A Christians perspective

POSTED BY: MalforPresident
UPDATED: Wednesday, September 10, 2025 23:49
VIEWED: 45327
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MALFORPRESIDENT

Friday, January 20, 2006 3:04 PM

I'm a huge firefly fan, that also happens to be a Christian. Now, just to clarify, I am not a "Simon and River burning" Christian. Just someone like the Shepherd, "spreading the light to whoever needs it". I wonder if there's any more out there like me? And also, any thoughts on the theological implications of firefly. Sorry if I'm getting too deep.

CHRISISALL

Friday, January 20, 2006 3:14 PM

Shepherd, is Mal a bad man?
I started a thread askin' that question, but really want to hear from someone like yourself, one who would invite God into your home.
When Mal shoots the surrendering soldier in Serenity, was he doing the Lord's work, or the devil's?
Can it be seen as simply as that?
We haven't really gotten the religious perspective on that one...

Heathen Chrisisall

MRBEN

Friday, January 20, 2006 3:15 PM

/me waves

I found Firefly surprisingly lacking in theological/religious comment in many ways. Our only point of reference in the series is Book, although in the film (IIRC) we some more Buddhist imagery with Inara, but it's mostly just imagery without comment.

mrben

"Carpe Aptenodytes"
http://www.jedimoose.org

EST120

Friday, January 20, 2006 3:30 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
Shepherd, is Mal a bad man?
I started a thread askin' that question, but really want to hear from someone like yourself, one who would invite God into your home.
When Mal shoots the surrendering soldier in Serenity, was he doing the Lord's work, or the devil's?
Can it be seen as simply as that?
We haven't really gotten the religous perspective on that one...

Heathen Chrisisall

Steering clear of the religious aspect, I did not think the guy was surrendering. He just seemed to be climbing out of the crashed ship. As Alliance, he is a threat to the crew, so Mal shot him. Just my opinion.

MISBEHAVIN

Friday, January 20, 2006 3:39 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by MalforPresident:
I'm a huge firefly fan, that also happens to be a Christian. Now, just to clarify, I am not a "Simon and River burning" Christian. ...also, any thoughts on the theological implications of firefly...

I'm a born-again Christian. I believe that the Bible is the Word of God and that God created everything as described in Genesis. Unlike River, I don't see Noah's Ark as a problem, but I wouldn't burn her for disagreeing with me on that point! While I love the entire Firefly 'verse, I don't really look for any theological implications in it, just as I don't look to Hollywood to confirm my faith. Joss is a creative genius and I marvel at his talent, and feel that in his vision for Firefly he's probably correct that we are the only sentient beings here. He's commented that the idea behind Serenity was that there is no clear good and evil and that the idea of sin is outmoded. On that I must disagree, but I still love Firefly!

MALFORPRESIDENT

Friday, January 20, 2006 3:45 PM

Well it depends on who you're talking about. There are two places where Mal shoots seemingly unarmed people. At their bank heist, Mal shoots one of the guards at the bank when he's grabbed by the reavers. This of course, as Mal would say, is an act of mercy. Whether or not pushing him off the mule was a sin or not, we'll that's a different matter entirely. Jesus makes a very clear statement that murder is wrong. However, in that same message, he states that hate in one's heart is the same as murder. So I guess were all guilty of that one, aren't we. I know that there's a neighbor of mine that I'm not too fond of right now. However, in terms of war (which would apply to the shooting of the soldier climbing out of his busted up ship) Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes there's a time for everything, even war. All in all, a lot of Mal's actions are based on protection (or in other words though Mal would never say it love) for his crew. Jesus makes a clear definition that self-sacrifice, love, is the greatest act of righteousness that a man could ever make.

PIZMOBEACH

Friday, January 20, 2006 3:46 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by MalforPresident:
I'm a huge firefly fan, that also happens to be a Christian. Now, just to clarify, I am not a "Simon and River burning" Christian. Just someone like the Shepherd, "spreading the light to whoever needs it". I wonder if there's any more out there like me? And also, any thoughts on the theological implications of firefly. Sorry if I'm getting too deep.

Never too deep. How about starting with your thoughts? Just a few to get the ball rolling.
Here's one: Do you think Mal could ever get his faith back after the Valley of Serenity? What would it take?
Me personally, I don't think he could, not something you could ever forget. He might become trusting again but "faith?" Naw.

Scifi movie music + Firefly dialogue clips, 24 hours a day - http://www.scifiradio.net

MALFORPRESIDENT

Friday, January 20, 2006 4:08 PM

I disagree with you MRBEN. There are many references to faith, if not Christianity in the firefly 'verse. All the way from Mal kissing his cross for good luck in the first episode (and his subsequent dialog about God's salvation of the beautiful), to Rivers' inquiries about the Bible, and then to Shepherds dying response to the necessary acts of war. Morality, ethics, and the definition of what "sin" really is (i.e. the alliance's ultimate sin) is very important to the firefly 'verse.

CHRISISALL

Friday, January 20, 2006 4:25 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by MalforPresident:
All in all, a lot of Mal's actions are based on protection (or in other words though Mal would never say it love) for his crew. Jesus makes a clear definition that self-sacrifice, love, is the greatest act of righteousness that a man could ever make.

Well put; thank you.
And very interesting thread, btw.

The Buddha-like Chrisisall

BROWNCOAT1

Friday, January 20, 2006 4:44 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by est120:

Steering clear of the religious aspect, I did not think the guy was surrendering. He just seemed to be climbing out of the crashed ship. As Alliance, he is a threat to the crew, so Mal shot him. Just my opinion.

I disagree.

Mal shot the Alliance pilot out of revenge. The pilot straffed a harmless village full of refugees and children. He killed Book & the friends the crew had made on Haven. The guy was wounded & not a real threat, so I think him being considered a threat to the crew is not really on Mal's mind.

Had I been in Mal's place I would have killed him too.

__________________________________________

"May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one."

Richmond, VA & surrounding area Firefly Fans:

http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/richmondbrowncoats/

http://www.richmondbrowncoats.org

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