Why so much protestant TV and radio?

[The_Reginator]

It seems that 95% of the time that I hear Christian radio or TV it is always protestant / evangelical.
Why is it that protestants get so much air-time compared to Catholics?
I end up turning away as I cannot trust teachings without Church authority.

Is this a local phenomena or is it common throughout North America?

(I have some ideas floating in my head but I’d like to hear from other people.)

 

[graceandglory]

Why? They BUY it. Commercials, baby! They are in business and all competing against one another for theology and members.

Compare side by side the local Catholic radio station and the local protestant “Christian” station.

When I was a protestant stay at home mom and needed something to listen to (before the web…) I would hear so often how much I needed this drug and that vitamin, and this product and that magazine, and this book, and that video tape. I grew to feeling so guilty that I wasn’t doing their weight-loss pills or energy drink, and felt like I wasn’t a good enough Christian cuz i couldn’t afford to buy all their crapola.

Just do a comparison. It is all about commercials and marketing.

 

[MikeeK]

I wouldn’t say it’s all commercials and marketing. That’s pretty cynical.

It is true that they buy the radio time and the Catholic church, as the largest landowner in the world, could do it also if they had anything that would hold people’s interest.

The reality is that Catholic priests brag about their 7 minute homilies whereas Protestant pastors typically preach for 45 minutes or more meaning their messages are a lot more conducive to 30 minutes radio slots.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

It seems that 95% of the time that I hear Christian radio or TV it is always protestant / evangelical.
Why is it that protestants get so much air-time compared to Catholics?
I end up turning away as I cannot trust teachings without Church authority.

Is this a local phenomena or is it common throughout North America?

(I have some ideas floating in my head but I’d like to hear from other people.)

Just like any good business, and many protestant “churches” as run like businesses, entertainment businesses at that, and MEDIA, Tv/Radio and Print are very important.

 

[Malia_Belen]

I’m really sorry but sometimes it’s posts like the one I read here that make me not want to consider Catholicism. I’ve watched some of these shows and while there are quite a few of them that are absolutely no good… for the most part these people believe what they are saying sincerely and lovingly and it bothers me when I hear former protestants or reverts talk about Protestants so generally and negatively like its all bad. It makes me not want to be a part of the Catholic church 'cause I wonder how many other people feel as you do and are not saying anything since I’ve always believed somewhat in the saying where there is 1, there are 10. My family is Protestant and sometimes I feel like being Catholic would take me away from them precisely because of the things new Catholics and reverts are saying. I don’t ever want to be on here in a few years as a new Catholic calling my family bible thumping or calling things that my might family believe crapola just because they are Protestant. It already seems like being Catholic would be putting up a divider but I still find myself interested in the Catholic faith.

 

[The_Reginator]

I’m really sorry but sometimes it’s posts like the one I read here that make me not want to consider Catholicism. I’ve watched some of these shows and while there are quite a few of them that are absolutely no good… for the most part these people believe what they are saying sincerely and lovingly and** it bothers me when I hear former protestants or reverts talk about Protestants so generally and negatively like its all bad**. It makes me not want to be a part of the Catholic church 'cause I wonder how many other people feel as you do and are not saying anything since I’ve always believed somewhat in the saying where there is 1, there are 10. My family is Protestant and sometimes I feel like being Catholic would take me away from them precisely because of the things new Catholics and reverts are saying. I don’t ever want to be on here in a few years as a new Catholic calling my family bible thumping or calling things that my might family believe crapola just because they are Protestant. It already seems like being Catholic would be putting up a divider but I still find myself interested in the Catholic faith.

Yes. Us Catholics can be uncharitable if we are not careful. Our faith can be a very emotional subject.

After my own conversion it seemed astounding that not all Christians were Catholic:
How could a person believe in Jesus but not want to be part of the only Church He established? – We are His body and He is our head. Only the Catholic Church teaches with authority. So speaking of our protestant brethren it is hard not to be critical.

I pray that many, many protestants will return home and that God will help stop them from teaching error.

 

[graceandglory]

I’m really sorry but sometimes it’s posts like the one I read here that make me not want to consider Catholicism. I’ve watched some of these shows and while there are quite a few of them that are absolutely no good… for the most part these people believe what they are saying sincerely and lovingly and it bothers me when I hear former protestants or reverts talk about Protestants so generally and negatively like its all bad. It makes me not want to be a part of the Catholic church 'cause I wonder how many other people feel as you do and are not saying anything since I’ve always believed somewhat in the saying where there is 1, there are 10. My family is Protestant and sometimes I feel like being Catholic would take me away from them precisely because of the things new Catholics and reverts are saying. I don’t ever want to be on here in a few years as a new Catholic calling my family bible thumping or calling things that my might family believe crapola just because they are Protestant. It already seems like being Catholic would be putting up a divider but I still find myself interested in the Catholic faith.

Sorry, I was married to a protestant radio personality of the “Christian” radio station… I am a little biased. I know the inside scoop.

 

[The_Reginator]

I’m going to add another question that should have been in my OP:
Does anybody have data on the (approximate) ratio of Catholics to protestants in Canada and the US?

