From Sarah Palin's Alaska to Joel Osteen's Pulpit, Mark Burnett Gets Around
Bill Berkowitz printable version print page     Bookmark and Share
Thu Dec 01, 2011 at 10:54:37 AM EST
Mark Burnett is the creator of such television programs as Survivor, Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?, Shark Tank, Oprah's All-Stars, Martha Stewart, The Contender, On the Lot (a collaboration with Stephen Spielberg), The Restaurant, Rock Star, Combat Missions, My Dad Is Better Than Your Dad, Bully Beatdown, Starmaker, Expedition Africa, Toughest Cowboy, Wedding Day and How'd You Get So Rich?

Now, he appears to have signed a deal with the charismatic televangelist Joel Osteen, for a new reality television show starting sometime next year.

According to a report in Charisma News (http://charismanews.com/culture/32425-joel-osteen-plans-reality-t v-show-with-survivor-producer), the Houston, Texas-based Osteen "pastors the largest church in America and his motivational messages broadcast into more than 10 million homes every week." AP reported that "Lakewood Church's website says its broadcasts reach more than 200 million households."

While there's a big difference between 10 million and 200 million, nevertheless either figure represents a whole lot of homes.

"Now, the charismatic preacher from Lakewood Church is getting ready to let the masses see how he walks out his faith in a new reality TV series that will inspire people to help people," Charisma News reported.

"We have great respect for Mark and we know that the finished product will not only entertain but will illustrate the generosity and selflessness that is a hallmark of the American people," Osteen told "Entertainment Tonight".

"In my mind, when I think of `reality' (show), I think of cameras following you doing nothing," Osteen said. "But this is more `Extreme (Makeover: Home Edition).' We're going with a purpose--with a mission."

"We would take a group of 300-500 people from this auditorium, from our ministry and go somewhere in the world--probably in the U.S. to start--but just to help a place in need," he said. "A place hit by a tornado. Maybe a run-down neighborhood."

Not everyone is a big fan of Osteen. Critiquing an early October appearance by Osteen and his wife Victoria on Piers Morgan's CNN program, Albert Mohler, the president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, wrote in The Christian Post (http://www.christianpost.com/news/lessons-from-piers-morgans-inte rview-with-joel-osteen-57527/) that when "the conversation shifted to issues in the news, such as abortion and capital punishment... [Osteen did not] speak clearly.... On both topics, Osteen steered clear of disaster by saying as little as possible, in what can only be described as a garble."

"On capital punishment: 'You know, it's a complicated issue, Piers. I haven't thought a whole lot about it but, of course, you know, and I'm for second chances and mercy, yet, the flip side is there's consequences for what we've done and, so, I - I don't know what my total stance is . . . '

"On a moral link between abortion and capital punishment: 'Well, I think there could be when you say may or may not. You know, that's the troublesome thing, if we don't know for sure and, you know.'"

Osteen on homosexuality: "Yes, I've always believed, Piers, the scriptures shows that it's a sin, but, you know, I'm not one of those that are out there to bash homosexuals and tell them that they're terrible people and all that."

"You know, Piers, it really never changes because mine was - mine's based out of the scripture. That's what I believe that the scripture says that - that homosexuality is a sin. So, it - you know, I believed it before and I still believe it now. Again, I would just reiterate what I said, I'm not after - I'm not mad at anybody. I don't dislike anybody. But, you know, you know, respecting my faith and believing, you know, in - in what the scripture says, that's the best way I can interpret it."

On same-sex marriage: "Well, you know what, I'm going to respect the law and I'm going to respect gay people like I do now, you know, have plenty of people that come to our church and friends, I would call, that are gay so I'm going to respect that. I think where it puts a difficult situation is me being a Christian pastor believing the scripture, you know, it would be against my faith to marry two gay people." Later, he added: "No, it would be against what I believe the scripture teaches and, so, that's where I think the rub comes in with people like myself. It's not that I'm against anybody or, you know, if people want to live together, that's up to them. But, my faith, when we say marriage, I mean, I think about it, Piers, and all through the Bible there are, you know, hundreds of marriages but none of them are shown as between, you know, the same sex. And, again, I'm not against anything but I just believe that's what the Bible teaches . . ."

Osteen did say that he would attend a same-sex marriage ceremony, if the individuals were friends.

Now that sounds like a good first episode of Joel Osteen's Mission.

And who knows; sometime down the line Osteen and Mohler just might square off on Redemption Island.




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