Fox's Brit Hume has taken some heat since advising Tiger Woods yesterday to embrace Christianity as a way to cope with his problems, while knocking another religion in the process.



"He's said to be a Buddhist," Hume said on Fox News Sunday. "I don't think that faith offers the kind of forgiveness and redemption that is offered by the Christian faith. ... Tiger, turn to the Christian faith, and you can make a total recovery."



On Monday night's "Factor," Bill O'Reilly asked Hume a good question: "Was that proselytizing?"



"I don't think so," Hume said, before reiterating his comments from Sunday that Woods should convert to Christianity.



Hume said that given Woods problems, he "needs something that Christianity, especially, provides and gives and offers." That includes, he said, the chance for "redemption and forgiveness." Later in the segment, Hume said: "I think that Jesus Christ offers Tiger Woods something that Tiger Woods badly needs."

The former Fox anchor takes his Christian faith very seriously, and told me last year that upon leaving the anchor desk on "Special Report," he'd hope to spend more time in Bible study. There's nothing wrong with that, and I don't think criticism was leveled at Hume over the past 24 hours or so simply for being a Christian, but more for what seemed like a jab at Buddhism. But apparently, Hume doesn't see pushing his own religion on air, while dismissing another, as proselytizing.

So how does Merriam-Webster define the word? Let's see: "to induce someone to convert to one's faith" or "to recruit someone to join one's party, institution, or cause."



I reached out to a Fox spokesperson yesterday regarding Hume's remarks and have not heard back. I will update if the network has any further comment.

UPDATE: MSNBC's David Shuster responded Monday night on Twitter: "Brit Hume on Oreilly tonight left no doubt he intended to proselytize with his comments about Tiger Woods. Truly embarrassing."

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