When There's a Shark in Your Bedroom

Doctor Who: the only sci fi production in which flying sharks aren't ridiculous.

(And that includes you, Mega Shark v. Giant Octopus.)

I'm generally not a worrier and, though I can be cynical at times, I'm also generally an optimist. It comes with the territory of being an idealist/dreamer, I suppose - something intrinsic to my personality (INFP pride). That being said, I've recently started playing this new game called "being a grown-up" and have been hit with doses of what some more seasoned players call "the real world." (Aside: if you ever wondered why writers make up stories, it's because we find the worlds in our minds far more agreeable than the one we live in.) Now, this "real world" is quite rude at times and has done a few numbers on me over the past week, much to my discomfort. As a Christian, I'm reminded to lean into my faith in God more when things start flying out of my control, and my seminary professors have said the same. In lecture today (Theological and Psychological Foundations of Counseling, to be specific), the prof was discussing people's reactions to disastrous events and big life changes. Sometime in the two hour and forty minute class (ugh), he essentially said that every cloud has a silver lining if you have the right perspective. God doesn't cause bad things to happen to you (though he can choose to allow them), but he will teach you something through the experience if you let him. 

So there I was in a class taught by a licensed Biblical counselor and ordained minister, surrounded by seminary students, all of whom (including me) had just come from chapel, and we were discussing the nexus of theology and psychology. Naturally, my mind jumped to Doctor Who. 

I mean, come on. This is why I keep a blog.

Doctor Who's trademark is its optimism, and the Doctor is its chief champion. Two of my favorite quotes from the Eleventh Doctor are, "There is always, you know, surprisingly, hope," and "I am and always will be the optimist: the hoper of far-flung hopes and the dreamer of improbable dreams." It's very rare when we see the Doctor slip into dejection and hopelessness, though it does happen occasionally and his companions are there to pick him up again. Typically, though, he is the one reminding others and us that giving up isn't an option and that there's always something to smile about. Perhaps the most hilarious example of this is in A Christmas Carol, the first Christmas special of Matt Smith's reign. (Skip ahead 25 seconds to start the scene.)

(For the record, A Christmas Carol is the single funniest DW episode I've ever seen. I've watched it half a dozen times, by now, and every time it has me in stitches. Kudos to Steven Moffat and Matt Smith.)


There's a SHARK in my BEDROOM.

I love the progression of events in this clip. The Doctor and young Kazran Sardick are on a planet where fish swim in the clouds. They want to get a closer look, so they string up the sonic screwdriver as bait and wait for a bite. As you saw, the Doctor gets more than he anticipated. Does that resonate with anyone else? How often have you made a decision or been involved in something that escalated quickly into something you weren't expecting and didn't know how to handle? You think you have your life under control then, suddenly, there's a shark in your bedroom, your sonic's gone, you're in danger and somebody's bugging you with questions about color.

Now, anybody who's watched a single episode of DW knows that this kind of craziness is par for the Doctor's course. He's a time-and-space-traveling 900-year-old alien whose hobbies are being a genius and saving the universe. Trouble is "the bit in-between," according to Ten, and each incarnation rather enjoys getting into and out of scrapes. For the rest of us, I'd wager, trouble is a lot less enticing. Some Christians even believe that they shouldn't experience any by virtue of their belief in Christ. In response to that, I submit to you my favorite Bible verse. John 16:33 - "In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world." Words of Jesus, promising strife. There are plenty of other verses along the same lines, namely in the Sermon on the Mount, when Jesus says blessed are those who are persecuted for his name...(Matthew 5). Any theology that says the life of a Christian is supposed to be free of struggle because God promised he'd take care of his people is a pitiful misinterpretation and, honestly, a quintessentially commercial and American/Western product. (I'll put away my soapbox before this becomes a rant about the prosperity gospel. Suffice it to say that I find ZERO biblical evidence for it and I get properly angry when I see people take verses out of context to support it.)

Anyone who's lived at all has experienced some kind of struggle that threw him for a loop, made him ask serious, life-altering questions or caused him to pause and reevaluate things to make sense of it all. For some, this was a break-up. For others, it was a natural disaster or the death of a loved one. It doesn't matter if it "wasn't that bad" in comparison with someone else's - what matters is that it was earth-shattering to you at that time. You've had, will have or are having a shark burst into your bedroom. So what do you do?


Concentrating on the pluses...

