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Paper Option One: Religion in the News and Media

One of your textbooks, The Religion Factor, has the subtitle An Introduction to How Religion Matters. Option one focuses on analyzing religion in current events and the media. Do either a or b.

A) Choose a news item during the semester concerning a religious issue or where a religious group has a major role. Look at the reports of a minimum of three sources on the topic (newspapers, television, radio, magazines, etc.). After analyzing the issu e and the reports, write a 5-7 page paper on the religious aspects involved. Relate the issue to concepts covered in the course. How do ideas developed in Intro to Religion provide you with insight into the religious aspects of the event/issue? How doe s this issue illustrate the influence of religion upon society? Critique the media: Does the reporter need to take a religious studies course? Did the reporter do an excellent job of covering the issue? Why or why not? Are there innacurate statements about the religion? Did the content show a genuine understanding of the religion/religious issues involved? Of the viewpoint of the members of the religious group? You may also want to do some research on the topic or interview a knowledgeable person ( such as a member of the clergy from the religious group) to get a perspective from inside the religious tradition.

OR

B) Choose a current television series or movie with episodes where religion/religious people are depicted. Watch the series for several weeks. How were religion and religious issues portrayed? Submit the episodes to the same kind of questions/analysis listed above. Note: Part of the task involved with this option is selecting a series that will provide enough content to do a good paper.

Grade for Option One will be primarily based upon your analysis of the material and how well you show that you can use the concepts covered in the course to understand current issues.