Feedback Listener Correspondence

The BBC Trust recently came to a ruling on Thought For The Day. They decided was that the slot was primarily a religious one but that if BBC management were to feature atheist or agnostic contributors, they would not object as regulators. The BBC meanwhile has no plans to do this. Richard Tait of the BBC Trust came onto last week's edition of Feedback to explain the reasons behind this decision and, as you can imagine, he provoked a big response.

Dear Feedback

I no more want to listen to sanctimonious twaddle from atheists and agnostics than I do from religious people.

Peter Percival

I am a Church of England clergywoman, and I very much appreciate the wide variety of thought provoking and challenging faith-views broadcast on Radio 4's Thought for the Day slot. I think it is a right decision not to have non-religious persons included in this 3 minute slot as there are many other forums on which secular views can be aired on Radio and TV (eg. Question Time etc). There are very few slots set aside for purely religious broadcasting; so please let it continue to stand as it is.

The Rev'd. Olivia Werrett

I have no religious inclinations whatever. I do, however, listen regularly to Thought for the Day, in which, frequently, I detect no religious sentiments whatever but only a good deal of plain, honest common sense on topical issues. I especially enjoy Rabbi Lionel Blue, who rarely talks religion.

It appears to me that, apart from Sunday morning and the Daily Service, religion gets rather little coverage on BBC radio. Surely, atheists and agnostics have plenty of non-religious broadcasting time?

Personally, I think that the BBC subjects us to far too much football, but that's only MY opinion.

Michael Henstock

Hi, just a comment on the TFTD debate. I think that this section provides a balance to the secularism of the rest of the schedule. If one doesn't like TFTD it is easy to avoid. Anti-religious attitudes are less easy to dodge, such as that expressed in A Good Read (programme before last). One of the contributors used the programme to make a hate filled attack on the Catholic Church in general, and Mother Teresa in particular. I didn't make note of the contributor since I had no plans to complain, I only mention it to illustrate the point.

I often find that those with a religious view are at least sniggered at in many shows, and non religious views are certainly treated with greater seriousness. Now, I'm confident enough in my own faith to be able to let such stuff pass, and though I feel that the guy on AGR was sneaky to disguise his attack on Mother Teresa as a book review, I believe that people (even devious people) are entitled to their opinion. But I do object to people of no faith trying to destroy a faith slot. When I hear something I don't want to hear, I switch over. I advise those offended by hearing TFTD to do the same.

David Murphy

I'm glad the BBC seems to have taken the view that there is no need to add non-religious content to Thought for the Day, since as was rightly pointed out on today's Feedback program, a broad range of opinion is already expressed elsewhere across the BBC. The regulatory authority has commendably resisted being bullied by listeners seeking to further marginalise the religious voice.

My issue with thought for the day is that often i wish it was MORE overtly religious instead of sometimes copping out on wishy-washy subjects of a vaguely moral nature. I would like to hear the gospel clearly stated, and equally to hear the fundamental beliefs of other faiths clearly stated, so that I might actually learn something or be challenged.

Alastair Johnson

As an atheist I have no problem with this item continuing with only religious content, but for the sake of honesty, it should be relabelled "Religious Thought for the Day".

Make a decision: call it "Thought for the Day" and include atheist / agnostic speakers, or call it "Religious Thought for the Day" and be totally honest about its propaganda purpose.

Martin Foreman

Thought for the Day is good. I am not old, decrepit, or particularly religious. However if atheism were to have a place, and as atheism is about negation of god, then wouldn't it mostly be argumentative and contrary, rather than offering positive thought?

I can't think of anything worse than an assemblage of atheists angrily telling us that there is no "God". What purpose does that serve in this context and spirit, i.e. 'Thought for the Day'?

David C. Johnston

It is outrageous that Thought for the Day is still wholly religious. If it is to continue in this manner please rename it to reflect it's true content. Religious leaders are not the only ones with morals

Anne Gaskell

I am shocked and disappointed that the BBC has ruled-against non-religious contributors to the Thought for the Day.

TFTD sits within a news programme. The audience tune-in to listen the news. It is the expectation of *that* audience which should determine the content.

Dedicated broadcasts for specific religions are completely acceptable. They can be targeted at a religious audience. But TFTD is unlike Songs of Praise. It is embedded within a factual show. It is not part of the expected content, because it is opinion and not fact. For that reason it is vital that the opinions be as impartial as possible.

The ruling explains that counter-views are expressed in other BBC content. This is irrelevant. Giving a slot to an exclusive viewpoint is no different to giving a slot to one political party.

Recently, we saw Question Time give airtime to the BNP. Because BNP voters were entitled to some representation. Humanists should be entitled so similar proportionate representation.

Glyn Williams

As ever our sincere thanks to everyone who has written in to comment on this subject. Moving along, coverage of the Cumbria floods are bothering this listener

Flood and rain warnings this morning on the weather. Surely this should be comprehensible?

Why then use ridiculous metric measurements? If you want to communicate, then use the measurements the majority of your listeners were educated in. How many INCHES of rain or snow will fall?

Also, the creep of kilometres instead of miles (by law the unit we use here) into reports along with metres instead of feet. Ridiculous.

Geoff Lumley

And your comments on comedy just keep coming in.

This seems to be an on-going theme, rather like problems with DAB radio reception and story lines in The Archers. I notice that Hut 33 has survived more than one series. I'd always tended to think that the characterisation was rather un-subtle to put it kindly. Catching just a little of the last broadcast I now think that Hut 33 is to Radio 4 in the 2000's what Allo, Allo was to BBC1 TV in the 1980's.

Keith Harrison

Radio 4's recent The Herchell Space Telescope has annoyed a lot of you it seems.

I looked forward to this programme with great interest and was very frustrated not to follow properly the information given because of the repeated interruption of the voices by "lovely cosmic music". Surely, the topic is of itself sufficiently dramatic and interesting not to need this twinkle - twankle. Please use your influence to get it re-broadcast accompanied by some "lovely cosmic silence".

Yours sincerely,

Sidney Anne Miller

But we end with a plea.

Political Correctness Gone Mad.

I refer to the Radio 4 programme Cross Incontinents. Why only Cross ones, what about the rest? What about those who are not Cross or Incontinent? Why can't we have a programme to ourselves?

I hope in these troubled times, you recognize humour still! Certainly the way the title of the programme is spoken by some on the BBC it sounds as though it is Cross Incontinents.

Brian Jones

Perhaps the BBC Trust could investigate?

Thanks to everyone who has written in.