In Neil Postman’s book. Amusing Ourselves to Death. he attempts to carry Americans that telecasting is altering every facet of our civilization and universe. In chapter 8. Shuffle Off to Bethlehem. Postman uses three reasoning manners really good: ethos. poignancy. and Son. which help him force the reader. specifically televised faith viewing audiences and church members. to believe that televised faith is non a replacing for faith.

Throughout the chapter. Postman creates the feeling of guilt by doing the reader see the mistakes with televised faith. For one. he explains that watching telecasting does non hold the same significance as traveling to church does. alternatively of concentrating on God the spectator is concentrating on the sermonizer. disregarding all mysticism and religious transcendency. In order to win in transcendency one must be in a specific topographic point that is consecrated and filled with symbols. there must be certain ascertained behaviours and a sense of community must be present. These things can non be achieved in a place. the writer makes clear. Postman specifically makes the reader guilty in this case by dishonoring their topographic point of worship when it comes to televised faith. The spectator could be making whatever they pleased. as many of them do. most likely losing all spiritualty.

The very thing that many people use to watch televised faith is inherently secular – something that is used to air blasphemous things should non be expected to properly convey the spiritualty of faith. Besides. Postman makes the reader guilty because at any clip the spectator can alter the channel every bit good as the spectator is invariably interrupted with commercials that are secular. “The telecasting screen wants you to retrieve that its imagination is ever available for your amusement and pleasure” ( Postman 120 ) and so it will ever alter the message to do the spectator amused. giving the spectator what they want alternatively of what they need.

In order to decently set up credibleness to himself. Postman watched 42 hours of televised faith. The writer did this to demo the reader that he did in fact know what he was speaking approximately. every bit good as back up all his claims in chapter 8. This besides connects the spectator to the writer because Postman stepped into the places of his readers ( the viewing audiences of televised faith ) making a sense of trust between writer and reader. Postman besides credited himself by sharing with the reader about his place “As a member of the Commission on Theology. Education and the Electronic Media of the National Council of Churches of Christ” ( Postman 124 ) once more further making trust with the reader and cementing Postman’s credibleness.

One of the most of import constituents of this chapter was Postman’s usage of fact. He uses this to his advantage by saying the facts. so pull stringsing the reader into believing it. “It is naive to say that something that has been expressed in one signifier can be expressed in another without significantly altering its significance. texture or value” ( 117 ) . or when altering the medium in which something is presented it can change the manner it is percieved. When get downing telecasting faith it changed how faith was understood.

Postman makes these two facts credible by the audience by shuting the statement with “If the bringing is non the same … the message is non the same. … If the message is experienced is wholly different from what it was in Jesus’ clip. we may presume that the societal and psychological significance is different” . By utilizing an of import Christian figure ( the most of import 1 ) and linking with the audience the writer is shuting his statement while cementing the fact into the readers mind and doing them believe the writers claim. Postman does this many times throughout the chapter. linking to the reader in new ways that make them believe the facts.

Ethos. poignancy. and logos: Postman’s three tools to efficaciously making an statement against televised faith. aiming those who watch televised faith every bit good as the many who are spiritual. He creates guilt and credibleness in the reader every bit good as successfully pull stringsing the audience into believing him. Postman excels at making an effectual statement because he knows how and when to utilize ethos. poignancy and Son. Postman knows that Christianity. when delivered right. is a demanding and serious faith and now with the creative activity of televised faith it has started to flex to the demands of amusing and entertaining. If America does non work out this job so the alterations on faith to do it more amusive will intensify in boulder clay “… telecasting shows become the content of faith. ” ( 124 ) .