What Religion is Book?

POSTED BY: Lukasaurus
UPDATED: Wednesday, May 21, 2025 16:38
VIEWED: 16439
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EMBERS

Tuesday, April 13, 2004 5:33 PM

Well 500 years ago the Vatican was a world power involved in all kinds of political plots and Luther was just getting published...

so 500 FROM NOW it would be hard to say what Christianity will look like; I think Joss is wise to keep it vague and not let any one group 'own' Book (because they may be disappointed when they learn more about his past!). I still believe that Book only joined 'the Abby' a few years ago...after having been an important man in the Govt/Military/Corporate power structure...

THEFOP

Tuesday, April 13, 2004 6:56 PM

Religion DOES tend to change over time. Look at how much the Catholic church has changed in the past 500 years. Think how much it might change in the NEXT 500.

Though, incidentally, there are Anglican monks, and i think some of other denominations as well/

once the snow got so deep you almost couldn't hear margaret atwood

ZELDA

Tuesday, April 13, 2004 8:11 PM

I think we're definitely looking at Christian mishmash. They've done some really nice, subtle things with how religion is transformed, the funniest of which is Saffron's sexually-suggestive quotations from the Bible, and Mal's response: "Whoa. Good Bible"

Hilarious? Yes. But also gives the idea that there are several "Bibles" in existence at that time. There's actually a lot of stuff in that episode - like Book looking up the locals' marriage rituals in Simon's encyclopedia - that points to religous growth & fragmentation that must have accompanied the settlers out across many planets.

"Whoa. Good Bible." I love that line!

LTNOWIS

Tuesday, April 13, 2004 8:34 PM

I agree that he's a Christian mix. Possibly formed when Chinese Christians settle new planets and mix in some Buddhist elements, like the meditation.

SIGMANUNKI

Tuesday, April 13, 2004 8:34 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Zelda:
...that points to religous growth & fragmentation that must have accompanied the settlers out across many planets.

Good point! When settlers went out to the rim not all would have a preacher from what ever religion.

The religion would then continue from the memories of the settlers and/or what they wanted to put in there. Which (as we all know) wouldn't be all that reliable and probably contradictory, sick, twisted and/or with various levels of restrictive lifestyles. Plus, imagine what a few hundred years of telephone would do!

After all, look at the range we have here now and we're living right beside eachother!

I think that this would account for the fact that Book had to reference an encyclopedia and no-one knew that Mal was married, etc.

I would think that Book follows a desendant of Christianity. But, as was said before, Joss did say he had to get Ron to be more Protestant.

----
"If you truly love the memory, you must set it free()!" -Me
"Also, I can kill you with my brain." -River

MANIACNUMBERONE

Tuesday, April 13, 2004 8:40 PM

Have we ruled out Book being a Mormon? They're Christian.

CHANNAIN

Tuesday, April 13, 2004 8:43 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Browncoat1:
Leave it to Knibs to make us laugh about religion.

Amen brothah! She's a hoot, isn't she?

I have access to the family tree of Religions, which opens up all manner of ideas about which Christian religion Book could have been a part of.

On Babylon 5, Stephen Franklin was a "Foundationist." The Lurker's Guide says that the Foundation apparently borrows customs and beliefs from various cultures, perhaps in the belief that no one people has all the right spiritual answers. During an episode called "Walkabout" Franklin went walking around the station in the hopes that he would "find himself." In Australian aboriginal cultures, a "walkabout" is a ritual in which a young man goes on a solitary journey through the wilderness in an attempt to learn more about his own character and strength.

Sounds a bit like what's going on with our favorite preacher man, doesn't it?

Incidentally, Episcopalian is Protestant - in the US, anyway. It stems from the Anglican, which stems from the Reformation.

We have art so as not to die of truth ~ Neitzsche
http://www.mnartists.org/artistHome.do?rid=7922

MELEAUX

Tuesday, April 13, 2004 9:01 PM

When Book says he follows the teachings of a carpenter I jumped to the conclusion that he meant Jesus as it is understood that Jesus was a carpenter prior to his ministry and crucifixation. Also, I am pretty sure that Saffron was totally blowing smoke when she quoted the bible. Its NOT in the King James and I'll bet not in any other versions now or ever. It was just a hot story to bother Mal...and it worked.

She understands, she doesn't comprehend

CHANNAIN

Tuesday, April 13, 2004 9:34 PM

Well, there is a big old book loaded with rules of conduct in the OT. I forget which one at the moment. She may have found it there and rearranged the words to the Really New Living Translation.

Knib was kidding, Meleaux - she caught the reference. She was just pulling a Succatash.

We have art so as not to die of truth ~ Neitzsche
http://www.mnartists.org/artistHome.do?rid=7922

THOREAU

Tuesday, April 13, 2004 9:38 PM

My opinion on this comes from two things.

1) the comment Book makes about having following a carpenter. Seems too obvious and casual a Jesus reference to be a red herring.

2) the hair, and the line he started to say about 'all members of my order...'

I don't like this idea, but it wouldn't surprise me if his faith is based on the a combination of the teachings of Jesus Christ and Albert Einstein. Our scientific community is already bordering on the stupidity of organized religion (no flame intended, and in case it isn't obvious I'm talking about the way scientists of today believe in earlier scientists theories as if they were holy law. I'm not making a reference to scientology) so I can easily see the mixture eventually developing.

This also fits perfectly with River going through his Bible and making corrections. Someday someone has to finally stand up and say "hey, Einstein was wrong about a few things" and River's a good a fictional character as any to do so.

t

Jayne: "These are stone killers, little man. They ain't cuddly like me."

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