Pub Date : 2017-07-03DOI: 10.1080/15348423.2017.1361710
Stephen Gray, Alexandra B. Inglish, T. Sodhi, Tien-Tsung Lee
ABSTRACT This study quantitatively analyzed the content of television commercials aired during religious programs to determine the categories of products being promoted and the primary method used by advertisers to appeal to highly religious consumers. Medical- and life-related products are the largest category. Fear-related appeals occurred in the advertisements at the high rate of 81%. The results suggested that marketers attempt to appeal to Christian fundamentalist viewers with fears, anxieties and doubts.
{"title":"What Are They Really Selling? A Content Analysis of Advertisements During Religious Television Programming","authors":"Stephen Gray, Alexandra B. Inglish, T. Sodhi, Tien-Tsung Lee","doi":"10.1080/15348423.2017.1361710","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15348423.2017.1361710","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT This study quantitatively analyzed the content of television commercials aired during religious programs to determine the categories of products being promoted and the primary method used by advertisers to appeal to highly religious consumers. Medical- and life-related products are the largest category. Fear-related appeals occurred in the advertisements at the high rate of 81%. The results suggested that marketers attempt to appeal to Christian fundamentalist viewers with fears, anxieties and doubts.","PeriodicalId":55954,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Media and Religion","volume":"98 1","pages":"104 - 116"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2017-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86075389","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2017-07-03DOI: 10.1080/15348423.2017.1361707
Emmanuel-Lugard Nduka, John Mcguire
ABSTRACT Religious life of American youth has received little attention from social scientists, but this is changing as research underscores the importance of religious identity. The Catholic Church has historically employed new forms of communication to reach its followers. This article examines Catholic college students’ use of new media and the impact on their faith. To explore this, a qualitative method was used. Five major themes emerging from the study were: (a) positive effects of Christian media content, (b) everyday use of new media, (c) the Catholic Church is buried in tradition, (d) importance of credible sources, and (e) failure to program toward youth. Data collected from these qualitative interviews suggest the Catholic Church must become aggressive in utilizing new media and programming messages of faith and education about the Church to this younger generation as their values are being shaped.
{"title":"The Effective Use of New Media in Disseminating Evangelical Messages Among Catholic College Students","authors":"Emmanuel-Lugard Nduka, John Mcguire","doi":"10.1080/15348423.2017.1361707","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15348423.2017.1361707","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Religious life of American youth has received little attention from social scientists, but this is changing as research underscores the importance of religious identity. The Catholic Church has historically employed new forms of communication to reach its followers. This article examines Catholic college students’ use of new media and the impact on their faith. To explore this, a qualitative method was used. Five major themes emerging from the study were: (a) positive effects of Christian media content, (b) everyday use of new media, (c) the Catholic Church is buried in tradition, (d) importance of credible sources, and (e) failure to program toward youth. Data collected from these qualitative interviews suggest the Catholic Church must become aggressive in utilizing new media and programming messages of faith and education about the Church to this younger generation as their values are being shaped.","PeriodicalId":55954,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Media and Religion","volume":"1 1","pages":"103 - 93"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2017-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90358372","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2017-07-03DOI: 10.1080/15348423.2017.1361701
J. Wicks, Shauna A. Morimoto, Robert H. Wicks, Stephanie Schulte
ABSTRACT A national survey with 876 responses examined whether political consumerism is related to religious factors including beliefs about gay marriage, if the Bible is the literal word of God, religiosity or social capital, altruism or civic engagement, cognitive engagement, and the use of political social and digital media. Results suggest religious factors may be important in political consumption, with political consumers less likely to believe the Bible is the literal word of God, suggesting they perceive self-direction regarding their religious beliefs. Political consumers may exhibit universalism by participating in altruistic activities such as volunteering to help the poor, homeless and elderly. However, given their lack of support for gay marriage, traditional religious teachings may supersede universalism for certain social justice issues.