Young Kazran hears banging against his closet door and wants to know what's going on. The Doctor, more or less calmly, finds all the exciting and positive aspects of their deadly situation and relates them to Kazran...who only hears "shark" and appropriately freaks out. I like his reaction, because it's probably how I and every other sane person would act. Even we idealists aren't immune to reality, especially when it's barreling down our door intent on devouring us and we're seemingly powerless to stop it. Being afraid is a natural human response to dangerous and uncertain stimuli, which is why God needed to say "Don't be afraid" so many times in the Bible. Seriously, that phrase appears the most often in God's interactions with his people. Why? Because we're too busy freaking out about the sharks.

The human brain is a wonder of creation. It has the incredible ability to process information and block out what isn't necessary or what would overload it. If you were aware of every stimulus going on around you at any given time, you wouldn't be able to handle it, so your brain takes things like background noise and words on signs in your peripheral vision and filters them out of your consciousness so you can focus on the big, important things in front of you. Unfortunately, our brains can do this to our detriment. We can be thinking about and listening to the shark and completely miss the many pluses that the Doctor rattled off. I feel like God does the same thing:

"Yes, your health is in a poor state, your finances are dire and your dog ran away, but concentrating on the pluses, this is a great opportunity for you to let go of that control you feel you need and learn that I am your sustainer. Look at the sparrow and the lily. I provide for them, so I'll provide for you. No, I didn't heal Paul of his ailments even though he asked, and I might not heal you either. But 'to live is Christ,' (Philippians 1:21) and I really am enough. Come, talk with me."

DISCLAIMER! Believe me, I am not one of those people who says, "Oh, just smile and press on. Don't be upset about these terrible things happening to you. Just let go and let God." In fact, those kind of statements are fuel for me to become a counselor, because I think they're overly simplistic, cheap and somewhat disrespectful of the pain people endure. It doesn't say anywhere in the bible that believers aren't allowed to be upset when stuff happens, so why must other believers insist otherwise? No. Instead, I think that, after you experience your healthy and normal emotions of grief, fear, anger or anxiety, you stand up and concentrate on the pluses. It's one thing to be upset that tragedy has struck; it's another to wallow when God (whether through the Holy Spirit, the bible or other believers) is telling you that there are good things in the midst of it all or on the horizon. There is always hope because God is good and eternal. We might not experience the relief we want when we want it, or even in this lifetime, but our reward awaits in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy and thieves do not break in and steal.

It's hard to be positive when there's a shark in the bedroom; no one said it wouldn't be. Then again, nothing about Christianity is easy. They say that the more you work for something, the more you appreciate it. Concentrating on the pluses, I could always be more appreciative...

Until next time! May the Daleks grant you asylum...
Katya

P.s. Series 7 premieres this Saturday!!! Geronimo!

Harriet Jones, Public Servant

I know it’s been a while since I updated this blog, but I’ve been in the middle of a cross-country move, so I’ve had an excuse. However, I’m now (more or less) settled in my new apartment and have officially become a seminary student! On top of that, I have an internship with a (more or less) local church in their high school ministry. Thus, my life is rapidly and thoroughly becoming infused with all aspects of theology. And this is good news for you, dear nerdy reader, because it means I’ll have plenty to write about.

Today’s topic goes along with some thoughts I’ve been having regarding my own ministry position: how to be a good leader. As Christians, we’re set apart from the rest of the world as an example to others (1 Peter 2:4-10), but as Christian leaders in any context, be it ministry or secular vocation, we have a particular duty to reflect Christlike attitudes and cultivate servant lifestyles for the benefit and example of those under us. (Titus 2:7, 1 Peter 5:3) In the Who world, no one better depicts leadership par excellence than Harriet Jones, Prime Minister. SPOILERS:

Harriet Jones, Devoted Servant

From the moment we meet her in Aliens of London, Harriet presents herself as a woman who lives to serve her constituents. Then an MP for Flydale North (translation: she’s no one terribly important in the government), Harriet does everything in her power to meet with the Prime Minister in order to pass a resolution that would benefit the people back home. In the beginning of the episode, we don’t know what that bill is, but we know it is obviously the only thing she cares about accomplishing. Ironically, it’s terribly unimportant in the scheme of things (I mean, aliens have invaded earth, killed the Prime Minister and are about to start World War III…and she wants something like paved potholes), but the zest and dogged determination she exhibits in pursuing it shows that she takes the needs and desires of her constituents seriously, and throws everything she has into serving them. She isn’t caught up in trying to ingratiate herself with the top bananas in Downing Street so that she can further her career; instead, she is focused on doing her utmost for the people she represents, and she doesn’t care how insignificant that job may seem to other people.