 

[Monica4316]

I’m really sorry but sometimes it’s posts like the one I read here that make me not want to consider Catholicism. I’ve watched some of these shows and while there are quite a few of them that are absolutely no good… for the most part these people believe what they are saying sincerely and lovingly and it bothers me when I hear former protestants or reverts talk about Protestants so generally and negatively like its all bad. It makes me not want to be a part of the Catholic church 'cause I wonder how many other people feel as you do and are not saying anything since I’ve always believed somewhat in the saying where there is 1, there are 10. My family is Protestant and sometimes I feel like being Catholic would take me away from them precisely because of the things new Catholics and reverts are saying. I don’t ever want to be on here in a few years as a new Catholic calling my family bible thumping or calling things that my might family believe crapola just because they are Protestant. It already seems like being Catholic would be putting up a divider but I still find myself interested in the Catholic faith.

Malia, I’m a convert from Protestantism and I understand what you mean :hug1:
I think that with a lot of people, this is just an ‘emotional’ subject for them. In a way, it is for me too. We’re all trying to deal with the reality that there is division in Christianity and this affects both Protestants and Catholics.

As a Catholic, sometimes I struggle with my feelings towards Protestants just because of some of my friends’ reactions to my conversion. I know many struggle just knowing that because of the Reformation, people have been lead away from the Sacraments. It’s a painful issue for many. Maybe you could be the link between Catholics and Protestants towards unity, one of the people who are not so ‘emotional’ about the whole thing. I know I can be and it helps to have friends who are more balanced in this way.

God bless

 

[PJM]

=The Reginator;6014743]It seems that 95% of the time that I hear Christian radio or TV it is always protestant / evangelical.
Why is it that protestants get so much air-time compared to Catholics?
I end up turning away as I cannot trust teachings without Church authority.

Is this a local phenomena or is it common throughout North America?

(I have some ideas floating in my head but I’d like to hear from other people.)

Follow the money:thumbsup:

 

[MikeeK]

One point that has been touched on here is that there are very different kinds of “protestant TV and radio”. It’s a mistake to lump “protestants” into one category. There are lots of people on TV that I wouldn’t even say are Christians because they consistently elevate feeling good or physical health or personal wealth above the glory of the risen Savior.

There are definitely people who use this air time to promote book sales or solicit “donations” but also many who are sincerely trying to reach people with the Gospel, explain that they can have a personal relationship with God through Christ and know that their sins are forgiven.

According to the CIA World Fact Book (which is a terrific resource on these types of demographic issues) the US is 51.3% Protestant and 23.9% Roman Catholic. Canada is 42.6% Roman Catholic and 23.3% Protestant.

 

[Malia_Belen]

I’m sorry if I sounded emotional myself. It’s just that despite my misgivings about some of the things the Catholic church teaches, I find myself very interested in the Catholic faith and mass seems so peaceful to me but I know that if I were to become Catholic I could no longer go to my family’s church and they wouldn’t feel comfortable at mass so there is already this divide. Then when I come here and see Catholics who use to be Protestants talking about Protestants negatively… I feel that divide widen and I feel almost like I’d loose my family a little bit if I became Catholic since I’d possibly be befriending people who maybe unconsciously didn’t like my family because they are Protestant.

 

[MikeeK]

Here’s a link to an article that make the point I was trying to make but better. The author is on hundreds of radio stations (not much TV I don’t think).

shepherdsfellowship.org/pulpit/Posts.aspx?ID=4459

By the way, I’m a Protestant who used to be a Catholic and I get along with my family just fine. People who actually believe the Bible and strive to obey it by the power of the Holy Spirit do not create divisions, that’s what cults do (regardless of their basis).

 

[Aboveallbereal]

I wouldn’t say it’s all commercials and marketing. That’s pretty cynical.

It is true that they buy the radio time and the Catholic church, as the largest landowner in the world, could do it also if they had anything that would hold people’s interest.

The reality is that Catholic priests brag about their 7 minute homilies whereas Protestant pastors typically preach for 45 minutes or more meaning their messages are a lot more conducive to 30 minutes radio slots.

I have had the pleasure of knowing many priests and have yet to hear one brag about the length of time he preaches at homily time.

 

[Aboveallbereal]

One point that has been touched on here is that there are very different kinds of “protestant TV and radio”. It’s a mistake to lump “protestants” into one category. There are lots of people on TV that I wouldn’t even say are Christians because they consistently elevate feeling good or physical health or personal wealth above the glory of the risen Savior.

There are definitely people who use this air time to promote book sales or solicit “donations” but also many who are sincerely trying to reach people with the Gospel, explain that they can have a personal relationship with God through Christ and know that their sins are forgiven.

According to the CIA World Fact Book (which is a terrific resource on these types of demographic issues) the US is 51.3% Protestant and 23.9% Roman Catholic. Canada is 42.6% Roman Catholic and 23.3% Protestant.

and one must remember and be honest enough to accept that a good proportion of those “catholics” are de facto protestants rejecting the magisterium in areas of life where they feel they want to keep control of what they think is right and wrong by which I mean refusing to allow the Church intrude into their bedrooms or leisure time. Probably no more than a max. 10% of the population in Canada or the U.S. is in any meaningful way Catholic.