Leave "God" to the Religious Stations

[Ladytalk]

It’s not like there aren’t a plethora of AM and FM religious stations here in Nashville. I’m glad I live in a country where we have the freedom to worship as we please. That being said, I would never want anyone to tell a talk radio host that he or she could not express their religious views on-the-air.

But talk radio is, first and foremost, entertainment. We have a talk host here in Nashville who constantly quotes exact Bible verses to make his points. Again, it’s his right to do this, just like it is my right not to listen. I tune in talk radio to be entertained and possibly a bit informed.

If I want to be preached to, I’ll listen to one of the many religious stations. Not the FM mainstream talk station. Amen.

 

[jetfli]

It’s not like there aren’t a plethora of AM and FM religious stations here in Nashville. I’m glad I live in a country where we have the freedom to worship as we please. That being said, I would never want anyone to tell a talk radio host that he or she could not express their religious views on-the-air.

But talk radio is, first and foremost, entertainment. We have a talk host here in Nashville who constantly quotes exact Bible verses to make his points. Again, it’s his right to do this, just like it is my right not to listen. I tune in talk radio to be entertained and possibly a bit informed.

If I want to be preached to, I’ll listen to one of the many religious stations. Not the FM mainstream talk station. Amen.

...and if the radio station wants to pay this guy and broadcast his show, because he's a popular host that brings in numbers and sponsors, that's their right. So why not turn it off? Or at least recognize that "he's that way" and cut him some slack for not just leaving his faith behind at church. You'll be better off for not going to the AM dial.

 

[Ladytalk]

I said in my original post that I DO turn him off and never questioned the station's right to have him on. And if he were so popular, they wouldn't have cut his show by an hour for the awful Fred Thompson Show, which, I understand is sponsored by phlegm.

 

[Journeyman]

I said in my original post that I DO turn him off and never questioned the station's right to have him on. And if he were so popular, they wouldn't have cut his show by an hour for the awful Fred Thompson Show, which, I understand is sponsored by phlegm.

If you don't like talk about God and Fred Thompson you are not an American and you hate this country. I know. Michael DelGiorno told me so.

 

[hamiltonsfolly]

Oh, by all means, let's gripe and complain about radio that is locally based, regionally driven and seems to be a popular show for the area. I've got an idea, let's get some corporate suits to come in to program and voice track all the stations so we can have some 'real entertainment.'................ :

Hmmmmmmmmmm, that's right.......WE ALREADY HAVE! Happy?

 

[Fredj1979]

DelGiorno and those other conservative Neanderthals need to be taught a lesson!

The separation of church and state guaranteed by the first amendment means the FCC needs to step in and require this state (FCC) licensed radio station to get all of this church talk off the air. I wonder why WTN doesn’t have any progressive or even main stream talk show hosts? Me thinks Cumulus is showing their corporate political bias?

 

[jetfli]

Re: DelGiorno and those other conservative Neanderthals need to be taught a less

The separation of church and state guaranteed by the first amendment means the FCC needs to step in and require this state (FCC) licensed radio station to get all of this church talk off the air. I wonder why WTN doesn’t have any progressive or even main stream talk show hosts? Me thinks Cumulus is showing their corporate political bias?

The FCC has no power here. The "separation of church and state" guaranteed by the first amendment prohibits the government from interfering with the practicing and espousing of religion. It also prevents the US from adopting a state religion as England did in the years prior to colonization of the US. It does not prohibit or prevent religion from being seen or heard in any way. It addresses freedom of religion, not freedom from religion.

From what I know of Cumulus, they don't have the kind of corporate political bias you suggest. Believe me, if they could get numbers and sales for liberal talk show hosts, they'd be on the air. They certainly don't have any problem playing on their music stations popular music that espouses liberal lyrics by liberal performers who use their celebrity to promote liberal causes and intolerance.

 

[TheBigA]

Here's the First Amendment:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

If you read the words, they are instructions to the government. So it prohibits the government from making laws that interfere with the expression of religion. That includes religious radio. So neither the FCC nor any part of the government can do anything about religious radio. And truthfully, there are no restrictions about putting religious content on stations formatted for other kinds of programming. And there never will be.

 

[PaulO]

Oh, by all means, let's gripe and complain about radio that is locally based, regionally driven and seems to be a popular show for the area. I've got an idea, let's get some corporate suits to come in to program and voice track all the stations so we can have some 'real entertainment.'................ :

Hmmmmmmmmmm, that's right.......WE ALREADY HAVE! Happy?


I'm waiting for an audimated text to speach talk format. Could be very entertaining. Have a bunch of text to speach voices as hosts. Perfect Paul comes to mind.

 

[sdwulfdawg]

It does really bother me, however, that a lot of religious broadcasters seem to have the biggest and nicest broadcast studios all from donations which are not taxed such as a commercial broadcaster is taxed. Not only that, often times they practice "hate speech" and use their airwaves to promote a political viewpoint. There is no reason why religious broadcasters should be able to have super duper HD and satellite equipment and not be taxed on their spoils while commercial broadcasters are being taxed.

If traditional houses of worship, by IRS rules, cannot use the pulpit to disseminate political views and keep their non-profit status, nor should broadcasters....radio or television.

 

[the golden boy]

I wonder if the show ladytalk is talking about is Dave Ramsey. While I agree with her about being preached to, at the same time, I have a couple of buttons on my radio that allows me to change the channel or simply turn it off.

I do agree with the above post about religious broadcasters and their tax-exempt status. However, that's something that has to be tread very carefully. There is this thing called freedom of speech.

