"A central theme running through this report is the basic and fundamental conviction that journalists and programme-makers should aim to explore the “lived experience” of religion as well as its doctrinal, ritual and ceremonial elements. This view was supported across the full body of our submissions and by panellists from a variety of different faiths. Too often, religion and belief are reduced to a series of rules to be learnt and practices understood; it was instructive that the majority of responses from media organisations understood religious literacy only as a matter of acquiring knowledge. For the vast majority of people of faith, this is only one part of their religious lives. Focusing on practices and rituals fundamentally misses the lived experience of faith as something which informs every part of public and private life and acts as a source of motivation, strength and guidance to the majority of the world’s inhabitants. Until this simple truth is understood, the media will continue to misrepresent and misunderstand religion." (Executive summary)
Introduction, 13
1 Religion, media, literacy, 14
2 The impact of religious illiteracy on the media; a review of evidence received, 25
3 The effects of religious illiteracy on society, 37
4 Religious literacy through education, 44
5 Steps journalists and religious organisations can take, 52
6 The Press, 57
7 Broadcasting, 79
Conclusion, 85
Acknowledgements, 88
Appendices, 89