Sci-Fi Reality Show Hurts Voodoo Religon

[matcom]

<snip>

A Philadelphia-based advocacy group for African religions yesterday sued Universal Studios and producers for cable's Sci Fi Channel, contending that a forthcoming "reality series" demeans and misrepresents the voodoo religion.

The federal lawsuit filed by the National African Religion Congress Inc. against Universal Studios Inc., USA Cable Entertainment, and House of Eleven Productions seeks a court order requiring the producers of Mad Mad House to change their advertising and programming.

"People already have negative feelings about this religion without a program like this exacerbating things," said George Ware, president of the five-year-old congress. The congress claims 4,500 members representing such religions as Akan, the Orisa Tradition of Trinidad and Tobago, Ifa, Santeria-Yoruba, voodoo, Candomble and Lucumi, including 500 in the tristate Philadelphia area.

In promotions in print and on cable, Sci Fi describes Mad Mad House, premiering March 4, as a reality series in which "10 everyday people" move into a house run by "five genuine practitioners of alternative lifestyles."

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/8024245.htm

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. The word "genuine practitioners" may be a sticking point.

If they people believe they're genuine practitioners, then I'm not sure what grounds the Philadelphia organization has for their suit.

Lord know that we'd be in big trouble if there was a reality show on how Christians live in their everyday life. But this would be the ultimate show of shows, because it is hardest to deny the hypocrisy when you have to admit that unchristianlike decisions are made on a daily basis by people who consider themselves Christians.