The American Family Assn. is protesting a new NBC series, "The Book of Daniel," which portrays a family that includes a 23-year-old homosexual Republican son, a drug-dealing daughter, and an alcoholic mother as models of the Christian faith, led by a drug-addicted father -- also a priest -- who is trying to be good. NBC says the show highlights the story of people, such as the father character in the show, who, even with all of the sin around him, has an ongoing dialogue with Jesus. But the association says the show demeans the Christian faith. What do you think?

This is just another example of the kind of television fare that allows me to get so much good reading accomplished. Is Jerry Springer producing this program?

Whoever is producing it, I suspect it will be a huge success in the ratings! Or, maybe, as President Bush likes to put it, I am misunderestimating the intelligence of the American television audience.

THE REV. THOMAS E. WITHERSPOON

Unity Church of the Valley

La Crescenta

I'm writing this before the show premieres, so I don't want to remark on the content; but I have no problem making some general comments.

NBC, or any entertainment outlet, provides programming based on one consideration: money. To believe they have altruistic, evangelical or diabolical motives in their presentations is to miss the point. They are providing programming that has the largest appeal. And, like it or not, dysfunctional families are in. Add an element of religion for a world seeking spirituality, a couple of good actors and you've got the possibility of a hit show, good ratings and more dollars.

The American Family Assn. has every right to protest "The Book of Daniel." It's commendable that some organizations still value the right to protest. It would be nice if there was a degree of consistency in their actions, particularly in regard to the war and the death penalty, but such is the freedom granted them in America.

What we're missing as religious organizations and institutions is the view of society from the vantage point of the entertainment marketers. They are selling what people are buying. It would be a utopian dream to believe the entertainment industry has a conscience or even cares about the spiritual welfare of people, but that's not going to increase their stock value.

Immediately following the Resurrection of Jesus, we read in John 21, that the apostle Peter is consumed with the fate of another disciple. Jesus tells him to focus his attention to his own ministry: "If you love me, feed my sheep." This is the mission of the sacred institutions -- to tend and feed the spiritual needs of the people. Hollywood will continue to make dollars, but we have to believe that the value given to the consumer of our product is much greater.

FR. VAZKEN MOVSESIAN

Armenian Church

Youth Ministries

The real book of Daniel, the one in the Bible, tells the story of a man who was "trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent" (Daniel 6:4 ). Therefore, his enemies could only snare Daniel by making laws that he would be forced to break if he continued to obey God's. Daniel was no religious phony, and soon found himself thrown into a lion's den for breaking the king's edict; but God rescued him.

This "The Book of Daniel," produced by NBC, is about a substance-abusing minister, his drunken wife and the rest of his dysfunctional and godless family. Enter a dope-dealer daughter and two fornicating sons; one a homosexual (like the show's writer. Go figure!) and the other, a philanderer with yet another minister's daughter. This is a far cry from anything biblical despite the religious theme, the main character's occupation and the title's allusion. It would seem that NBC is going out of its way to say, "Hey, this is really how it is with those Christians!"

Christians, pastors included, are real people, but to take the most failing (and fictional) examples and to propagandize them on television is no less outrageous than taking other religious or racial stereotypes and airing shows modeling them as typical.

I'm still beside myself that again Christians are fair game for prejudice, and that without reprisals.

NBC: the "No Born-again Christians" network.

THE REV. BRYAN GRIEM

Senior Pastor

Light On The Corner

Montrose

It's hard for me to imagine why media professionals would want to foist such a blatantly ludicrous concept on the American television audience and why NBC would think it worth airing.

Maybe I'm missing the point of the show? Is it supposed to be some sort of dark comedy? I understand that television occasionally brings characters and plots to ridiculous extremes in an attempt to hold the viewer's attention. But could anyone in his right mind actually endure such an obviously perverted perception of Christ, clergy and the church long enough to try and find some morally redeeming quality in it? Not outside of Hollywood, I suspect.

Of course, NBC is counting on the church to be outraged and to generate free publicity for the show. Well, I'm not outraged. Unfortunately, most of us aren't even surprised any more. Those who know and love Jesus Christ will roll their eyes and keep right on serving Him. Those who don't won't.

Unrepentant sinners are threatened by the holiness of Christ and His followers. Some try to make themselves feel more acceptable by making the holy seem corrupt (as this show does). This is both unfortunate and unnecessary.

PASTOR JON BARTA

Valley Baptist Church

Burbank

When I first saw "The Book of Daniel" advertised on TV, I wanted to laugh out loud! How can you keep a straight face when the guy playing Jesus, sitting in the passenger seat of a moving car, says, "Feel free to quote me"?

If memory serves, religious programs such as this one don't often succeed.

Remember "Joan of Arcadia"? I liked that one, and it didn't last. "Sunday Dinner," a production by Norman Lear starring Teri Hatcher, didn't last, either. (Hatcher used to talk to God by calling Him/Her "Chief"!) One plot I've seen on such shows consisted of a priest wrestling with the issues of the day as they came into contact with his faith. (What? A man of the cloth actually wrestling with his belief system? What an outrage!) My advice to the religious right or whoever else doesn't want "Daniel" to air is to ignore it; I predict it will self-destruct. But if it doesn't, what's the big deal about an alcoholic man of the cloth? We exist! Our families have "problems," the same as other families. (Please understand: I personally don't believe having a gay or lesbian child is a "problem." But ministers' families have gays and lesbians in them, the same as other families.)

I am not really a fan of bumper-sticker theology, but one time I saw one that said, "Christians aren't perfect, just forgiven." Let us all remember that not one of us is perfect, including ministers and priests. And neither are our families. So why should "Daniel" reflect a perfect family? A perfect family does not exist! Feel free to quote me!

THE REV. C.L. "SKIP" LINDEMAN

Congregational Church of the Lighted Window

United Church of Christ

La Cañada Flintridge

No one is perfect. No one religion has a flawless congregation.

All faithful religionists strive toward sincerely following the teachings and laws of their faith, but let's face it; sin and error are inherent to the human condition. We try, we err, and hopefully we continue to pick ourselves up and try again. Without the benefit of having seen "The Book of Daniel" we can only offer a limited opinion.

However, it seems that to be threatened by the portrayal of an imperfect, though religious, family is to miss the point that we are all vulnerable to afflictions of the spirit, and we can all learn to deal with and correct them, especially with the help of religion.

An aspect to consider is that of forgiveness, forbearance and co-existence. If one cannot admit the possibility of error within one's faith, then it must be difficult to fathom working with those in trouble. Programs of this nature, if well written and done with an uplifting message, can serve to show that despite our individual flaws, we can coexist. We can be cognizant of our flaws, and can still continue to subscribe to a religious faith in spite of our difficulties in living the life prescribed by that religion.

Whether the show's story line is uplifting, degrading, or simply outrageous for the sake of a laugh remains to be seen. It would not be our wish that any specific religion be embarrassed by a shameful portrayal. Also, it is hoped that children might be shielded from this apparently adult-oriented show by late-night scheduling and parental supervision.

As always, whether or not television executives decide to air "The Book of Daniel," or any other program that meets with public disapproval, the decision to tune in or tune out is a simple one for the viewer, and an opportunity to demonstrate proactive choice to one's family.

BARBARA CRAMER

Secretary

Baha'i faith