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Non-History on the History Channel

The History Channel is one of my favorites along with the Discovery Channel ect... but am I wrong in getting pissed off when I see programs like "In the footsteps of Jesus, The Way of the Cross" on the "History" channel? I understand that religion has played a large roll in shaping historical events, almost always in a negative way and usually resulting in the needless deaths of hundreds or thousands or in the case of the Holocaust, millions of people. But is there really a need to broadcast programs about a person (Jesus) whom there is no actual historical evidence that he ever existed? Never mind that a whole religion has been based on his "life and teachings" and oh by the way the new testament wasn't even written until almost Two Hundred years after his supposed death. I'm actually watching this crap right now, there are people explaining "historical" facts with titles like "Religious Scholar", it's an oxymoron. It literally makes my stomach turn, much like George W. Bush did.... wait, there is goes... apparently he still does.

But I digress, my point is that I feel the History Channel has devalued its self by airing shows on archeological finds that are then framed and fitted for the purposes of religion after the fact.

Feel free to tell me I'm full of shit.

Thanx

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Comment by Andrew on January 24, 2009 at 10:43am: Flock of Dodos was made my an Evolutionary Biologist who went to Harvard and is full of Scientists, so I think you can definitely justify showing it to your classes.

Comment by PhoenixFlash on January 24, 2009 at 7:40am: I will check it out. It would be nice to have something for the kids that I can actually show. It is difficult to find useful material, the churches that families attend around here distribute AIG books and videos on a regular basis. And oh yea- my principal attends one of those churches...........I would love to be a sponsor of a student freethinkers group at school, but as a teacher I am not allowed to start the group. We do have a school Christian group of course.

Comment by Andrew on January 23, 2009 at 6:26pm: That's part of my concern, crap gets aired on the History Channel and is passed off as real, relevant, factual history. Kids watch it and think that it's fact, this rolls right into the Intelligent Design nonsense vs. Darwin and Evolution, it's a slippery slope. If you haven't seen it yet, watch the documentary "Flock of Dodos" and better yet have your students watch it Phoenix.

Comment by PhoenixFlash on January 23, 2009 at 5:46pm: I'm a high school science teacher - the kids assume if they see something on History or Dicovery channel it MUST be true. I try to teach critical thinking with the best of them, but these programs are really wearing me down. I just had to force myself watch the Exodus program because the kids WILL ask about it.

Comment by Leslee Love on January 23, 2009 at 5:00pm: Yea, those are okay. Really all the HC shows are great when they're not trying to tie it to Jesus, the shroud, the ark, nostradamus, etc...you get it.

Comment by zeeman barzell on January 23, 2009 at 4:44pm: I too roll my eyes at those shows and then turn the channel. But what do you guys think of other non-history History Channel shows like Ice Road Truckers or Ax Men? Just wondering....

Comment by Talibangelist on January 23, 2009 at 2:28pm: Marie, one goes to The Discovery Institute! Everyone knows that.....

Comment by Andrew on January 23, 2009 at 2:07pm: I'd imagine that cryptozoology is offered at Crackerjack University, you have to buy your own frame for the diploma though.