The emergence of religious television exemplifies the Church's widespread use of the media for religious influence. It is a useful tool for religious persuasion due to its ability to arouse interest in new viewers through assimilation into regular television networks and the encouragement of strong emotions through judicious acting and filmmaking technique. Much like the past use of icons and the printed word, televangelism has the ability to influence viewers' opinions, but it does so by creating an illusion of personalization that reaches a broader audience. By appealing to emotions, televangelism has the ability to capture the interest of regular viewers who might simply change the channel. “Like the spoken and printed word, and like the radio, television has become an integral, important part of the means of spreading the Christian message. This means of transmission has an extraordinary capacity for seduction as well as a propensity to communicate rather schematic messages to a rather anonymous and sometimes poorly motivated audience” (Gutwirth 132). Individuals who do or do not profess a religious belief in most cases prefer television to regular Sunday mass (Gutwirth 2000). Televangelism takes advantage of this by appealing to the emotions of regular viewers through the energetic personalities of televangelists, who have charisma, to attract viewers. With the use of multiple cameras and editing tactics, producers can suppress unnecessary repetitions and any awkward phrases, therefore, choosing the most expressive and emotional sequences of each shot. The use of intense scenes enhanced by the transmission... in the center of the card... by a well-thought-out cinematographic technique, creates an illusion of personalization that affects viewers through headshots and close-ups. Television has become an important part in spreading the religious message to the public, it has an extraordinary ability to engage viewers and creates strong emotions and attachment in unmotivated audiences through film technique and production. Work cited Bamn, Elizabeth. and Litman, Barry R. “Audiences for Religious Television Programs: A Multidisciplinary Analysis of Televangelism.” Review of religious research. June 1989. 329-343. Academic research completed. Guest of EBSCO. Network. February 26. 2010. Gutwirth, Jacques. “From the Word to the television image: the televangelists and Pope John Paul II”. Diogenes. 1999. 122-123. Academic research completed. Guest of EBSCO. Network. February 26. 2010.