{"title":"Are Religious Factors Associated with Political Consumerism?An Exploratory Study","authors":"J. Wicks, Shauna A. Morimoto, Robert H. Wicks, Stephanie Schulte","doi":"10.1080/15348423.2017.1361701","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15348423.2017.1361701","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT A national survey with 876 responses examined whether political consumerism is related to religious factors including beliefs about gay marriage, if the Bible is the literal word of God, religiosity or social capital, altruism or civic engagement, cognitive engagement, and the use of political social and digital media. Results suggest religious factors may be important in political consumption, with political consumers less likely to believe the Bible is the literal word of God, suggesting they perceive self-direction regarding their religious beliefs. Political consumers may exhibit universalism by participating in altruistic activities such as volunteering to help the poor, homeless and elderly. However, given their lack of support for gay marriage, traditional religious teachings may supersede universalism for certain social justice issues.","PeriodicalId":55954,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Media and Religion","volume":"29 1","pages":"81 - 92"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2017-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78217096","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2017-04-03DOI: 10.1080/15348423.2017.1311121
Jessalynn R. Strauss
ABSTRACT This article examines a 14-page statement released by the Church of Scientology in response to author Andrew Morton’s unauthorized biography of Tom Cruise, one of Scientology’s most notable celebrity adherents. Placing this situation within the larger context of media coverage of new religious movements, the study uses a modified version of Burke’s (1973) “cluster-agon” analysis to show how the Scientology statement attempts to define the church’s legitimacy in opposition to what they portray as baseless character defamation by a journalist of questionable credibility. Analysis of the statement also reveals an interesting attempt by the Church of Scientology to access shared cultural symbols by portraying itself as a persecuted religion seeking sanctuary in the American tradition of religious freedom.
{"title":"Making a Case for Religious Freedom: The Church of Scientology Responds to Claims Made in an Unauthorized Biography of Tom Cruise","authors":"Jessalynn R. Strauss","doi":"10.1080/15348423.2017.1311121","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15348423.2017.1311121","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT This article examines a 14-page statement released by the Church of Scientology in response to author Andrew Morton’s unauthorized biography of Tom Cruise, one of Scientology’s most notable celebrity adherents. Placing this situation within the larger context of media coverage of new religious movements, the study uses a modified version of Burke’s (1973) “cluster-agon” analysis to show how the Scientology statement attempts to define the church’s legitimacy in opposition to what they portray as baseless character defamation by a journalist of questionable credibility. Analysis of the statement also reveals an interesting attempt by the Church of Scientology to access shared cultural symbols by portraying itself as a persecuted religion seeking sanctuary in the American tradition of religious freedom.","PeriodicalId":55954,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Media and Religion","volume":"21 1","pages":"39 - 50"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2017-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85314916","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2017-04-03DOI: 10.1080/15348423.2017.1311122
Sophie H. Janicke, Srividya Ramasubramanian
ABSTRACT Recent scholarship on media psychology acknowledges that media entertainment offers not only purely hedonistic enjoyment but also meaningful experiences. This study expands our understanding of media enjoyment by exploring the role of media entertainment in evoking spiritual emotions and beliefs, such as those related to connectedness, blessedness, and transcendence. Results from an online survey (N = 220) indicate that media entertainment elicits meaningful as well as spiritual emotions and increases the saliency of spiritual beliefs as related to self-actualization and spiritual experiences in everyday life. Furthermore, trait transcendence and eudaimonic media motivations add to the explanation of audiences’ mediated spiritual experiences. Open-ended responses, analyzed by three coders, revealed that themes of transcendence and human connectedness are an integral part of viewers’ entertainment experiences. This exploratory study provides the groundwork to investigate spiritual media experiences and advance understanding of audiences’ appreciation for media entertainment. Implications for popular culture and mediated spirituality are discussed.
