltappers and Shunters Select XI isn't.

[Walter]

'andles for forks has been allowed an inordinately long time to express his views on this message board.

A review into this should be undertaken immediately .