A Christians perspective

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

Saturday, January 21, 2006 5:26 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by infamousX:
No offense, but did the fact that Mal constantly calls Inara a whore, and condemns her work, escape your attention? Maybe Joss and/or certain characters condone the activity, maybe not, but it ain't like the views of the other side are silent.

A perfectly legitimate question. Yes, certain characters condemn the behavior/profession, but the verse accepts and glorifies it. Verse trumps individuals.

Along these lines, I'd like to point out something from "Heart of Gold" (the one episode I dislike), which has stuck out to me, and I haven't heard anyone else mention it (not that I read every post in every thread -- certainly not with dial-up).

When Inara finds that Mal's been with her friend, she seems hurt or betrayed. Yet, she seems to have no problem being with multiple people on a regular basis, herself, and doesn't in any way see that as a betrayal to him (who she obviously seems to have feelings for). (I hesitate to say she "loves" him, because if she did, she certainly wouldn't continue to be with other guys, job or not.)

And, while I'm certainly not excusing Mal's actions by any means, am I the only one who sees a smack of hypocrisy in this?

"Okay, when did this become not funny?"

MISBEHAVIN

Saturday, January 21, 2006 6:09 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Nandifan:
...I know plenty of Christians who spend a lot of time trying to change my moral stance, and maybe non-Christians just automatically get their defenses up because people are always trying to convert them to religion....

I've noticed that the tactics, language, and enthusiasm that Browncoats use to convert others to this 'verse are the same ones that Christians may use to point others toward faith in Jesus. But the similarity ends there. In our society it seems that Christians are supposed to just sit quietly and restrain themselves from any attempt to impose their beliefs. Yet Browncoats probably don't spend too much time worrying about whether others really want to be saved from the darkness of reality TV and the hopeless despair of endless "CSI" and "Law & Order" spinoffs. Browncoats try to evangelize everyone because they feel that what they've found is truly better, and they want to share the good news.

CARTOON

Saturday, January 21, 2006 6:13 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by misbehavin:
I've noticed that the tactics, language, and enthusiasm that Browncoats use to convert others to this 'verse are the same ones that Christians may use to point others toward faith in Jesus. But the similarity ends there. (snip) Browncoats try to evangelize everyone because they feel that what they've found is truly better, and they want to share the good news.

Glad someone else said it instead of me.

Couldn't have said it better, myself. Thank you for sparin' me the words.

"I'm gonna stay here, where it's safe and quiet, and I'm gonna play with some of these dials and stuff. I might, you know, steer."

RCAT

Saturday, January 21, 2006 8:49 AM

Just wanted to say thank you Browncoats. Recently I've beginning to wonder about my obsessiveness w/ the series/BDM but seeing all the posts in this thread has refreshed me a bit.

As an agnostic, I've had many religeous discussions, and whenever a large group w/ varied views (some extreme, some not so much) like this one gets on the subject, things always seem to get somewhat ugly. This has been a really thoughtful and intelligent thread, thanks again.

Personally I like the religeous elements and counter-positions of the verse; moral right, wrong and ambiguity. The ocassional righteous hooker and evil lawman makes one think a bit (hence the appeal). Varied social, moral and religeous views are realistic, as this thread shows.

Some people juggle geese.
-Wash

KIBBSTER

Saturday, January 21, 2006 9:26 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Causal:
Quote:
Originally posted by est120:
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.

The guy's hands being up didn't give you a clear indication that he was surrendering? And how is a pilot of a crashed ship a threat? Don't know about the Alliance, but in the U.S. military, pilots aren't cross trained as infantry. Nope, Mal was taking revenge for Book and Haven, and Joss was saying, "Look, everyone! Mal's really, really angry."

________________________________________________________________________
I wish I had a magical wish-granting plank.

I agree, it was Joss's way of showing that something in Mal had snapped, he was very angry.
Thats why he shot a possibly injured soldier that was no threat to them in cold blood.

He changed towards his crew as well at that moment, he became quite a dark person.

HUMBUG

Saturday, January 21, 2006 10:57 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by MtnScott:
Faith in ones beliefs and faith in ones self. Shepard Book at somepoint makes the statement to Mal: "I don't care what you believe, just believe in something" or something along those lines.
In the Infamous "Bible is broken" discussion Book says "It's not about making sense. It's about believing in something, and letting that belief be real enough to change your life. It's about 'faith'.You don't fix faith, River. It fixes you."

My point being, Books Faith in the Bible (christianity) saved him from his demons.