Not only does she take her specific duties to Flydale North seriously, but she also has a keen understanding of and respect for the responsibilities of an elected official. In World War Three, the Doctor has figured out a way to save the earth, but he’s hesitant to employ it because it would necessitate sacrificing Rose and everyone in Downing Street. Rose is willing to die for the greater good, but Nine can’t bring himself to do it. Harriet steps in, citing her authority as the only elected official in the room, and orders the Doctor on behalf of her representatives to take action – just what he wants and needs to hear. Not once does she stop to consider her own safety, but she steps up when leadership is needed and strides forward with confidence, respect and love for the public. Then, she recedes into the background until she is needed again.

Harriet Jones, Humble Servant

The running gag with her character was her habit of introducing herself to everyone she met with her name, her position, and her ID card. In series 1, it made some sense (but was still funny), since she was an unknown in politics. But in series 2, she does the same thing, with the same casual humility, when she’s Prime Minister. I just love that about her. No matter how important she is, she never loses her down-to-earth nature and never allows her power to inflate her ego. She doesn’t think of herself as an important person – rather, she thinks she holds an important job, and that instills in her a deep sense of personal obligation. She became Prime Minister not to satisfy her own aspirations, but because the Doctor suggested she’d be a good candidate in the aftermath of the Slitheen invasion, and she saw a need she could fill.

The best example of Harriet’s humility is in The Christmas Invasion, when Peter Llewellyn is taken to Downing Street to make sense of the Sycorax broadcast. Harriet introduces herself to him (“Well, yes, I know who you are…”) and immediately asks if he’d like a coffee, since it’s late. She then proceeds to pour him a cup herself. How many government leaders do you think would be unassuming enough to pour a visitor a cup of coffee? You’d expect her to have sent an intern or a flunkie, instead. But no, she isn’t above a small act of service like that. It speaks volumes to her character.

A few minutes later, she takes Llewellyn downstairs to mission control where she starts speaking to the people on the floor about the spaceship crisis. After introducing herself, (“Yes, I know who you are…”) she asks for their names and then thanks them for their help. I love that about Harriet, too. She genuinely cares about others, respects them enough to ask for their names, commits the information to memory and expresses her gratitude for their work. A good leader like Harriet recognizes the efforts of those under him/her and doesn’t depersonalize the support staff. (Perhaps my favorite peek into Harriet’s character is in Aliens of London, when she realizes she never asked the name of the receptionist who was killed. The look of intense regret and consternation on her face is priceless. Like the Doctor, she clearly doesn’t believe in collateral damage, and finds every person’s life precious. I think that lapse in Aliens of London affected her actions in The Christmas Invasion, motivating her to learn the name of everyone around her.) There is something very powerful, respectful and special about using someone’s name when you speak to him. You let the person know that they matter, that you view them with regard and that you care about them. It’s great when someone in authority over you knows your name and uses it, but how much cooler is it that God himself has “called you by name.” (Isaiah 43:1) Names are important, folks. Use them and be amazed.

Harriet Jones, Wise Servant

Harriet’s character arc is a bit of a tragic one because she falls out of the Doctor’s graces (though the moment Ten learns about her actions in Journey’s End is simply beautiful, in my opinion). But whether or not you agree with her decision in The Christmas Invasion to send a message to the universe, you have to respect her for sticking to her guns and doing what she thought was right.

From beginning to end, Harriet made tough decisions with the aid of as much advice, thought and sobriety as she could muster, and she took action out of a pervasive desire to protect and serve the public. I love the pained expression on her face when she tells Torchwood to fire at the Sycorax, because it shows the struggle she had in shooting down a retreating alien ship. I love even more her statement, many episodes later, that she stands by her decision despite the Doctor’s obvious disapproval. That illustrates her clarity of thought and her resolute principles. (And, frankly, the circumstances in The Stolen Earth give weight and credence to her actions in series 2 and show her to possess some foresight.) Best of all, however, is that she never blames the Doctor for what he did to her career, and she helps him defend the earth in spite of their rocky past. Her maturity, wisdom, grace and fearless devotion to serving others make her a stellar example of leadership and a real heroine in the Doctor Who ranks.


