Pakistan’s problems were customarily blamed on ignorance, and too little knowledge of ‘true religion’.
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, US: This is with reference to Zohra Yusuf’s article “Media’s role in promoting religiosity” (October 19). Pakistan’s problems were customarily blamed on ignorance, and too little knowledge of ‘true religion’. Now the diagnosis is that there is too much knowledge of religion.
Religion has proved quite resilient. China, Russia and Turkey failed miserably to eradicate it. The demand is genuinely there, and is not artificially boosted by television.
In the US, scores of channels are exclusively broadcasting religion. Commercial television is for profit and will gladly provide whatever brings cash into their coffers. Seculars and liberals suggest may put forward many solutions for problems afflicting Pakistan. But maybe those that get to suggest solutions are themselves the problem.
Munir Munshey
Published in The Express Tribune, October 20th, 2010.
