Scot McKnight has posted a press release for a new report on Evangelicals and politics that features Ted Haggard, Ted Haggard, and more Ted Haggard.

Glad to see Brokaw and NBC are doing top notch, ground breaking reporting for this story, instead of relying on the work on Ted Haggard's church done by Jeff Sharlet of the Revealer for Harpers magazine.

Oops. That would be my fantasy world.

Instead, we're going to get Chicken Little TV reporting: "The sky is falling and the Evangelicals are out to get us. And if they don't, the creationists will."

For the record, I'm not criticizing Jeff Sharlett's work. He's a conscientious reporter who sees nuance and balance in religion stories. Instead, it's these Johnny-come-lately husksters selling sensationalized content and pretending it's news.

We'd all be better if we'd follow the advice of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: "Don't Panic." Followed by the little heeded advice my Junior High principal gave me. Before smacking someone upside the head, try to walk in their shoes for a few miles and see the world from their point of view.