As noted, I am watching episodes of the sci-fi show Firefly, which has some religious overtones (as done other works of its creator -- see, e.g., Buffy). I noted that as a whole the world does not appear much different than ours, just that it occurs in space with a few things changed.
The major thing is that many people sprinkle Chinese in their conversation. For instance, the preacher character compares something to "talking in the theater," which seems to be a pretty 20th Century reference. He also appears so far to be Christian -- the episode at issue here including a his Bible. If anything, settling on outer planets leads to examples of more primitive civilizations. There is a carefully regulated official prostitution "companion" system, one of the lead characters a member. For a non-cable television program, the whole thing is well done, but this sort of thing sorta annoys me. Star Trek is in various ways the same way, if less so than here, if less complex in other ways.
Doesn't quite seem to get thru (in another episode, the girl's special powers was seen as witchcraft ... be interesting to see how the preacher would have answered their primitive biblical analysis). Meanwhile, turns out the most disreputable of the crew (Jayne) became a local legend at some backwater. The reaction when the crew hears a ballad in his honor is hilarious. Turns out that when he had to dispose of some ill gotten gains, it landed on their town, and they saw it as a heroic move against the PTB. Even when his former partner is let out of prison by said PTB to go after him and explains what happens, the people stick with their beliefs. One person even sacrifices his life to save Jayne.
This totally throws Jayne into a loop, especially given his cynical view of human nature. The captain, a cynic with a heart of gold (the first shown episode makes this clear while the original premiere movie was darker), suggests to him most people who have statues made out of them are probably SOBs in some fashion (Jayne knocking down his own statue reminded me of Saddam Hussein's statue being knocked down). "Ain't about you, Jayne; it's about what they need." And, that is often what is behind myths and religions often enough too. The truth of the matter isn't the ultimate point on a factual basis. It is the meaning -- a higher truth.
Doesn't mean that factual truth doesn't matter at all. Knowing Jayne's true intentions and nature could have been important. Also, trying to use the Flood as if it is some sort of scientific event will likely cause problems if that is taken too seriously. But, as a myth, it has some value. I think the same might be the case -- to address a recent something -- to natural law or the idea of rights in "nature." Maybe, I really haven't read the originals much, each of these thinkers actually imagined humans lived in nature in a certain fashion pre-government. Or, maybe, it was partially a fiction, a sort of philosophical myth to make a point. Ain't about nature's people.
And, then, some thinking they are all smart and all, point out that it's not really true. But, a myth isn't totally true. That's not the point. Bet the originators tend to know it.
The major thing is that many people sprinkle Chinese in their conversation. For instance, the preacher character compares something to "talking in the theater," which seems to be a pretty 20th Century reference. He also appears so far to be Christian -- the episode at issue here including a his Bible. If anything, settling on outer planets leads to examples of more primitive civilizations. There is a carefully regulated official prostitution "companion" system, one of the lead characters a member. For a non-cable television program, the whole thing is well done, but this sort of thing sorta annoys me. Star Trek is in various ways the same way, if less so than here, if less complex in other ways.
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."Jaynestown" was a good episode that had an overall theme concerning the importance of faith and how others are confused about it. The episode also has a nice subplot involving the companion and different ways of becoming "a man." There is also a few amusing scenes involving various characters, including the troubled girl being thrown by the preacher's (who turns out to have a mysterious back-story only discovered in a graphic novel) hair being all out and about. The girl also doesn't understand the Bible -- the Flood story, e.g., is all wrong, except maybe by use of quantum mechanics or something -- "fixing" it is difficult! Preacher explains that you don't "fix" it that way, that the point is to use faith to believe in something and change your life for the better. The full implications weren't addressed, but it was a thoughtful moment.
Doesn't quite seem to get thru (in another episode, the girl's special powers was seen as witchcraft ... be interesting to see how the preacher would have answered their primitive biblical analysis). Meanwhile, turns out the most disreputable of the crew (Jayne) became a local legend at some backwater. The reaction when the crew hears a ballad in his honor is hilarious. Turns out that when he had to dispose of some ill gotten gains, it landed on their town, and they saw it as a heroic move against the PTB. Even when his former partner is let out of prison by said PTB to go after him and explains what happens, the people stick with their beliefs. One person even sacrifices his life to save Jayne.
This totally throws Jayne into a loop, especially given his cynical view of human nature. The captain, a cynic with a heart of gold (the first shown episode makes this clear while the original premiere movie was darker), suggests to him most people who have statues made out of them are probably SOBs in some fashion (Jayne knocking down his own statue reminded me of Saddam Hussein's statue being knocked down). "Ain't about you, Jayne; it's about what they need." And, that is often what is behind myths and religions often enough too. The truth of the matter isn't the ultimate point on a factual basis. It is the meaning -- a higher truth.
Doesn't mean that factual truth doesn't matter at all. Knowing Jayne's true intentions and nature could have been important. Also, trying to use the Flood as if it is some sort of scientific event will likely cause problems if that is taken too seriously. But, as a myth, it has some value. I think the same might be the case -- to address a recent something -- to natural law or the idea of rights in "nature." Maybe, I really haven't read the originals much, each of these thinkers actually imagined humans lived in nature in a certain fashion pre-government. Or, maybe, it was partially a fiction, a sort of philosophical myth to make a point. Ain't about nature's people.
And, then, some thinking they are all smart and all, point out that it's not really true. But, a myth isn't totally true. That's not the point. Bet the originators tend to know it.
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Thanks for your .02!