LOOKING and LISTENING

Godlessness on the television
By JOAN NEWTON
SOME of last week's programmes
made a profound impression on me. This was not because they were exceptional radio or TV programmes but because of the implications behind them. I don't suppose many of you are at home to look in at the B.B.C. TV version of "Woman's Hour" every afternoon. 1 am sure this programme cannot have the enormous and happy audience that the Light Programme commands. So far, the television producers haven't succeeded in equalling the radio version for versatility. intelligence. or responsibility. 1 have already mentioned the series (on TV) about adolescents. The last in this series "Getting Married" appeared last week.
TOO MUCH SEX
You might say that it was rea
sonable enough for the young people to say what they thought about love and marriage. If they said foolish or (in our view) immoral things we could expect them to be corrected in the second part of the programme where the older people-parents and teacherswere to have their say. This was not the case. That tiresome word sex was used far too often. (We are getting heartily sick of the work this small word has to do, by the way.) The words purity or chastity were not used at all. The overall impression left by this programme was that self control before marriage was an admirable thing. provided the young person did not get too repressed. No hint of religion in the whole time given over to this subject. I think at least one practising Christian might have been allowed to state the Christian outlook towards marriage and I think the moral harm this programme may have done could be high.
GYPSY RIVALS
LATER that evening a very " touching TV play did uphold the sanctity of marriage. It was "The Vagrant Heart" by Rosemary Anne Sisson and was altogether charming in the freshness of its theme and the delightful humour of the story.
In short. it was about two rival gypsy families and the ending of that rivalry by the marriage of the boy in one family and the girl in the other. They, at least, knew that marriage was meant to last.
GOOD IDEA
IT is too early to say much about the magnificent new B.B.C. TV series "Science International"magnificent in concept, because the first "What is Life?" did not live up to our expectations. It was sad. too. to find that the mention of God, even. was not considered in a programme on this subject.
It took the radio's latest "Way of Life"-about the faith in Japan-last Sunday to give me some hope in what had seemed a particularly Godless week. The very inspiring and wonderful story of the survival of the faith, in spite of great persecution. in Japan for several centuries made excellent radio, too.