Jesus Christ, The Model Servant

As I've demonstrated, Harriet is a beautiful picture of someone who leads with humility, but she's only a pale shadow of the perfect servant-leader, Jesus. One of my favorite stories about the Son of Man is the one in John 13:1-17, where he washes the disciples' feet. He came to teach, touch, heal, forgive and save, but he did so in the most humble, loving and gentle way.

"When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. 'Do you understand what I have done for you?' he asked them. 'You call me "Teacher" and "Lord," and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.'" (verses 12-17, NIV)

If the King of Kings lowered himself from the divine to an ordinary human life and spent his time here serving those he reigns over, what right have we to think ourselves better than those under us? Instead, we should cultivate a servant's heart and strive to imitate the one extended grace to us and saved us from ourselves. It's not easy and it's not a natural impulse, but when it happens, it's a sterling portrait of Christ and makes the world stop and stare. Then, like Harriet, we'll be known wherever we go, and for the right reasons.

Until next time! May you finally enjoy that tea you were promised.
Katya

The Satan Pit, Part 3: Beware of Rabid Dogma

The Doctor and the Writer

In my previous post, I looked at Ten's reactions to meeting the devil and praised agnostics and doubters for their openness and humility when it comes to questioning their views on the universe. Today, I want to zoom out of the Doctor's world, take a look at the use of art as a soapbox for ideology, and call attention to the men who both created this thought-provoking story and brought it to life. As always, we can learn a lesson from Doctor Who, this time about avoiding arrogant dogma and understanding your own influence.

Behind the scenes

Enter David Tennant (the Tenth Doctor), Matt Jones (author of The Satan Pit episodes...not pictured, despite my best efforts to scrounge up a photo) and Russell T Davies (then the head writer for Doctor Who and the man responsible for resurrecting the show in 2005 after 17 or so years of it being off the air. Basically, the hero of all Whovians). In 2006, these men had a powerful concept on their hands: to pit the Doctor against the villain of all existence, the devil. The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit was a daring story to tell in more than just an entertainment sense. It would require the show to dive headlong into some deeply controversial and intensely personal worldviews and emerge without getting burned or burning others in the process. 

As far as I'm aware, none of the three men have any particularly strong religious beliefs. DT's father was a minister, so while David grew up in a believing household, I don't think he identifies himself as being especially religious. I could be wrong, but if he is religious, he's not vocal about it. RTD is an atheist. (Matt Jones doesn't even have a picture on the internet, so what makes you think I can find out anything about his religious background?) That these men, safely guessing, don't put much stock in the concept of the devil and still managed to produce two episodes of such gracious, open-minded narration is laudatory. I mean, let's think about this. How often can the entertainment industry be justifiably accused of pushing a social/political/religious agenda on the viewing public? Answer: a lot of the time. Not including the number of celebrities who use their stardom to promote their own ideologies, you have plenty of movies, music, television shows, books and stage productions with clear messages that either condemn Christian beliefs or advocate secular worldviews. (Examples: too many to list. But consider how often pre-marital sex, secular humanism, non-theistic evolution, etc. are portrayed as cool or undeniably true...) Having "traditional" values and holding "narrow-minded" religious convictions is pretty much universally stereotyped as silly and uninformed at best and idiotic and bigoted at worst. How easy it would have been for the DW team to fall into the same pattern, especially in the considerably more secular U. K.

Except, they didn't. They exhibited the same kind of respect for religious belief and lack thereof as they do for pretty much everything else life can throw into the mix. If there is one message Doctor Who champions without fail is that it's right to honor life despite creed, color or sexuality. The only thing the show denounces is useless violence and hatred. They could have treated belief in the devil (and also God) as the hallmark of the unenlightened, but they gave it equal weight with non-belief. Matt Jones and Russell T Davies could have decided to let the Doctor say that no gods and devils existed. There are at least four times in The Satan Pit alone that Ten could have definitively put the matter to rest, denied the existence of the divine and convinced everyone on Sanctuary Base Six that the beast was nothing more than a regular monster. But the writers decided to leave it open, even at the very end. Ida asks the Doctor what he thinks the creature was; the Doctor's response? "I think...we beat it. That's good enough for me."