 

[Ladytalk]

Wasn't talking about Dave Ramsey. This host injects "God" and religion much more than Dave. And I do know my radio has two buttons, one that turns it off and another that changes the station. I use both when this particular host is on. I said as much in my original post. That post simply said that I didn't like the non-stop religion on "mainstream" stations and chose not to listen. I also said that the station and host had a perfect right to do this but, again, I didn't find it entertaining and did not listen. I never talked about Freedom of Speech, except to say that both the host and station had the right to broadcast any viewpoint they chose and that I was glad to live in a country where they did.

I simply stated my dislike for this type of broadcasting, whether it's local or syndicated. By the way, I have helped to start several different live and local radio shows in my career and am a firm supporter of local programming. I just enjoy political and pop culture talk radio without being preached to. It's their right to preach and mine to NOT listen.

 

[deltas69]

It's their right to preach and mine to NOT listen. then why do you continue to tune in ? you know what to expect...that's akin to me complaining about wsm playing country music every day..but i tune in so i can complain about it..." i don't like what's on ANY nashville station..so i DON'T listen....

 

[Ladytalk]

I don't listen! I haven't listened for quite some time. I was out-of-town listening to a talk show that was on at the same time. It was very entertaining and made me think about the times I had very little to listen to in Nashville at the same time. I know what to expect and don't listen. Never said that I did. Just that I didn't like that particular style of broadcasting.

 

[skippertthomas]

Re: DelGiorno and those other conservative Neanderthals need to be taught a lesson!

The separation of church and state guaranteed by the first amendment means the FCC needs to step in and require this state (FCC) licensed radio station to get all of this church talk off the air. I wonder why WTN doesn’t have any progressive or even main stream talk show hosts? Me thinks Cumulus is showing their corporate political bias?

Then the FCC would have to approve ALL formating of stations... Right or wrong, they won't open that can of worms...

 

[w9wi]

I wonder if the show ladytalk is talking about is Dave Ramsey. While I agree with her about being preached to, at the same time, I have a couple of buttons on my radio that allows me to change the channel or simply turn it off.

I do agree with the above post about religious broadcasters and their tax-exempt status. However, that's something that has to be tread very carefully. There is this thing called freedom of speech.

(I rather enjoyed Dave's show until he started getting political. Much like I used to have a button programmed for Way FM until they started letting Pat Robertson on the air...)

Isn't the criteria for tax-exempt status that you can't promote or denigrate a specific candidate or slate of candidates? You can tell people they'll go to hell if they vote for candidates who won't ban abortion, but you can't tell them they'll go to hell if they vote Democratic?

I do think we need to take a look at multiple ownership regulations for non-commercial stations (whether "religious" or secular) At least at one time, American Family Radio owned three stations in reserved spectrum licensed to Tupelo, Mississippi. Only five such stations are technically possible. A parallel in the commercial side would be for one firm to own eleven commercial FMs in the Nashville market. I would suggest a given organization be limited to two stations in reserved spectrum with overlapping 60dBu contours. I would also propose bringing non-commercial licensees under the same limits for national reach as apply to commercial owners.

 

[olebud]

I think maybe we should get rid of all our coins and bills. I believe 'IN GOD WE TRUST' is written on them all.

 

[anotherguyTN]

(I rather enjoyed Dave's show until he started getting political. Much like I used to have a button programmed for Way FM until they started letting Pat Robertson on the air...)

I only get to listen to WAY-FM occasionally when I'm in range of a station, but I have never heard Pat Robertson on there. The only full length programs they have had have been Focus on the Family and Dawson McAllister Live, neither of which are there now, except for possibly the FOTF Weekend show or James Dobson's family minutes.

I guess it's possible that Robertson may have been a guest on FOTF or DM Live or even the morning show at some point, but that would most likely only have been a one time thing. In any case to my knowledge Robertson has never had a program on WAY-FM because they have had very few or no full length programs in the first place. I'd guess that Skipperthomas could clarify this more than me since he used to be there.

Is it possible there are times that you may have been receiving WIGH 88.7 in Jackson, TN instead? They're an American Family Radio station and are more likely to have Robertson, although he was more than likely a guest at that time as well. Does Robertson even have any kind of radio program or commentary?

 

[w9wi]

I only get to listen to WAY-FM occasionally when I'm in range of a station, but I have never heard Pat Robertson on there. The only full length programs they have had have been Focus on the Family and Dawson McAllister Live, neither of which are there now, except for possibly the FOTF Weekend show or James Dobson's family minutes.

I guess it's possible that Robertson may have been a guest on FOTF or DM Live or even the morning show at some point, but that would most likely only have been a one time thing. In any case to my knowledge Robertson has never had a program on WAY-FM because they have had very few or no full length programs in the first place. I'd guess that Skipperthomas could clarify this more than me since he used to be there.

Is it possible there are times that you may have been receiving WIGH 88.7 in Jackson, TN instead? They're an American Family Radio station and are more likely to have Robertson, although he was more than likely a guest at that time as well. Does Robertson even have any kind of radio program or commentary?

This was long enough ago that WIGH was still a radio reading service for the visually-impaired. And it's possible I have Robertson confused with another similar commentator. It was definitely a program. (not a brief interview between songs or anything like that) I find that kind of program offensive enough that the 88.7 button got replaced with something else & haven't listened since.

 

[Journeyman]

I think maybe we should get rid of all our coins and bills. I believe 'IN GOD WE TRUST' is written on them all.

Not really a problem for me. These days I got so few of 'em I'd hardy miss 'em!