Religious and Moral Issues in Soaps

You need to be able to choose an issue and explain why it is an issue.

A Religious Issue:

this is an issue to do with the meaning and purpose of life, or with religious practices or beliefs over which people are not in agreement - e.g. the nature of life after death, the freedom of religious groups or cults to try to convert anyone, the celibacy of priests, women in the priesthood, mixed marriages and so on.

A Moral Issue:

this is an issue where there is a difference of opinion about what is right or wrong. Often a moral issue might be a religious issue as well since all religions have their own moral code. Examples are divorce when young children are in the family, abortion and euthanasia situations.

The following are some issues from soaps over recent years. For a more detailed analysis of latest issues in Eastenders (the programmes we have chosen to study at FitzWimarc) click the arrow

• Eastenders Dot helped her dying friend Ethel to commit suicide. Ethel was aware that her brain tumour would result in the loss of her faculties and that her end would be undignified and painful. She wanted to die when she chose to do so. Dot gave back to Ethel the morphine tablets that she had previously taken away from her. There have also been abortion issues involving various characters.
• Coronation Street: Issues such as the religious background of Karen's family; Todd abandoning his pregnant girlfriend, who was pregnant, because he became aware of his homosexual feelings.
• Neighbours: Their were many moral aspects and complications to Sky's romantic relaionships, between her and her steady boyfriend Dylan, her art teacher and Dylan's brother Scott (Stingray). When she became pregnant she could not besure whose baby it was. Doctor Carl Kennedy faced a moral dilemma of confidentiality when Sky could not accept his advice.

Soap Operas are supposed to be a reflection of every day life, portraying the usual day-to-day problems and joys of life. There are times of celebration and times of sadness. Births, marriages and deaths all find their place as well as arguments and disagreements. In the matter of religious and moral issues, these are areas where there is often a variety of viewpoints. Soaps usually try to explore these fairly by expressing those views through the different characters in the story. Thus, for instance, we can hear the various arguments for and against abortion or euthanasia. Often we feel we are also being drawn to make our own decision, or to sympathise with one of the characters. Further, the situations also explore some of the incidental problems and issues that can arise.