LONDON — The BBC’s director of religious programming is an atheist, he disclosed yesterday, insisting that he leaves his views at the door before going to work.
James Purnell defended the corporation’s decision to appoint him to a role traditionally occupied by a person of faith. Appearing on Today on BBC Radio 4 to unveil the BBC’s new religious strategy, Purnell was asked if he was a religious man.
“I’m not. I’m an atheist, but I think the issues around belief are incredibly important to how we live,” he replied.
Nick Robinson, the Today presenter, challenged Purnell’s fitness for the role. “Isn’t that a problem? You are head of the BBC’s religious programming,” he said. “You got the job because the BBC decided to abolish the post of head of religious programming … you’re doing it as part of a very busy job and you don’t even believe.”
Purnell, a former Labour government minister, combines the job with his role as the BBC’s head of radio and education. He was appointed following the departure of Aaqil Ahmed as head of religion and ethics. Ahmed is Muslim while his predecessors were Christians.
Purnell said BBC staff are diverse in their beliefs, and those beliefs do not affect decision-making. “Some people have strong religious views, some have strong atheistic views … we all have our different views and we leave them at the door,” he said.
Under plans announced yesterday, the BBC will increase prime-time coverage of non-Christian festivals such as Eid, Passover and Diwali. Religious themes will feature more heavily in drama and comedy, and the newsroom’s global religious affairs team will be expanded.
But a report identified that the word “religion” was off-putting to many people, and suggested “a need to shift the language towards more mainstream appeal.”
Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Trinity 4-2 - "For Daniel the prophet says,
Daniel 12:3, that the teachers shall shine as the brightness of the
firmament after the resurrection of the dead, and they that turn many to
righteousness as the stars forever and ever. And St. Paul in Corinthians
15:41 says: “For one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is
the resurrection of the dead.”
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9. Thus you see that this text does not at all permit us to conclude from
it that forgiveness of sins is obtained by works; for Christ here speaks to ...
2 hours ago
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