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1E. Artificial Limbs 
God in a Box.
Like the authentic God, T. V. is both omnipresent and omnipotent. It is everywhere and has an all-powerful authority. It brings into our lives all the wonders of nature and of the universe.
It gives us visions of the future when we travel at warp speed across the galaxies to behold new Star Trek civilizations. It enables us to transport in a moment around the globe to Ireland, The Soviet Union, Australia even the Antarctic for the latest news.
We Do Know
We can no longer say of the multitudes of starving refugees in Central Africa, "We didn't know," for T. V. is everywhere. The prophets of television are authoritative and forceful figures. Engrossed audiences by the millions listen intently to the wisdom of gurus like Oprah Winfrey, Dr Phil, Judge Judy, and others. Saints in this technological cult are created out of television personalities not because of their sacrificial service for others but because of their ability to act out what they are not.
T. V. Injuries
T. V. has injured several major Christian denominations in the forty or so short years since its beginnings. Many faithful from the Anglican, Roman Catholic, United Church, even the Jewish Faith prefer to couch-potato before their T. V. rather than worship in their own churches or Synagogues. People tune in not just on Sundays but every day. One of T. V.' s greatest successes was the complete eradication of Sunday evening church services because the traditional churches just couldn't compete with their special programming at that time. Television defeats other religions not by opposing but by quietly ridiculing them. Christianity's leaders are being systematically stripped of their ability to influence society.
Moral Shortcomings
The few moral shortcomings of Christians have been magnified out of all proportion, while T. V. vigorously defends the many failings of its own leaders and blackballs its critics with its formidable influence. Television does not believe in truth but prefers sensationalism, being happy to clip out any boring to please their viewers. Unrestrained sexual license is encouraged through liturgical story telling on soap operas like "The Young and Restless," "General Hospital" and "Days of Our Lives." Violence is also known to attract viewers. Kids are given what they want with "Power Rangers" and adults have their own police dramas like "Cops" (though the children can see them too.)
Electronic Worship Places
In aligning religion with business television colonizes electronically. They connect worship with monetary gain in order to sell products to unsuspecting congregations. T. V. does not have a holy book, as it sets out to obliterate literacy. It aspires to replace the printed page completely with the screen. Television heralds the end of the "book era" in that no one needs to read anymore. T. V. absolutely forbids reference to the Bible. As at the Creation, our culture still echoes the Satan snake in questioning the authority of God's Word, by asking "Did God say?" T. V. 's fundamental beliefs are denied publicly of course. This was illustrated by Moses Znaimer's documentary "T. V. T. V." which highlighted the competitive spirit between journalists of the printed page and TV producers.
Materialistic Heaven on Earth
Viewers are presented with a materialistic Heaven on earth, here and now. One's purpose in life becomes to possess. There is nothing beyond death for them. Great care is taken to ensure that no one ever suggests an eternity. Because there is no belief in sin, there is no need for a Saviour or a judgment. The electronic tabernacle is open for almost twenty-four hours, every day of the year. The average congregation worships daily at their own home shrine for three hours. There are several million sanctuaries in Canada and tens of millions in the United States. Unlike most other religions, there is a wide variety of choice with over twenty different small sermons at the touch of a remote control button. Sermons explain the wonders of mother nature who has replaced God as the "Evolutionary Significant One."
Question for Discussion
1. Discuss the "Holy Body" idea.
2. How does Materialism affect the Modern Church?
"We are living members of his mystical body"