Talking about Faith..........

I find it very interesting that Jayne's favourite gun is called Vera, which means faith or truth in Russian......

So Jayne fights with faith and truth!!!! The bible calls itself the sword of the spirit........ And that we are fighting a spiritual battle or war....

Faith is a bit of a theme in Joss Whedon's work.
Do you remember the other slayer called Faith in Buffy? And the actor playing Mal palyed a real hell fire and brimstone preacher called Caleb (who was fighting on the side of eil against Buffy).

There might not be a gospel according to Joss, or a gospel according to firefly, but there are certainly spiritual themes, and we can all learn from the idea of gathering family around ourselves for mutual love and support, and that love is what keeps us all flying!!

I personally love that line at the end of the original pilot, the feature lengthed one, where Mal says, "We're still flying... It's enough." It seems to me to be an attitude amongst people who have a lot less material wealth than we do in the West now... Like the pioneers into the West in the USA from the 1830's onwards....

When I was in Malawi, I asked people how their day was. They said good. I was constantly surprised because they has so little and were so poor. Often only having one meal a day, and drinking tea to fill them up for the rest..... But when I asked a friend, he said a good day was when you got to the end of the day with the same as what you started the day with. A bad day was when you ended the day with less than what you started with. With AIDS rife there, and so many other dieases prevalent, and with petty jealousies and witchcraft stopping people improving thier lives, I can understand that. But it seems a foreign attitude to us in this day and age. A good day is when we have MORE at the end of the day. It's not so good if we only have the same... We always want more!!!

Humbug

"You know what the first rule of flying is?... Love. You can learn all the math in the 'verse, but you take a boat in the air you don't love, she'll shake you off just as sure as the turning of worlds. Love keeps her in the air when she oughta fall down, tells you she's hurting 'fore she keens. Makes her a home." Mal, BDM

BROWNCOAT90

Saturday, January 21, 2006 12:36 PM

well it's good we're all having this little chat. as for killing the alliance soldier, i do belive he was surrendering but he would have been a danger to the crew.
As for what you are saying, i believe the verse you are reffering to is John 15:13. "Greater love hath no man than this, that he would lay down his life for a friend.

GOD bless.

"You can't run, you walk, you can't walk you crawl, you can't crawl... well you know the rest."

BROWNCOAT90

Saturday, January 21, 2006 12:55 PM

That's messed up, it's not your fault you were born out of wedlock.
Another thing that's messed up is that those who spitt on you and such, should be looking out for you. My belief is that all christians should look out for eachother spiritualy as well as physicaly. There are several places in the bible where it clearly speaks about not letting quarrels arise.
well it's at least good i found some other christians on here.

"You can't run, you walk, you can't walk you crawl, you can't crawl... well you know the rest."

JHANCE11

Saturday, January 21, 2006 5:03 PM

I am reseaching some of the links you provided. Upon first look, A few points of interest come out but it appearsmuch of the article is trying to pass off facts where there are none proven. He tries to pass himself off As an expert boat designer. This is the largest error I see. I have researched online the opions of builders fromthe Department of the navy to provate designers in Europe on this subject. these are men who have made ship building there lifes work and all come tosimilar conclutions that the stress from the weight would make the boat unseaworthy without reinforcement. Secondly I find it unplasible so make differant species could have been developed in just 4500 years, I am however holding off judgement on that until I can research it more. But to make my point again my belief in God is A very strong part of my life, I pray often and set aside times just to have A simple conversation with God, I talk he responds in differant ways. My faith is unshaken by the accuracy or lack of it in the bible. My personel belief is the people and events in the scriptures have A basis of thruth that has been embelished upon by preists and storytellers down through the years and have found evidence to support this theory. Regardless, is A man or woman keeps faith with God is good to his fellow man admits his or her sins and tries to make the world A better place before they leave it. They should have no problems finding their final rest Thank you for responding.

jhance11

JHANCE11

Saturday, January 21, 2006 5:13 PM

todays ships are made of material much heavier then wood but all ships of certain sizes are steel reinforced. I will try and find the links I have gone over on the matter and send them to you. But regardless we both agree the bible was not meant to be taken literaly, it simply contained to the best wisdom of it's day. Otherwise we would still need to put every adulterer to death as well as all who work on the sabbath, Stone those who plant the wrong crops inline with mine or wear the wrong cloth. And before you say the old testimate is no longer in effect, remeber Jesus's words " I come not to change to law but to forfill it" Thank you for your response

jhance11

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