Below, you will find our response, Drew Graham's review, the Deseret Morning News announcement that KSL would be showing the program, the AP article about TV stations around the country which are refusing to show it, and the unbelievably positive review from the Deseret Morning News.
Standard of Liberty's Response to new TV show "The Book of Daniel" and media reviews
January 9, 2006 One thing you have to watch out for is when people shame you for not watching a show before you criticize it. With all the publicity, it is often quite possible to know what a show is all about and what messages it wishes to share without viewing it. But they want you to view it so you will be drawn in and desensitized. What do they think reviewers are for but to give advice on whether or not a book, TV program, or movie is worth our time and money? However, we watched this show and found that the advance concern about The Book of Daniel by conservative and Christian groups across the country was well-founded. Poorly disguised as religious, the show mocks traditional morality and God's laws in every way possible. It knocks the viewer over the head making every possible bad thing look perfectly average and acceptable, albeit a little bit problematic. That's what's wrong with it. It is contributing in a dangerous way – dangerous because it is using talent, religion, humor, and subtlety – to add to the demise of decency in our culture. They've used the old trick, homogenizing good and evil, like dog poop in brownies, hoping we'll blindly consume it. The Deseret Morning News review attached says the great thing about the show is that Daniel, an Episcopal minister, keeps his faith, no matter what happens. Wrong. Actually, he doesn't have any faith, not Christian/scripture-based faith. Rather than being a soldier for truth and righteousness, filled with charity, taking the difficult strait and narrow path, loving people but taking a stand against sin, professing that Christ can change our natures, Daniel, who is addicted to prescription drugs, doesn't seem to have a fighting bone in his body. When facing morality issues, like his son's homosexuality, his reaction is one of acceptance. As for his secretary's lesbianism, he is more surprised than concerned. Or, after his 16-year-old daughter has been arrested for drug dealing, although he delivers a lecture, we see him give her a little boink on the nose and everything is okay. And there's more, so much more. Moral relativism, also known as political correctness, oozes from the show, in the form of every possible attack at traditional morality, including adultery, implied underage sex, drug use, stealing, etc., all presented as normal or at least inevitable within a church-leading, church-going group. Besides shouting its depraved new morality, the program sabotages Christianity. Daniel's version of Jesus visits him personally quite frequently, sometimes acting as accepting of sin as Daniel. He's a smark-alecky, hippie-like depiction of Jesus Christ, a false Christ as the scriptures warn, who says a few very good things and a lot of very flip and trite things. He's just all wrong. Let's clear something up. Christianity is not about accepting sin. It's about resisting it and being redeemed through the grace of Christ. Yes, God loves everybody no matter what. But he won't and can't save us in our sins. He requires us to repent, that is, give up any thoughts and behaviors outside his laws as fast as we realize them. That's why we need a Savior. He makes this repentance and growth possible. He isn't merely a big brother or a family counselor or a special buddy with good ideas as portrayed in this show. He is the Redeemer of the world and it's up to us to accept that in order to make real spiritual progress. And contrary to what Daniel's false Christ tells him, we're not supposed to do this for a reward. We're supposed to become new creatures in Christ out of love and gratitude to our Maker. People who reject these basic doctrines but call themselves religious are in error. They are actually irreligious. They may be what we'd all call nice people, but they aren't followers of Jesus Christ. I called the TV station, KSL, and complained about the show. The person at the station told me the best way to protest the show is to simply turn the TV off. Wrong again.
This is like saying you can avoid smog by not breathing. Entertainment like this is doing its best to remake our culture and demean Christianity. Sure, there is some good in this show, such as the idea that we must confront and understand problems. But like C. S. Lewis said, the best lies have some truth in them; the truth makes the lies more palatable and convincing. And the people putting out the"philosophies of men mingled with scripture" know it. Yes, I can turn off my TV but not my social conscience or my faith.
Don't be fooled. This is not, as quoted from the Deseret News, "pro-family, pro-religion" entertainment. It is yet another surreptitious attack on traditional values and Christianity.
(note: to express your opinion to KSL click here to write an email note, or call 801.575.5555 and ask for the TV program director.)
Another review by Drew Graham, posted on the interned at www.IMDB.com, 1/8/2006
Controversy aside, this is just a lame show.
Drew Graham There is a considerable amount of controversy regarding the premise and content of this show, and that is not without merit. While I agree with showing Christians as imperfect, striving people, I don't agree with making every single character on this show a stereotype, a cardboard cut-out. Putting the controversy aside, this is just a stupid show. The writing is bad, the acting is marginal, the characters are annoying and one-dimensional, and the conflicting themes and messages just don't make it worth it. The idea of making Jesus contemporary, and discussing things regularly with Daniel could have been interesting, but rather than making Jesus seem laid-back, interested in Daniel and his family, and, well, Jesus-like in beliefs and motivations, he comes across as bored and uninterested. The family's issues are extremely soap opera, and hardly grab the viewer's interest. We could see any one of their issues on any daytime soap (and probably at better acting with a better script, which is really saying something about this show...). Could the kids and their issues be any more contrived? The teenage daughter is selling pot to fund her ambitions for anime? The adopted son is having unapologetic and irresponsible sex with the racist neighbor's daughter, regardless of their parents' advice or their families' purported morals? The oldest son (still at home?), having buried his twin brother (cancer victim), bemoaning his woes as a gay Christian while his dad blindly and ignorantly looks on, and complains about having to date the girl he met at choir instead of her cute brother (who, incidentally, never implied he was interested)? Come on, it's just absurd. Not to mention the parents and their silly issues. Also, they spout off a lot of lies about society and issues, which go unchallenged, and thus teach society (and impressionable people who believe everything they hear about issues like homosexuality and religion) things that aren't necessarily true. Basically, it's the worst kind of mix between the fluff, faux spirituality and idiotic plots of 7th Heaven and the sex, drama and ridiculous ideas behind The O.C., no combination of which could possibly equal something worth merit.
