Post by Teddy Bear on Aug 3, 2012 1:25:10 GMT
There are a few issues involved with this story.
First is the insult itself by Jeremy Paxman on Newsnight to all bible believers, by describing Genesis as 'religious hogwash'. Regardless whether one believes it or not, why should one make a point to degrade those who do? Especially by a person who receives a huge salary, far in excess of his true worth, that is paid for by many who do believe in the story.
Second point is the hypocrisy and cowardice shown by those like Paxman in the BBC, who are willing to demonstrate their arrogant derision of a benign belief, but kowtow in fake admiration to those which openly threaten our values and society, furthering the danger inherent in it.
Thirdly is that despite the clear and unnecessary insult to Christians by this remark, the BBC's initial response was to defend it. Even after the number of complaints made its self-regulating body - the BBC Trust backtrack on their defence, they still found the corporation to have shown due impartiality.
I'm sure any reader will find further issues that rankle in this story below. It shows the BBC, typical of their left wing mindset; having no insight - unless they're being intimidated, they use incite
First is the insult itself by Jeremy Paxman on Newsnight to all bible believers, by describing Genesis as 'religious hogwash'. Regardless whether one believes it or not, why should one make a point to degrade those who do? Especially by a person who receives a huge salary, far in excess of his true worth, that is paid for by many who do believe in the story.
Second point is the hypocrisy and cowardice shown by those like Paxman in the BBC, who are willing to demonstrate their arrogant derision of a benign belief, but kowtow in fake admiration to those which openly threaten our values and society, furthering the danger inherent in it.
Thirdly is that despite the clear and unnecessary insult to Christians by this remark, the BBC's initial response was to defend it. Even after the number of complaints made its self-regulating body - the BBC Trust backtrack on their defence, they still found the corporation to have shown due impartiality.
I'm sure any reader will find further issues that rankle in this story below. It shows the BBC, typical of their left wing mindset; having no insight - unless they're being intimidated, they use incite
'Religious hogwash': Jeremy Paxman rapped over using phrase to introduce Bible story on Newsnight
By Paul Revoir
Newsnight host Jeremy Paxman offended Christians by using the phrase ‘religious hogwash’ to introduce the Bible story of Genesis, a report has ruled.
A viewer complained to the corporation that an interview between Mr Paxman and atheist Professor Richard Dawkins on the show had been biased and offensive to Christians.
And after the BBC had originally defended the comments - the corporation’s governing body the BBC Trust decided the terms were offensive to some parts of the audience and there was ‘no clear editorial purpose’ for their use.
However, it said it accepted that Mr Paxman had not intended to deliberately cause offence.
Scientist Mr Dawkins appeared on the BBC2 flagship news programme to talk about his book The Magic of Reality: How Do We Know What’s Really True in September last year.
But comments made during a scripted introduction and during an interview sparked fury from a viewer, which then led to a BBC probe into the remarks.
The piece prompted a complaint that it had been biased against religious belief, although this was rejected.
The BBC’s editorial complaints unit had previously cleared the edition of causing any offence.
But following an appeal, the Trust’s Editorial Standards Committee upheld the complaint.
It concluded: ‘Although the committee did not agree with the complainant that Mr Paxman’s use of the terms 'religious hogwash' and 'stupid people' were intended to cause deliberate offence, particularly to those with religious views and beliefs, it nevertheless agreed that they were offensive to some of the audience and that there was no clear editorial purpose for their use in the context of this Newsnight item, taking account of generally accepted standards.’
The Trust decided some Newsnight viewers were ‘unlikely’ to have expected Jeremy Paxman’s ‘typically robust and confrontational interviewing style’ to extend to the use of the terms ‘religious hogwash’ when introducing the story of Genesis, and ‘stupid people’ when talking about those with ‘a literal belief in the Old Testament’.
In his scripted introduction to the item Mr Paxman explained that from ‘our earliest years we learn to suspend disbelief’.
He added: ‘And that apparently is also how we condition impressionable brains to absorb religious hogwash.’
In another section the Newsnight host said of Mr Dawkins: ‘Even with him setting them up as Aunt Sallies the myths remain the better stories carrying an imaginative charge that makes nonsense easier to understand than fact.’
He added: ‘Fairy tales of whatever world religion retain an untarnishable beauty more easily followed by a small and impressionable Tasmanian child for example. ‘
During the live interview Mr Dawkins had said he thought Genesis was a wonderful story ‘as long as you don’t think it’s true’.