{"title":"Spiritual Media Experiences, Trait Transcendence, and Enjoyment of Popular Films","authors":"Sophie H. Janicke, Srividya Ramasubramanian","doi":"10.1080/15348423.2017.1311122","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15348423.2017.1311122","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Recent scholarship on media psychology acknowledges that media entertainment offers not only purely hedonistic enjoyment but also meaningful experiences. This study expands our understanding of media enjoyment by exploring the role of media entertainment in evoking spiritual emotions and beliefs, such as those related to connectedness, blessedness, and transcendence. Results from an online survey (N = 220) indicate that media entertainment elicits meaningful as well as spiritual emotions and increases the saliency of spiritual beliefs as related to self-actualization and spiritual experiences in everyday life. Furthermore, trait transcendence and eudaimonic media motivations add to the explanation of audiences’ mediated spiritual experiences. Open-ended responses, analyzed by three coders, revealed that themes of transcendence and human connectedness are an integral part of viewers’ entertainment experiences. This exploratory study provides the groundwork to investigate spiritual media experiences and advance understanding of audiences’ appreciation for media entertainment. Implications for popular culture and mediated spirituality are discussed.","PeriodicalId":55954,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Media and Religion","volume":"1 1","pages":"51 - 66"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2017-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"75617904","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2017-04-03DOI: 10.1080/15348423.2017.1311127
P. Brubaker, Kris Boyle, D. Stephan
ABSTRACT Previous research suggests that Internet memes give voice to and unite otherwise silent and scattered social groups, making them popular in the most contemporary forms of practiced religion (Burroughs & Feller, 2015). This article aims to understand how religious institutions are utilizing memes to create a religious cultural experience compared to independent entities catering to the same audience. Researchers conducted a quantitative content analysis of 826 memes published by three distinct, interconnected entities affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including official Church organizations, unofficial Church organizations, and users with ties to the faith. Memes were examined for their content, form, and stance (Shifman, 2013). An analysis revealed that the LDS Church used its memes to present more serious, inspirational content, while users created memes that were more light-hearted and mixed LDS culture with pop culture. However, unofficial sources created more memes promoting LDS beliefs.
{"title":"The Shared Cultural Experience: A Comparison of Religious Memes Created by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Religious Media, and Church Members","authors":"P. Brubaker, Kris Boyle, D. Stephan","doi":"10.1080/15348423.2017.1311127","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15348423.2017.1311127","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Previous research suggests that Internet memes give voice to and unite otherwise silent and scattered social groups, making them popular in the most contemporary forms of practiced religion (Burroughs & Feller, 2015). This article aims to understand how religious institutions are utilizing memes to create a religious cultural experience compared to independent entities catering to the same audience. Researchers conducted a quantitative content analysis of 826 memes published by three distinct, interconnected entities affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including official Church organizations, unofficial Church organizations, and users with ties to the faith. Memes were examined for their content, form, and stance (Shifman, 2013). An analysis revealed that the LDS Church used its memes to present more serious, inspirational content, while users created memes that were more light-hearted and mixed LDS culture with pop culture. However, unofficial sources created more memes promoting LDS beliefs.","PeriodicalId":55954,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Media and Religion","volume":"170 1","pages":"67 - 79"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2017-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"72679469","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2017-01-02DOI: 10.1080/15348423.2017.1274590
Rivka Neriya-Ben Shahar
ABSTRACT This study shows how Old Order Amish and ultra-Orthodox women’s discourse about television can help develop a better understanding of the creation, construction, and strengthening of limits and boundaries separating enclave cultures from the world. Based on questionnaires containing both closed- and open-ended questions completed by 82 participants, approximately half from each community, I argue that both communities can be understood as interpretive communities that negatively interpret not only television content, like other religious communities, but also the medium itself. Their various negative interpretive strategies is discussed and the article shows how they are part of an “us-versus-them” attitude created to mark the boundaries and walls that enclave cultures build around themselves. The comparison between the two communities found only a few small differences but one marked similarity: The communities perceive avoidance of a tool for communication, in this case television, as part of the communities’ sharing, participation, and common culture.
{"title":"The Medium Is the Danger: Discourse about Television among Amish and Ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) Women","authors":"Rivka Neriya-Ben Shahar","doi":"10.1080/15348423.2017.1274590","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15348423.2017.1274590","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT This study shows how Old Order Amish and ultra-Orthodox women’s discourse about television can help develop a better understanding of the creation, construction, and strengthening of limits and boundaries separating enclave cultures from the world. Based on questionnaires containing both closed- and open-ended questions completed by 82 participants, approximately half from each community, I argue that both communities can be understood as interpretive communities that negatively interpret not only television content, like other religious communities, but also the medium itself. Their various negative interpretive strategies is discussed and the article shows how they are part of an “us-versus-them” attitude created to mark the boundaries and walls that enclave cultures build around themselves. The comparison between the two communities found only a few small differences but one marked similarity: The communities perceive avoidance of a tool for communication, in this case television, as part of the communities’ sharing, participation, and common culture.","PeriodicalId":55954,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Media and Religion","volume":"4 1","pages":"27 - 38"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2017-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"76128750","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2017-01-02DOI: 10.1080/15348423.2017.1274588
Miriam Diez-Bosch, Pere Franch
ABSTRACT In times of war, religion features prominently in U.S. presidential rhetoric. It may be used to strengthen courage and hope or to serve as a powerful tool for accepting sacrifices and losses. In this article we examine the speeches of five presidents given specifically in periods of war: Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard M. Nixon, George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama. Then we analyze variations in the volume and type of religious content among these presidents; we use a textual content analysis methodology to study a representative sample of speeches given by the above-mentioned presidents in time of war. We conclude that U.S. presidents try to persuade the audience that the country is going to war to accomplish God’s will. Under this light, religious rhetoric appears to have a higher correlation with the enemy being fought than with the personal convictions of each president.
