Your comments are always welcome here. But the topic (and therefore appropriate emphasis) of course was the Today Tonight beat-up and anti-Christian bigotry, not whether it is appropriate for believers to be on Idol. As it went further in that direction, the more I started to cringe, because A) it was off topic; and B), if the litmus test of Biblical spirituality and holiness is to stay clear of a song contest, even if it has the word ‘idol’ in it, then I think we are starting to lose the plot.

Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch

Spencer, Hervey Bay, Qld.

I guess the problem I had with some comments here (about not going on Idol, or not even liking the term ‘Idol’ in the name) was that it actually undid what some of these commentators were trying to say. Yes idolatry is a real concern which the Bible speaks much about. But we almost trivialise and minimise the biblical concern when we pick on one show – just a singing contest – or even the term in the name of a show. Idolatry in the biblical sense is much greater and much more insidious. It affects everything, and can be found everywhere. It can even be found in churches and in good Christian things. Thus Guinness can speak of the idolatry of the church growth movement, for example. And a believer – even I – can make an idol of trying to win a debate with commentators on a blog site!

So idolatry in one sense is a whole lot bigger and more deceptive than we sometimes imagine. To single out as an example of idolatry a singing contest show and bewail something like a phrase on TV program is perhaps to miss the real point about the biblical warnings against idolatry. The whole fallen world in one sense is an idol. Every time we are out of the will of God, even for “lesser sins” such as gossip, intellectual pride, even spiritual pride, we are partaking in the fallen idolatrous world system.

Thus I became a bit impatient with where this discussion had been heading, and curtailed it. But my impatience may also be idolatrous! So we all need to be careful here. We sometimes major on minors, and minor on majors. Seeing the trees, we perhaps lose sight of the forest.

Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch

Then what about such overseas TV reality progams as “Temptation Island” – where several couples agreed to live with a group of singles of the opposite sex, in order to test the strength of their relationships; “Boy Meets Boy” – where a gay man named James Getzlaff selects another man to date from among a group of 15 potential suiters, known as “mates”; “There’s Something About Miriam” – featuring six men wooing 21 year-old Mexican model Miriam without revealing that she was a transsexual until the final episode; and “Can You Be A Porn Star” – the title speaks for itself – two of which, I know at least have been aired in Australia? … and the list goes on and on! Comparing “Australian Idol” to “Big Brother” and these fore mentioned shows is like comparing the morals of Jesus to Adolph Hitler.

Then there are sportspeople, models, actors and actresses, singers and musicians on the national and international stage. Spencer, aren’t they not also our idols – to the young and old alike – yesterday, today and tomorrow? Reality check – welcome to the 21st century!

Glenn Timmins, Vic.

Pat Abrahams

But seriously, this rubbish journalism just reinforces what we already understand about the Christophobic sway of the popular media. It’s unfortunate that so many people accept this trash uncritically, and allow it to shape their worldview.

Since when was it a negative and scandalous thing to be a Christian in this nation?

Luke Beattie