Spreading falsehood through TV channels

With many television channels competing for TRP rates it is understandable that they are desperate for creating news.

In this process they end up manipulating, twisting and sensationalizing, demonizing or lampooning events and people. The result is sowing seeds of confusion and misunderstanding where none existed. While it is the purpose of the media to enlighten and educate, they seem to be more adept at creating fears, conflicts and insecurity in people's minds.

Recently, newspapers had come out with revelations about a godman, Nirmal Baba, who has a sizable following and is said to be worth a few hundred crores. In the wake of the alleged superstitious practices there have been demands for investigating the affairs of the Baba and his wealth.

Sanyasin:
Taking advantage of the situation Uma Bharati, the firebrand sanyasin of the Bharatiya Janata Party, has demanded inquiries into the activities of Christian preachers like Paul Dhinakaran who also are as wealthy as the Babas.

Though she may not enjoy much credibility with the public, the attempt seems to be to equate Christian preaching with the ways of many superstitious godmen and godwomen who play upon the sentiments of the people and build their own religious empires.

A couple of channels not only gave wide coverage to the fulminations of the sanyasin but also invited psychiatrists, rationalists to debate the issue in the wake of the wild allegations against the Baba and Dr Paul Dhinakaran.

The game is very clear. While Hindutva elements disturb prayer meetings and conventions and indulge in rowdyism against Christian congregations in the name of 'opposing conversions' this is yet another way of bringing a bad name to all preaching of Christ.

The charges against the evangelist are patently false because the allegations clearly bring out the ignorance of the accusers about the Christian faith and its tenets and doctrines. The theatrical presentation of the episodes dramatising the comparison, the channels are only playing into the hands of the sanyasin whose aims are suspect.

It is amusing that some of the channels had invited a rationalist, one Sanal Edamaruku, to be part of the panel. Atheism is just another superstition and that combined with the arrogance of godlessness do not make anyone competent to pass judgements on any others' beliefs.

Paul Dhinakaran is a widely respected evangelist and chancellor of a reputed university. The Baba's credentials need to be examined. The university provides good educational facilities like other Christian institutions. No doubt there are those within Christendom who are critical of some of the ways of Dr Paul Dhinakaran or his beliefs, but then they can not be accused of malafide in their disagreements.

There are certainly a large number of 'religious gurus' in this country who not only exploit the people but promote irrational beliefs just to make quick bucks. But then it is mischievous to drag in practitioners of other faiths in a spirit of vengeance. There is a great role for true faith in the lives of the people and God forgive the rationalist and psychiatrists who are so full of themselves that they can not think of any other power in existence. One can only pray: "Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing!'

It is again an irresponsible media which will give currency to half truths and yield to the temptations of the moment. In the word of Isaiah, 'Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil!'.