The New Unforgiveness

America first got into television in the 1940's.
They were not the first, before them The Third Reich
broadcast daytime television in the 1930's,
until the economy went on to a war-footing economy
when broadcasts were reduced, and then they ended. 

American Christians were late comers to light entertainment,
they came to television in the late 1970's/1980's.
They were particularly naive about the distorting effects
of broadcasting on the characters who filled the screen.

When pastors were inconsistent with their congregations
face to face every Sunday then their congregations knew it,
and the inconsistencies were in scale with the communities
that the congregations were part of. The hypocrisy was in scale.

When pastors started preaching on television,
to tame studio congregations they did not feel
the power of the distancing effect which television does,
the pastors were extremely naive about it.

It was like the effect facebook is now said to have
on groups and individuals; the amount of money
made from advertising and seeking donations
became vast and self perpetuating, and it multiplied
as preachers learned how hate sold better than engagement.

We who use facebook etc should learn
from the failure of the tele-evangelists
to learn about the distorting nature
of the smoke and mirrors they used.
We too speak through distorting mirrors,
and algorithms which we know little about.

Given how negativity so easily multiplies,
and we will be the last to see it started with us
we should seek always to be affirmative.