Mal's religious beliefs
POSTED BY: Wagneraude
UPDATED: Monday, May 31, 2010 16:53
VIEWED: 6124
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I think the kissing of the cross was meant to show us Mal's loss of faith... We see him as a "whole" person, which includes faith in God, then we see him "broken", where God is as unwanted as the Alliance. It helps to show that Mal once believed, but it's just one more thing he has lost...
I never got the impression that Mal was an atheist, for exactly the reason that you can't be mad at someone/something that doesn't exist.
On the other hand, I don't think Mal thought God was going to fight the Alliance, but I do think he might have been brought up believing "If God is on our side, who can be on theirs"... And the descent into hell, that Serenity Valley became AFTER the fighting stopped (while the peace was negotiated), probably had more to do with his loss of faith, then the loss of the battle itself... 'Cause how could a kind and benevolent God just abandon us. How could he not make man remember, and send someone to help us.. His apathy kills us as surely as the Alliance troops did, only more slowly. "Mercy, forgiveness, trust, those are things he left back there", and by the time the med ships arrived, Mal believed that God was not on his side "God... Who's colors he flying"
As for Amnon being the "Only Jew in space"... remember that the comment was made before Serenity. So Mr. Universe did not exist yet... And if I recall correctly, David Krumholtz didn't want his character to be Jewish (stereotype).. but got sort-of talked into it.
Caz
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I'm leaning towards this, regarding Mal's beliefs:
"As to kissing the cross, I've always thought of that as a Catholic thing.
And gotta remember, it's 500 years in the future, on planets far, far away. No telling how various demoninations might have evolved and combined. Maybe what's left is a mixture of beliefs and rituals."
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It is your classic "I'm mad at God" reaction by a storied character. Book represents God's presence and his love for humankind. Additionally, Book represents God's forgiveness of sins. Hell, Book is a walking talking bonafied miracle.
I always got the impression that he was catholic, or at least a born-again, because it is part of the faith to have a living relationship with God which includes getting angry or upset for perceived abandonment: Why has thou forsaken me, Oh Lord?
I know someone that intimated to me that she was angry with God because she felt he punished her unfairly (barren, no children) while others seemingly mistreat, abuse and abandon them. She is of the Christian faith (she's a Bible-thumper of the first order).
So yeah, he's angry with God in the pilot and throughout Firefly.
But his faith, as Book revealed to him in Serenity with his dying breath, was restored by the film's end. He hinted at River being the key. Remember, when the Operative asks him is he willing to die for his belief, Mal's response.
So no, he was not an atheist. He was just angry with God.
SGG
Tawabawho?
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Quote:
But his faith, as Book revealed to him in Serenity with his dying breath, was restored by the film's end. He hinted at River being the key. Remember, when the Operative asks him is he willing to die for his belief, Mal's response.
I've always considered that an enormous stretch, in regards to regained belief, if not outright failed symbolism.
Believing in the people around you, or believing that you ought to do the right thing is FAR, FAR away from religious belief. Mal didn't regain diddly-squat; he already believes the Independents were correct for resisting the Alliance, and protecting River and sending the Miranda broadwave is more about resisting the Alliance than it is renewed faith in God.
It is, however, a possible step on the path of redemption, as allowing himself to belief in people and his cause again, enough to fight for them, is a sign of healing. I suspect eventually this renewed capacity would have led to Mal regaining his beliefs, but he wasn't there yet by the end of the movie.
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