The religious illiteracy of secular reporting

By Phil Lawler ( bio - articles - email ) | Jan 13, 2011

 Just when you think that reporters in the mainstream media couldn't possibly show any more ignorance about religion, along comes a story to prove you wrong. This time it is the oh-so-respectable BBC. In an otherwise unenlightening commentary on Sarah Palin's use of the term "blood libel," the BBC solemnly informs us: 

Blood libel myths run counter to Jewish theology which prohibits murder.

Yes, it's true-- and not exactly surprising-- that the Jewish faith condemns murder. But somehow the BBC report conveys the impression that the Jewish condemnation of murder arises from some arcane theological point, which we readers cannot be expected to be aware of, much less to understand. 

In fact, anyone who knows anything about Judaism knows why the faith condemns murder. The phrase "Thou shalt not kill" rings a bell, doesn't it? Yet the story suggests that the BBC reporter doesn't expect his readers to be familiar with the Decalogue-- perhaps because he isn't familiar with it himself.