ШАШИН БА ХЭВЛЭЛ МЭДЭЭЛЭЛ

Abstract

Religion is undeniably one of the
most significant factors that influence a
nation's sovereignty, national security, and
spiritual unity. The impact of religious factors
extends to various aspects of society,
including social morality, culture, traditions,
lifestyles, love for nature, and human
relationships. In the modern era, the role of
religion in shaping social and intellectual life
is increasingly prominent. Therefore, this
article aims to explore how the mass media
has previously handled religious matters and
how it should approach them in the future.
Promoting Social Morality through
Religious Education: Religion plays a pivotal
role in elevating social morality by
establishing the ethical norms that guide
individual consciousness. Thus, promoting
religious education becomes essential for
creating a peaceful society with heightened
moral awareness. It's important to note that
religious education doesn't solely involve
establishing religious schools and enrolling
students; it's about reaching out to the public
and introducing the teachings of Buddha on
compassion and tolerance. Mass media can
serve a vital role in this endeavor.
Media's Coverage of Buddhism and
Religion: To assess how the press covers
religious matters, especially those related to
Buddhism, I conducted a study involving
three national daily newspapers and three
major media websites. The findings revealed
that our media outlets and journalists often
lack a comprehensive understanding of
religion. Furthermore, they struggle to
present religious matters as integral
components of our cultural and spiritual
heritage. Typically, mass media tends to
focus on sporadic events or sensational
critiques of clergy and priests. It is imperative
that we approach religious matters in terms
of their significance to our cultural heritage,
traditions, ethics, morality, the contributions
of religious leaders to our struggle for
independence, and their lasting spiritual and
pedagogical legacies.