Given that the Christian evangelical vote is squarely in the GOP corner, it makes sense that Fox "News" doesn't need to pander to them in the same way that it does to Catholics whose political allegiances are still a bit squishy. Hence, the boyish face of Fox priest Fr. Jonathan Morris, giving his imprimatur to right wing talking points, is frequently seen on Fox. But Fox does have former pastor Mike Huckabee who address issues of importance to the American Taliban Christian right. And recently, in pimping movies that feature "The Rapture," Fox News provided a shout-out to those bible believing Christians who actually believe that we are in the "end times" (Ebola, ISIS, Obama) and that, any day, they will be sucked up to the skies while the rest of us await our eternal damnation which could never be as bad as watching Fox News!
On October 1st, Fox & Friends hosted Willie Robertson who promoted the "Rapture" movie, "Left Behind," which he is producing and directing. He told his pals that this movie will "make you think about how it all ends." Robertson either felt that Brian Kilmeade and Steve Doocy were big sinners or that their Catholicism prevents them from the journey skyward because he said that "if Elisabeth [Hasselbeck] and I disappear right now y'all carry on."
On October 4th, the faded star of "Left Behind," Nicholas Cage, appeared on Fox & Friends to pimp the movie. Clayton Morris suggested that this movie is evidence of Hollywood "accepting more faith based messages." Cage speculated that people are looking for faith based messages. Despite the reality that "The Rapture," a late 19th century phenomenon, is not universally accepted among Christians, Fox declared it so: Raptured Up, Movie Based on Biblical Book Revelation" and "Without a Trace, Movie Tell Story of Biblical Rapture." Cage, with no evidence of the embarrassment which he should have been experiencing, provided some metaphysical discourse on the real life metaphors presented in the film and why he decided to do it. ($?) Morris predicted that "this could be a big hit" - and then again...
The notion that this "biblical" film was an example of Hollywood seeing the light was advanced, on October 5th, by Fr. Morris whose church does not believe in "The Rapture." This meme was also promoted by Outnumbered which promoted another "Rapture" movie. Never really was a star James Denton spoke about the post "Rapture," "faith based" flick, "Dark Rider," in which he stars. (The movie is DVD only) Denton claimed that the movie is "biblically based." Exemplary Christian Andrea Tantaros said that the popularity of faith based movies shows that people might be "hungry for Christ."
And it isn't just rapture movies that Fox News is promoting. The Fox website actually had, in all seriousness, an article by the anti-gay, anti-Muslim pastor, Robert Jeffress, about how "the rapture" isn't just "kooky talk."
Fox's contention that "The Rapture" is "biblical," is disputed. While there are biblical passages that could be interpreted to mean a bodily resurrection, the only specific reference to body rockets is in Paul's first letter to the Corinthians. Rapture teaching began with a dispensationalist English minister in the 1830's. It eventually caught on with American evangelicals and, voila, this crop of movies and "Left Behind" books being promoted on Fox.
But if Fox says so, it must be true, amiright?
For a different, reality based take on this "faith based" genre, check out "Christian right’s vile PR sham: Why their bizarre films are backfiring on them - I once was a fundamentalist Christian and right-winger. Now I watch their films and see their heavy-handed tactics."
As for the Rapture, let it hit the News Corporation/21st Century Fox skyscraper first. Then remove all of the Fox “News” cafeteria Catholics from this world, starting with Nixon trainee Ailes, The Shineman, Billy, Hannocchio, Goofy Doocy, Kilmeade, and the rest of them.
Of course if they’re so convinced that we are at end times they can always give away their earthly materials items and all the money they hoard. They can give it to those who are hungry or a local animal shelter. The possibilities are endless, but not the end of the world if it’s not.