Douglas Howe: December 2007 Archives

Mitt Romney has a big televised speech today. Because there’s anticipation, intrigue and drama surrounding one of the more interesting TV speech events since Bill Clinton’s “apology,” this makes for great TV.

Many politicos, evangelical leaders and media members have made quite an issue of Mitt Romney’s religion. It’s been 46 years since such a vibrant candidate has captured the public’s imagination with a combination of professional track record, family wealth, good looks for TV and a significant issue regarding a monarchical religion of his choosing. John F. Kennedy, you might remember, got elected. The Pope didn’t run America, at least that we know so far.

There are many of us in the faith-based world who enjoy movies, music and culture with an eye and ear towards spiritual matters. This holiday season, why not forego a movie or two and pick up one of a number of books that really capture the season and bring inspiration and, perhaps more importantly, opportunities for reflection. If you’re up for it, here’s our list of the Top Ten Bedstand Reads for this holiday season:

10. “The Little Book of Big Ideas: Religion,” by Dr. Jeremy Stangroom. From Christianity, Islam and Judaism to Buddhism, Confucius and Zarathustra, this short read covers the majors and the minors and the words of their leaders, from Jesus to Muhammad, from Calvin to Rashi. A nice way to really learn what’s behind the names and words that are frequently thrown around by those who don’t really know what they mean.

The most uninspiring show on television this weekend was the “BCS Selection Show” on Fox. No, I take it back. It was actually the most uninspiring show of the year. It wasn’t Fox’s fault. They just happened to be the network that had the rights to show the show. The problem lies with those who make the so-called selections. It’s a farce.

I give my wife and daughters all kinds of heat for wasting valuable time watching shows like “Project Runway,” “America’s Next Top Model” or “Top Chef.” I think of them as non-reality shows masquerading as reality shows. As a sports buff, I’ve always believed that live sports is the best reality show on TV. While the producer can put the production together and the director can line up the camera shots, there is literally nothing anyone can do to affect what goes on the field, or the court, or the ice, or wherever the contest is being played.

But I was shown up this weekend. I found out that—at least when it comes to College Football—the choosing of who plays for the national championship is as false and as contrived a decision process as any of those other shows. But at least they others are forthright about it.

The “BCS Selection Show”—BCS being short for “Bowl Championship Series”—showed how College Football is more reminiscent of, say, professional boxing than amateur sports.
“Who’s the best? We don’t know,” said one of the announcers in the show. That, you see, is the problem. No one knows who’s the best, and it will not be decided on the field.