This is the Deseret Morning News blurb on KSL TV's decision to show "The Book of Daniel."
KSL-TV airs 'The Book of Daniel'
Saturday, January 7, 2006, Deseret Morning News
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,635174615,00.html Like "Brokeback Mountain," questions surround a new NBC series: "The Book of Daniel."
It's about the family of Episcopalian priest Daniel Webster, which struggles with issues including drugs, death and sexuality. Webster has conversations with Jesus, who sometimes appears to him.
At least two NBC affiliates have decided not to air the show. KSL Channel 5 decided to run the first episode Friday. KSL received several calls in response. Michelle Kettle, KSL programming director, released the following statement:
"Management has reviewed the first episode of "The Book of Daniel," and while . . . it may not reflect the views of the dominant religion, we respect the wide diversity within our community and have chosen to let the viewers determine the success or failure of the program." Editor's note: The Deseret Morning News has an ongoing news-gathering relationship with KSL.
This is the Associated Press Article about 4 TV stations who refused to air the show
' Book of Daniel' Snubbed by 4 Affiliates
January 6th, 2006 @ 2:17pm NEW YORK (AP) - Two more NBC affiliates chose not to air the network's new drama "The Book of Daniel," which features an Episcopal priest with a gay son, the network said Friday. Four affiliates nationally have rejected the series (set for a two-hour premiere 9 p.m. EST Friday). Conservative Christian groups have campaigned against the series. KBTV in Beaumont, Texas, and WGBC in Meridian, Miss., were the latest stations to reject the series. Earlier, NBC affiliates KARK in Little Rock, Ark., and WTWO in Terre Haute, Ind., said they wouldn't air it. NBC has 230 affiliates nationally, and a spokeswoman noted that the four affiliates make up less than 1 percent of NBC's national audience. The series stars Aidan Quinn as the Rev. Daniel Webster, and depicts him as talking regularly with Jesus Christ. (Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
This is the Deseret Morning News unexpected favorable review of the show. You might write a letter to the paper if you disagree with the review. Letters@desnews.com.
‘Daniel' is heavenly TV
By Scott D. Pierce, Deseret Morning News, Friday, January 6, 2006
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,635174108,00.html "The Book of Daniel" is the best thing to hit TV this season.
It's funny, dramatic, warm, unexpected and unendingly entertaining. A great cast is working with marvelous material that's richly produced and wonderfully directed.
Tonight's back-to-back episodes (8 and 9 p.m., NBC/Ch. 5) introduce us to Rev. Daniel Webster (Aidan Quinn), a good-hearted Episcopalian priest who's not only dealing with a fractious family but a scandal-in-the-making — his brother-in-law has disappeared with more than $3 million in church funds.
No wonder Daniel often turns to heaven for help. And, in some of the show's best scenes, we see him talking with Jesus (Garret Dillahunt).
Despite the attacks some groups have already launched against "Daniel," it's a show that's both pro-family and pro-religion.
"All we really want to do is tell a good story about a good man and his family and the struggle to get through life," said creator/executive producer Jack Kenny. "It's a family drama with some dark comedy in it about this wonderful family that's just struggling like any other American family."
Well, hopefully most families don't have to deal with all the problems Daniel's clan is facing all at once. Daniel seems somewhat addicted to prescription pain killers; his wife Judith (Susanna Thompson) drinks a bit too much. They're still dealing with the death of one son, as is the boy's now 23-year-old twin brother, Peter (Christian Campbell). And they haven't told Daniel's dad that Peter is gay.
As the series opens, 16-year-old daughter Grace (Allison Pill) has just been arrested on minor drug charges. And 16-year-old son Adam (Ivan Shaw) — an orphan adopted from China — is going too far in his relationship with the daughter of the senior warden (Dylan Baker) of Daniel's parish. And Daniel's mom has Alzheimer's.
There's a lot of humor — even wackiness in spots — but there's enormous heart here, as well. Daniel's conversations with Jesus are his form of praying, and he gets some wonderful answers to his prayers.
"Life is hard, Daniel, for everyone," Jesus tells him. "That's why there's such a nice reward at the end of it."
"Jesus is depicted as Daniel's version of Jesus," Kenny said. "It's the image that he grew up with as a child. He's talked to Jesus all his life. . . . I've always thought of Jesus as a benevolent, caring, loving presence. And Garret (Dillahunt) kind of embodied that, as well."
Imagine that! A TV show about a guy who believes in God and prays often! A guy who doesn't lose his faith no matter what life throws at him!
"It's not a story about a man who has a crisis of faith or doubts his faith," Kenny said. "He doubts a lot of things but not his faith."
Which makes it somewhat ironic that the show is being attacked by groups claiming "Daniel" is an affront to Christianity — attacks launched by people who have not yet seen the show.
"There's never any intention to satirize the church or poke fun at religion in any way," Kenny said.
And he's turning the other cheek on his attackers while making one request. "My answer to anybody who might be offended is 'Give it a chance. Take a look at it,' " Kenny said. "Watch an episode or two, and I think you'll find that it's not what you may have been expecting."
Which would seem like the Christian thing to do. E-mail: pierce@desnews.com |