{"title":"In God We Trust, with God We Fight. Religion in U.S. Presidential War Rhetoric: From Johnson to Obama","authors":"Miriam Diez-Bosch, Pere Franch","doi":"10.1080/15348423.2017.1274588","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15348423.2017.1274588","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT In times of war, religion features prominently in U.S. presidential rhetoric. It may be used to strengthen courage and hope or to serve as a powerful tool for accepting sacrifices and losses. In this article we examine the speeches of five presidents given specifically in periods of war: Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard M. Nixon, George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama. Then we analyze variations in the volume and type of religious content among these presidents; we use a textual content analysis methodology to study a representative sample of speeches given by the above-mentioned presidents in time of war. We conclude that U.S. presidents try to persuade the audience that the country is going to war to accomplish God’s will. Under this light, religious rhetoric appears to have a higher correlation with the enemy being fought than with the personal convictions of each president.","PeriodicalId":55954,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Media and Religion","volume":"41 1","pages":"1 - 14"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2017-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88937402","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2017-01-02DOI: 10.1080/15348423.2017.1274589
A. J. Ratcliff, Joshua McCarty, Matt Ritter
ABSTRACT This research examines specific relationships between new media and religion. While prior research has focused on the question of whether a relationship exists, we explore technology usage as a predictor of specific religious behavior. Using a sample (N = 423) comprising a cross-section of religious and cultural backgrounds, results indicate that attitudes toward technology and use of social media contribute to how people view religion as a mechanism for meeting needs. Applying uses and gratifications theory in a unique way, three needs related to religion emerged: religion as a means of passing time, religion as a mode of meeting self needs, and religion as a catalyst for learning. We discuss implications of our findings.
{"title":"Religion and New Media: A Uses and Gratifications Approach","authors":"A. J. Ratcliff, Joshua McCarty, Matt Ritter","doi":"10.1080/15348423.2017.1274589","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15348423.2017.1274589","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT This research examines specific relationships between new media and religion. While prior research has focused on the question of whether a relationship exists, we explore technology usage as a predictor of specific religious behavior. Using a sample (N = 423) comprising a cross-section of religious and cultural backgrounds, results indicate that attitudes toward technology and use of social media contribute to how people view religion as a mechanism for meeting needs. Applying uses and gratifications theory in a unique way, three needs related to religion emerged: religion as a means of passing time, religion as a mode of meeting self needs, and religion as a catalyst for learning. We discuss implications of our findings.","PeriodicalId":55954,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Media and Religion","volume":"40 1","pages":"15 - 26"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2017-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"76646961","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2016-10-01DOI: 10.1080/15348423.2016.1248184
T. Hwang
ABSTRACT This study analyzes a sample of 2,614 news articles dealing with religions published in Chosun Ilbo from 1996 to 2005, focusing on how this major newspaper covered Christianity in terms of its tone and frames. The results show that this religion was portrayed in a neutral or positive manner and that both Protestants and megachurches were mostly considered providers of social work services. These findings have implications for academic, media, and religious sectors.
{"title":"Newspaper Coverage of Christianity in South Korea, 1996–2005","authors":"T. Hwang","doi":"10.1080/15348423.2016.1248184","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15348423.2016.1248184","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT This study analyzes a sample of 2,614 news articles dealing with religions published in Chosun Ilbo from 1996 to 2005, focusing on how this major newspaper covered Christianity in terms of its tone and frames. The results show that this religion was portrayed in a neutral or positive manner and that both Protestants and megachurches were mostly considered providers of social work services. These findings have implications for academic, media, and religious sectors.","PeriodicalId":55954,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Media and Religion","volume":"22 1","pages":"196 - 209"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2016-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73799391","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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