Not only was the script devoid of a particular agenda, but also David Tennant's portrayal of the Doctor was spectacularly respectful and humble. He could have delivered his lines with condescension or flippancy, but instead he gave us a Doctor who was honest and thoughtful. In the end, we aren't quite sure of what the Doctor believes, but I think that's because the Doctor himself isn't sure anymore. I love the acting choices DT made in this episode... (Aside 1: He is the KING of pauses. The places he puts them transcends a line into brilliance. The most amazing one I ever saw was in his 2009 version of Hamlet, when he's talking to Rosencrantz & Guildenstern about Fortune. They're making bawdy jokes and wordplay, but Hamlet's pauses turn what could have been a punchline into an attempt to gloss over awkwardness and embarrassment. Simply amazing.) (Aside 2: I'm of the opinion that the most important and significant peeks into the Tenth Doctor's character are in what he chooses not to say. Bad Wolf Bay, anyone?)

Overall, epic kudos to the lot of them. They took the subject of the story seriously, they treated all beliefs with respect and they didn't abuse their power and influence. Which reminds me...

Life imitates art

Doctor Who is only a TV show (sadly...sometimes I want to believe it's a documentary), but even as such, it has an incredible domestic and international following, of whom many are children. Because of the incredible depth and richness of the characters and stories, people get a lot more than simple entertainment out of it. Case in point: what you're reading. As such, the impact this British television show can make on society is significant, which places a good deal of responsibility in the hands of the actors, writers and directors involved. People respond to what they see, they become accustomed to and accept the messages they internalize, then they act upon those ideas. Life, as they say, does imitate art, and I think DW qualifies as art in its ability to inspire and to provoke thought. 

We can take a page from the DW creative team's book by learning the power our words, messages and actions have on those around us. As my mom says, what we write, what we say, how we dress, everything we do communicates something to someone. It's our responsibility to make sure what we're communicating is gracious, honest and true. Your daily life is a testimony to society, so don't take that lightly. What exactly are you testifying? (1 Cor. 10:31, ESV: "So whatever you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it to the glory of God.") People are watching, especially if you call yourself a Christian - your family, your friends, strangers on the street. Your children are watching and absorbing. You have incredible power to witness to and inspire others. Don't fall into the trap of believing you haven't a voice. As the Doctor says, "There's no such thing as an ordinary human."

On the other hand, beware of abusing your voice. We're called to share our beliefs with the world, not take the Bible and ram it down people's throats. Dogma in and of itself isn't bad. Having strong beliefs that stem from God's word is nothing to be ashamed of. However, the proliferation of that dogma is what has given modern Christianity such a bad rap. People can be downright cruel and vicious when "witnessing" to others, and it usually ends up as a judgment-fest or a shouting match. Your words of warning and the news of the gospel might be completely accurate, but if they're relayed without compassion, grace or a willingness to listen, what good is your testimony? Instead, may your words be "seasoned with salt" as it says in Colossians 4:6, so that your example can bring glory to God and reflect the love of Christ. You can have dogma, just make sure it's house broken and on an appropriate leash. Then, you can take it out for walks, meet people and impact the lives of those around you through the power of the Holy Spirit within you (Acts 1:8).

I'll leave you with perhaps the most amazing quote the Eleventh Doctor ever had:

Image from doctorbee tumblr

Until next time! May Moffat's plot twists not cause your brain to overheat.

Katya

The Satan Pit, Part 2: The Case for Doubt

Ida: "What about you?"

Doctor: "I believe...I haven't seen everything."

Last time, I deconstructed the scene in The Satan Pit between Ida and the Doctor from the perspective of sharing your faith. I focused more on the way in which Ten brings up the subject of belief and how he acts toward Ida as she answers him. Briefly, I touched on his response when she returns the question, and I highlighted the simple honesty of his statement as being the right way to talk to someone about your beliefs. Today, I'm going to take a deeper look at the statements he makes throughout the episode to explore the merits of doubt.

The Doctor and the Devil

For a 900-year-old genius who has spent the last 700 years traveling through space and time, the words "I don't know" have got to feel foreign. He has seen enough of the universe to have a prodigious grasp on what is real, what is sensical and what can't be. So, when he's faced with something that doesn't complement his understanding of reality, he is unsure of how to react.

