I’ve been working on a major column for USA TODAY (it’s slated to run in the newspaper on Monday) about the Discovery Channel documentary “The Lost Tomb of Jesus.” In the course of my research I learned that Newsweek is planning a big feature story in its March 28th issue under the headline FROM JESUS TO THE CHRIST.
Isn’t it amazing how our popular coverage discovers Jesus once a year, every year, at just about this time? Do you think it’s a coincidence that we get a major TV documentary (and a new book associated with it) as well as a big Newsweek article at just about the same time? Could this sudden flurry of interest possibly relate to the upcoming Easter holiday?
The strategy behind this timing is slightly patronizing, even insulting. Once a year, just before observances commemorating the crucifixion and resurrection, the media suddenly (and briefly) recall that hundreds of millions of Americans take Christ and Christianity very seriously indeed. They therefore strain to hype some “sensational new discovery” (“The Lost Tomb of Jesus,” “The Gospel of Judas,” etc.) in an effort to make their transparent exploitation of religious enthusiasm seem newsy and relevant.
I’ve begun speculating on what breathless, heavily-hyped “scientific breakthroughs” they may generate next (“DNA Identifies Skeleton as Pet Dog of Jesus!”) but it’s hard to take this too far without tilting over toward sacrilege.
It might be refreshing if our media gate keepers remembered that many Americans remain passionately interested in Jesus every month, every day, nurturing a fascination that isn’t limited to the few weeks leading up to a big religious holiday.