Is Mal really an atheist?

POSTED BY: Esther
UPDATED: Thursday, August 24, 2006 00:36
VIEWED: 15846
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ESTHER

Friday, August 4, 2006 6:08 PM

Well, maybe you had discussed this question before (sorry, I'm fairly new), but the archive is not working ...

Mal claims to be an atheist, but I wonder, whether he really is.

An atheist does not believe, that God exists. But sometimes, I have the feeling, that's not Mals position.

It is hard to go from believing to utter atheism. If someone is grown up with the notion, that "someone is out there", it can become just such a basic part of you personality, that it's almost impossible to loose.

I rather have the feeling, that Mal does not question the existence of God, but that he is angry / disappointed about him. So in this sense, he is more an "Anti-theist".

Remember him saying: "You are welcome on my boat - God isn't." ?

He doesn't want to worship (or put trust) in a god, that had disappointed him before. That doesn't necessarily mean, that he denies his existence.

In one of the fanfics here, I read a passage, where Inara is badly hurt, almost dead, and Mal sitting beside her is praying "although he would have never admitted it even to himself". I could really imagine that. However, that would not be the way of an atheist, but of a disapointed believer.

So what are your thoughts?
Esther

My lessons learned from Firefly (no. 16):
One of the virtues of not being puritanical about sex is not being embarrassed afterwards. (buuuhuuuuhuuuuuuuu!)

TRISTAN

Friday, August 4, 2006 6:12 PM

I don't think he is an atheist; I think he chooses not to be a follower. A hostile non-follower, but I think he does believe. He did at one time have faith (see the pilot episode), but circumstances piled against him causing him to turn his back on god. I know that's kind of a simplistic explanation, but it's the easiest I can come up with. Hope my two cents' helps a bit.

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FUTUREMRSFILLION

Friday, August 4, 2006 6:15 PM

I agree with Tristan. Mal believes. But he believes that God can't be counted on. And he is hostile, because God deserted them in Serenity Valley.

one of the Forsaken TM

CHRONICTHEHEDGEHOG

Friday, August 4, 2006 6:44 PM

I think he's lost his faith in God, not his belief in his existence.

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Read my fanfic!
http://www.fireflyfans.net/sunroomitem.asp?i=8267

SILENCE

Friday, August 4, 2006 7:10 PM

Like everyone else said. Mal belives in god, and he hates him!

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"Listen, if you got guests I can come back later."

THERIGHTSTUFF1

Friday, August 4, 2006 7:14 PM

Mal believes in God thanks to the Operative who showed him what to believe in the way we all should believe in President Bush.

TheRightStuff1

YINYANG

Friday, August 4, 2006 7:18 PM

Ditto, ditto, and ditto.

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Forgive me, for I am new.

ODDSBODSKINS

Friday, August 4, 2006 7:30 PM

interesting question, but, i reckon that people who've gone before have hit the nail on the head. he's not an atheist, he believe's there's something out there right enough, he just can't find it in himself to believe it's benevolent, kind or on his side. he turned his back on it because he feels it turned it's back on him. which is a bit egocentric, you know, 'i believe, but whatever is up there doesn't think the same way i do, so it must be wrong' in the same way as you don't see true believer's doubting the existence of (a) god when things have gone their way and they don't feel they deserved it

YINYANG

Friday, August 4, 2006 7:37 PM

Oh, and there's the thing he says in the original first scene (deleted and replaced with more action):

Zoe: Thank God (because the med ships are coming, and they're getting out).

Mal: God? Whose colors he flying?

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Forgive me, for I am new.

RIVER6213

Friday, August 4, 2006 7:38 PM

"Thank God? Whose colors he's flying?"

This was said by Mal after the battle of Serenity Valley. Mal believes in God but no longer believes that god has his best interest in mind. Mal believes that god can't be trusted, and does not feel safe putting his trust in him.

River

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