Disciplines
• Communication-Personal And Professional
• Communication Science
• Language Pathology
• Linguistics
• Speech communication
Understanding the message:
Those who study communication are interested
in creating and critically evaluating messages.
These messages persuade, inform and entertain
in one-to-one interactions, organizational
communication and the mass media. Modern
communicative media shape, and are shaped
by, moral visions and narratives that come
from religious traditions. Religious perspectives
have an impact on modern discourse and religious
organizations operate their own media. In
personal and intercultural communication,
understanding religious beliefs and cues
is an important part of successful personal,
business and intercultural communication.
Mass communications:
Critically listening, reading, thinking
and writing about mass media is enhanced
by knowledge of religious symbolism and
themes. For example, recent films such as
"Constantine," "The Passion
of the Christ," the "Lord of the
Rings" trilogy and "Chronicles
of Narnia" present overtly religious
symbols. More subtle religious messages
are found in movies such as "Million
Dollar Baby" and "The Sea Inside"
because they grapple with the moral dilemma
of assisted suicide. (The U.S. Conference
of Catholic Bishops' film office gave both
movies an "O" rating - for morally
offensive - because they offer sympathetic
views of euthanasia). Recent films with
implicit religious themes include: "Their
Eyes Were Watching God" (spiritual
awakening), "The Motorcycle Diaries"
(spiritual journey), "Sideways"
(search for identity), "Shrek 2"
(hero myth), "Lost in Translation"
(rite of passage) and "I Heart Huckabees"
(existential angst).
Such films may indicate
a focus on new religious "enemies,"
greater interest in the spirit world and
more willingness to accept ambiguity. One
could study how films express religious
experience and how religious narratives
affect the symbolism and arc of modern entertainment.
Other issues in mass communication include
broadcast regulation, which is influenced
by lobbying groups that represent a conservative
religious influence. Mass media also pose
ethical issues, such as whether to censor
nudity or broadcast killing, which may be
impacted by religious beliefs about morality
and respect for human life. Mass communication
is absorbed by a diverse group of people.
Understanding the beliefs and needs of people
is the key to communicating the message
you want to send.
Interpersonal and intercultural:
Communication in work and social contexts,
family, and conflict management is more
effective with understanding of others'
religious traditions and beliefs. Understanding
religious and cultural norms - language,
social expectations, nonverbal communication,
dress and appearance, dining customs, and
oral and written communication - can mean
the difference between unsuccessful and
successful communication. Examples may include
knowing that it is proper to eat only with
the right hand in the Middle East; or that
an Orthodox Jewish man will not shake hands
with a woman. This is particularly important
as American society grows more diverse and
the economy globalized. We have much more
contact in all settings with people who
come from different cultures and backgrounds.
Those who study intercultural communications
can also examine the values, beliefs, customs
and attitudes that affect intercultural
communication.
How we communicate:
One way to understand human experience is
to look at the communication that accompanies
or embodies religious experience. The importance
of symbolism to religion is evoked in the
practices often associated with religion,
such as parables, rituals, prayer, sermons,
scriptures, stories, books and religious
tracts. Christians were among the first
to utilize radio in the 1920s, sending sermons
and hymns to the masses. They later followed
with television programs and stations and
use of the Internet. All of these can be
studied as communication artifacts.
Another
example is the impact on the modern English
language of the King James translation of
the Bible, first printed in 1611. The translation
- characterized by poetic style and colorful
language - is the source for English-language
expressions such as "can the leopard
change his spots?", "eye to eye,"
"gird one's loins," "in the
twinkling of an eye," "fell flat
on his face," "a fly in the ointment,"
"labor of love," "put words
in his mouth," "land of the living,"
and "the root of the matter,"
among others. Its style is reflected in
Abraham Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address"
and Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have
a Dream" speech.
Issues today: There
are opportunities to work in mass media
writing and reporting about religion in
secular and religious contexts. Religions
are now recognizing the importance of having
a brand and a message in capturing the interest
of potential members. They are putting together
campaigns, from Web sites and billboards
to TV commercials and outreach to secular
media for publicity. We live in a time where
audience members are increasingly diverse
and diffuse. The Internet and satellite
TV means we can see the mediated messages
of cultures from around the world - and
they can see ours. These messages impact
perceptions and actions. It is up to those
who focus on communication to moderate that
exchange, personally and on a mass scale,
to critically assess and work toward the
most effective communication.
Journal
of Media & Religion
Religion
& American Culture
Journal
of Religion and Communication
American
Academy of Religion Syllabi Search
Religion
and Communication
Drake University
Association of Muslim Social Scientists of North America
Catholic Writers Online
Christian Academics
Christian Writers’ Group
Faith & Values Media
Islamic Media Foundation
Media Fellowship International
Professional Association for Christian Writers
Religious Communication Association
Religion Communicators Council
Women in Christian Media
World Association for Christian Communication
• Also see listings for Journalism and Business
• See a full list of professional associations and resources here.
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