‘Religious hogwash’: Jeremy Paxman rapped over using phrase to introduce Bible story on Newsnight

August 1st, 2012

FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda

By
Paul Revoir

PUBLISHED:

15:08 EST, 31 July 2012

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UPDATED:

16:37 EST, 31 July 2012

Caused offence: Newsnight host Jeremy Paxman offended Christians by using the phrase ‘religious hogwash’ to introduce the Bible story of Genesis, a report ruled yesterday

Newsnight host Jeremy Paxman offended Christians by using the phrase ‘religious hogwash’ to introduce the Bible story of Genesis, a report has ruled.

A viewer complained to the corporation that an interview between Mr Paxman and atheist Professor Richard Dawkins on the show had been biased and offensive to Christians.

And after the BBC had originally defended the comments – the corporation’s governing body the BBC Trust decided the terms were offensive to some parts of the audience and there was ‘no clear editorial purpose’ for their use.

However, it said it accepted that Mr Paxman had not intended to deliberately cause offence.

Scientist Mr Dawkins appeared on the BBC2 flagship news programme to talk about his book The Magic of Reality: How Do We Know What’s Really True in September last year.

But comments made during a scripted introduction and during an interview sparked fury from a viewer, which then led to a BBC probe into the remarks.

The piece prompted a complaint that it had been biased against religious belief, although this was rejected.

The BBC’s editorial complaints unit had previously cleared the edition of causing any offence.

But following an appeal, the Trust’s Editorial Standards Committee upheld the complaint.

It concluded: ‘Although the committee did not agree with the complainant that Mr Paxman’s use of the terms ‘religious hogwash’ and ‘stupid people’ were intended to cause deliberate offence, particularly to those with religious views and beliefs, it nevertheless agreed that they were offensive to some of the audience and that there was no clear editorial purpose for their use in the context of this Newsnight item, taking account of generally accepted standards.’

Criticism: A viewer complained to the corporation that an interview between Mr Paxman and atheist Professor Richard Dawkins, pictured, on the show had been biased and offensive to Christians

The Trust decided some Newsnight viewers were ‘unlikely’ to have expected Jeremy Paxman’s ‘typically robust and confrontational interviewing style’ to extend to the use of the terms ‘religious hogwash’ when introducing the story of Genesis, and ‘stupid people’ when talking about those with ‘a literal belief in the Old Testament’.

In his scripted introduction to the item Mr Paxman explained that from ‘our earliest years we learn to suspend disbelief’.

He added: ‘And that apparently is also how we condition impressionable brains to absorb religious hogwash.’

In another section the Newsnight host said of Mr Dawkins: ‘Even with him setting them up as Aunt Sallies the myths remain the better stories carrying an imaginative charge that makes nonsense easier to understand than fact.’

He added: ‘Fairy tales of whatever world religion retain an untarnishable beauty more easily followed by a small and impressionable Tasmanian child for example. ‘

During the live interview Mr Dawkins had said he thought Genesis was a wonderful story ‘as long as you don’t think it’s true’.

He said the problem was that 40 per cent of Americans did think it was true and they ‘probably think Lot’s wife was turned to a pillar of salt as well for that matter’.

Mr Paxman then asked him: ‘Do you really care that there are a lot of stupid people around?’ The scientist said he did care that children were being misled by ‘those stupid people’.

The BBC Trust ruling said: ‘The Committee therefore concluded that the item breached Editorial Guidelines on harm and offence.’

It added that it ‘regretted the offence caused to some viewers by the use of the terms “religious hogwash” and “stupid people”.

But it was cleared of breaking impartiality rules.

When first approached with the complaint the BBC had said, as well as countering some of Mr Dawkins claims, the BBC presenter had played ‘devil’s advocate’ in the discussion.

It said the comments had not been intended to cause offence but were done to ‘initiate a variety of responses’ from the guest.

A BBC news spokesman said: ‘Newsnight notes the Trust’s finding that viewers may have found some of the comments offensive, but also welcomes the finding that the piece achieved due impartiality.’