Religions in Firefly

POSTED BY: Astragynia
UPDATED: Friday, April 15, 2005 13:18
VIEWED: 13636
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ASTRAGYNIA

Sunday, April 10, 2005 3:40 AM

One of the things I like best about Firefly is that the future universe is multicultural - but what do y'all think about religion in the 'verse?

There's a woman in a burka on the train - does that mean Islam is still around? Or is it just a cultural holdover of some kind?

And of course, there's Shepherd Book, and the Bible is mentioned (shown?) but not much is said about his theology (other than, uh, pacifism via "kneecaps") - is he a Christian, or is it some type of composite religion (like in "Dune")?

So, how does religion change/stay the same in the Firefly future?

Any thoughts?

NEEDLESEYE

Sunday, April 10, 2005 5:30 AM

Well there's also the "Whoa, good Bible" conversation between Mal and Saffron.

Keeper of Jayne's goggles. 8)
I caved.~ http://needleseyeland.blogspot.com/

PURPLEBELLY

Sunday, April 10, 2005 5:36 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Astragynia:
And of course, there's Shepherd Book ...

In a deleted scene in Inara's shuttle, reshot for broadcast, Book refers to himself as a Christian. But, of course, That ain't a Shepherd

Reynolds was wearing a crucifix in Serenity Valley.

SOUPCATCHER

Sunday, April 10, 2005 6:24 AM

And Nandi's comment in Heart of Gold about Inara being on track to become House Priestess.

---------------------
Next up: Early "Nutcrusher" Jubal and the Firebuggers

FALLENANGEL

Sunday, April 10, 2005 6:26 AM

I wonder about that too, but I just firgured of it mostly Christians around. I wonder if Catholism is still around or that falls under the category of Christianity?

"A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step."- Lao Tzo

SIMONWHO

Sunday, April 10, 2005 3:33 PM

I must admit I was a bit disappointed that they still have recognisable religions in Firefly. It's like the Vikings writing a series set in our present day and having people going around praising Thor.

It's not that I think in the future we won't have religion, just that today's religions will have been washed away, just as the gods of previous empires have. Zeus faded from view, Odin is a distant memory. One day, Jesus will be a bit character in the the future's equivalent of Douglas Adams's latest novel.

I don't mean to offend but if you look at history here's the pattern: empire rises, brings new Gods with it. Empire rules, Gods are revered by all. Empire falls, gods go into decline. Time passes, gods become punchine. It has happened again and again and again. Each time they believed their gods were eternal and their empire would last and of course the previous set of widely accepted gods had to fall because they were false gods and the current gods were the real gods.

When empires fall, faith turns to dust. Just look at Mal.

PURPLEBELLY

Sunday, April 10, 2005 4:28 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by SimonWho:
It's like the Vikings writing a series set in our present day and having people going around praising Thor.

Five hundred years ago, I think the inhabitants of Scandinavia would have recognised the religions of the Book - would have been fighting wars over them, indeed

EDIT: It's been suggested to me that the People of the Book won't be readily identified by fireflyfans. I think we're sufficiently erudite, but just in case here y'go http://www.pbs.org/empires/islam/faithpeople.html

EMBERS

Sunday, April 10, 2005 4:39 PM

in five hundred years we would expect some shifts
and some different sects
but I would think that Christianity and the Bible would still be around

of course there would be more and more translations
and alterations
and interpretations....
things I doubt very much that Joss wants to put in the forefront of his story.

SIMONWHO

Sunday, April 10, 2005 4:51 PM

Actually Sweden (and most of Scandinavia) switched around about the 12th century:

http://faculty.washington.edu/leiren/vikings2.html

(Caution: this is based on 10 minutes Googling, I do not have a degree in History)

Religions can disappear like that. Sometimes it comes from nowhere. Think about Judaism. 4,000 years of spreading to every corner of the globe and then in supposedly civilised times, they suffer an attempt at mass extinction, one that had the circumstances been slightly different, would have effectively succeeded. Horrifying to think about it in an age of reason but there you go.

PURPLEBELLY

Sunday, April 10, 2005 6:30 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by SimonWho:
Actually Sweden (and most of Scandinavia) switched around about the 12th century ...

Sadly, conversion to Christianity didn't stop Wars of Religion (sic), just altered the (pre)Texts

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