Religion and Horror
American Horror Story has never shied away from controversy. The show has received backlash numerous times, for its portrayal of horror themes when frequently combining religion into the mix.
As stated, religion as a theme is commonplace on television. Religion as a concept is relatable to millions of people, therefore it can be a useful means of connecting with the viewer. However, although religious content on television has been plentiful in fictitious genres, in recent years, organized religious programming on television has seen a decline. One of the reasons that television producers/programmers may have started to stray away from religious programming is due to the backlash that they have received from the public. [16] American Horror Story, on the contrary, has embraced the backlash from audiences, a refusal to change the type of content they display.
However, is it inherently disrespectful of the creators/writers to display certain images/portrayals of religion in a horror context?
While the show often displays certain scenes/storylines that may be considered "anti-Christian" by some religious organizations, the show itself cannot be considered "anti-Christian" in and of itself. The creators of the show aren't trying to communicate to the viewer that religion is "bad" or "stupid." Below is an interview with one of the creators of the show, Ryan Murphy in which he explains his relationship with the Catholic church and the influence of religion on the show [17].
Murphy does not express a direct opposition against the Christianity or the Catholic church. The use of religion in the show is more likely due to his own experiences with religion that have then translated into his work. Because the show does not imply that religion itself is "bad," or that people should not believe in a religion, it should not be considered anti-Christian.
Therefore, even if a show does place religion in a context that challenges its religious viewership, it cannot be said that the creators of the show are aiming to persuade audiences to go against their religion. It should often be stated that on the show when religious themes such as good vs. evil (God vs. Satan) occur, the good always wins. American Horror Story isn't trying to propagate an anti-religious message or bash religion. There is a difference between using religious themes in a context The majority of the backlash the show has received has come from highly conservative religious groups who, many times, have had problems with the characters and character personalities on the show rather than the use of religion itself. There should be a noticeable difference between creative freedom in a respectful manner vs. blatant anti-religious movements.
Are the creators of American Horror Story being disrespectful in combining horror and religion together? No.