He said the problem was that 40 per cent of Americans did think it was true and they ‘probably think Lot’s wife was turned to a pillar of salt as well for that matter’.
Mr Paxman then asked him: ‘Do you really care that there are a lot of stupid people around?’ The scientist said he did care that children were being misled by ‘those stupid people’.
The BBC Trust ruling said: ‘The Committee therefore concluded that the item breached Editorial Guidelines on harm and offence.’
It added that it ‘regretted the offence caused to some viewers by the use of the terms “religious hogwash” and “stupid people”.
But it was cleared of breaking impartiality rules.
When first approached with the complaint the BBC had said, as well as countering some of Mr Dawkins claims, the BBC presenter had played ‘devil’s advocate’ in the discussion.
It said the comments had not been intended to cause offence but were done to ‘initiate a variety of responses’ from the guest.
A BBC news spokesman said: ‘Newsnight notes the Trust’s finding that viewers may have found some of the comments offensive, but also welcomes the finding that the piece achieved due impartiality.
By Paul Revoir
Newsnight host Jeremy Paxman offended Christians by using the phrase ‘religious hogwash’ to introduce the Bible story of Genesis, a report has ruled.
A viewer complained to the corporation that an interview between Mr Paxman and atheist Professor Richard Dawkins on the show had been biased and offensive to Christians.
And after the BBC had originally defended the comments - the corporation’s governing body the BBC Trust decided the terms were offensive to some parts of the audience and there was ‘no clear editorial purpose’ for their use.
However, it said it accepted that Mr Paxman had not intended to deliberately cause offence.
Scientist Mr Dawkins appeared on the BBC2 flagship news programme to talk about his book The Magic of Reality: How Do We Know What’s Really True in September last year.
But comments made during a scripted introduction and during an interview sparked fury from a viewer, which then led to a BBC probe into the remarks.
The piece prompted a complaint that it had been biased against religious belief, although this was rejected.
The BBC’s editorial complaints unit had previously cleared the edition of causing any offence.
But following an appeal, the Trust’s Editorial Standards Committee upheld the complaint.
It concluded: ‘Although the committee did not agree with the complainant that Mr Paxman’s use of the terms 'religious hogwash' and 'stupid people' were intended to cause deliberate offence, particularly to those with religious views and beliefs, it nevertheless agreed that they were offensive to some of the audience and that there was no clear editorial purpose for their use in the context of this Newsnight item, taking account of generally accepted standards.’
The Trust decided some Newsnight viewers were ‘unlikely’ to have expected Jeremy Paxman’s ‘typically robust and confrontational interviewing style’ to extend to the use of the terms ‘religious hogwash’ when introducing the story of Genesis, and ‘stupid people’ when talking about those with ‘a literal belief in the Old Testament’.
In his scripted introduction to the item Mr Paxman explained that from ‘our earliest years we learn to suspend disbelief’.
He added: ‘And that apparently is also how we condition impressionable brains to absorb religious hogwash.’
In another section the Newsnight host said of Mr Dawkins: ‘Even with him setting them up as Aunt Sallies the myths remain the better stories carrying an imaginative charge that makes nonsense easier to understand than fact.’
He added: ‘Fairy tales of whatever world religion retain an untarnishable beauty more easily followed by a small and impressionable Tasmanian child for example. ‘
During the live interview Mr Dawkins had said he thought Genesis was a wonderful story ‘as long as you don’t think it’s true’.
He said the problem was that 40 per cent of Americans did think it was true and they ‘probably think Lot’s wife was turned to a pillar of salt as well for that matter’.
Mr Paxman then asked him: ‘Do you really care that there are a lot of stupid people around?’ The scientist said he did care that children were being misled by ‘those stupid people’.
The BBC Trust ruling said: ‘The Committee therefore concluded that the item breached Editorial Guidelines on harm and offence.’
It added that it ‘regretted the offence caused to some viewers by the use of the terms “religious hogwash” and “stupid people”.
But it was cleared of breaking impartiality rules.
When first approached with the complaint the BBC had said, as well as countering some of Mr Dawkins claims, the BBC presenter had played ‘devil’s advocate’ in the discussion.
It said the comments had not been intended to cause offence but were done to ‘initiate a variety of responses’ from the guest.
A BBC news spokesman said: ‘Newsnight notes the Trust’s finding that viewers may have found some of the comments offensive, but also welcomes the finding that the piece achieved due impartiality.