Religious speeches in media

Abstract

The relationship between religion and politics is critical, particularly in a multi-confessional country like Lebanon. Against this backdrop, this study explores the impact of religious speeches and news reports broadcasted by a number of Lebanese TV stations to decode the specific propagated message via these news texts. In other words, in order for Lebanon to progress and mature politically, it is necessary that there be a clear distinction between religion and politics. But given the nature and history of Lebanon, this distinction should not amount to total separation. A healthy distinction (but without separation) would enable both religious leader and political leaders to pursue these policies that used to prevent genuine religion and political values from degradation into ideology. Although there are a number of religious and political leaders in Lebanon who identify and promote the importance of this distinction and were against reducing politics and religion values to ideology, the sad truth media seem bent, then reducing all political and religious speech to ideology. The news coverage of religious integration in the political life is presenting a negative image of Lebanon, specifically its practices in the context of using or manipulating religion for further divisions. Knowing that the audiences have in minds the idea of “US” vs. “THEM”, the study investigates the difference between news media and the social reality by articulating dominant ideologies in representing religious speeches in the political life. The thesis is divided into chapters. The first chapter provides an introduction about the topic. The second chapter gives a historical overview of the mass media in Lebanon. Chapter three focuses on the two theories chosen for this thesis project. As for chapter four, it includes selected speeches for religious leaders and their interference in the political decision life.