In the beginning of the episode, Ten is fairly dismissive of the notion that the beast in the chasm of Krop Tor is the devil, telling Rose to "keep it together" when it identifies itself as Satan. However, even then, when Rose asks him to deny the existence of the devil ("Tell me there's no such thing...Doctor?") he can't bring himself to do so, because he isn't entirely certain. Later, the beast communicates directly with the people on Sanctuary Base Six and the Doctor cuts right in, wanting to set the record straight. He asks the beast which devil he is, citing the plethora of religions that have emerged over the milennia (SPOILERS):

I love this clip for three particular moments. 1) The Doctor's silence at 0:20, after the beast talks of the result of the Last Great Time War, 2) When the beast asks if the Doctor's conviction (at 0:50) is his religion and the Doctor answers a little insecurely that it's "a belief," and 3) The look on Ten's face at the very end when he can't explain how the beast knew about Ida's past. These three moments unveil the Doctor as someone who, contrary to popular belief, doesn't actually have all the answers and, more importantly, responds quite well when this is brought to his attention. As he is with many other things, the Doctor is a fine example of how to approach the deep, important questions of existence.

Agnosticism

I have great respect for agnostics. Not that I don't respect other people - I maintain that individuals have the universal right to believe what they like. But I especially offer a nod of approval toward agnostics, because I think, on some levels, they have a worldview that is more humble and honest than most. While the depth of belief or disbelief in some Higher Power varies among agnostics, they all operate under the fundamental resolution that there are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in their philosophy. (Woohoo, Shakespeare!) Their openness to the existence of the metaphysical and their acceptance that they could be wrong about the world, or just ill-informed, is commendable, I think. Sometimes, atheists and people of faith alike become bombastically confident that they know the full truth about God, when such a knowledge is impossible at this time. (1 Cor. 13:9-12, ESV: "For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up my childish ways. For now, we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then, I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known [by God].") I like how open-minded, honest and humble the agnostic mentality is, especially when harbored by people who are incredibly learned and intelligent - those most capable of assuming they have a clear understanding of the way the universe works. Like the Doctor.

The Doctor has his "rules" and beliefs, but when Ida asks him about his religious ideology, he answers with simplicity and humility. Check out this clip again, skip to 1:00 and pay attention to the content of the Doctor's answer:

"I believe I haven't seen everything." "That's why I keep traveling - to be proved wrong."

I just love that. The Doctor isn't arrogant and isn't so selfishly attached to his beliefs that he's unwilling to entertain new ideas or paradigms that challenge his own. He has deep convictions and opinions, but he doesn't get angry or defensive when they are contested. He becomes thoughtful. I think if more people would examine what they believe and why they find it true, they would emerge ever the stronger and wiser for it. And, they'd be able to explain it better to others who ask.

The Bible says that merely calling yourself a Christian and going through the motions is not enough; you have to put your money where your mouth is: "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you - unless, of course, you fail the test?" 2 Cor. 13:5 (NIV). You can't test yourself unless you are willing to entertain the idea that you're wrong, and you won't prove that your faith is the real deal unless it comes through in your actions. Being Christian is so much more than praying a prayer and accepting Jesus - it means constantly learning and changing yourself to mirror the one who saved you. And you never learn anything unless you ask questions. 

Doubt and the Christian

There is such a stigma against doubt, as if anyone who professes to believe in Jesus is never allowed to question him or herself. Some even think doubt is a sin, even though there is no Biblical evidence for this. Take the disciple Thomas for example. He's forever known as Doubting Thomas because he didn't believe Jesus had risen from the dead (John 20:24-29). Now, Jesus could have done a million things to him for not believing, punished him, called him to repent. But he didn't. He revealed himself to Thomas, allowed him to touch the scars on his hands and in his side and embraced him as the follower he was. No hellfire or damnation. Why? Because doubt is a natural part of being human. Because doubt usually leads to examination, learning and maturation. Don't put someone down for having doubts about their faith; rather, encourage them to read the Bible, pray and explore. Tell why you don't doubt it. We don't have to have all the answers right away, and some we'll never have. It's okay. If we knew everything for certain, we'd have to be God.

Even those we might consider "super Christians" had serious doubts. Mother Theresa, in her journals, questioned if she were saved at all. Mother Theresa! Of course, you can't judge someone's salvation based on works (see James 2), but I think we can all learn a valuable lesson from her. She devoted her life to following Christ and doing the work of God and even she wondered at times if it was all for naught. You can doubt, and God will love and use you nonetheless.

I've personally questioned the existence of God and my faith a number of times in the past, even as recently as a year ago. I pondered what my life would mean and what reality was all about if God were out of the equation, and I came to the same conclusion I hold firmly as truth: without God, the universe doesn't make sense. Moral living is a formality. Life is pointless. I can't prove there's a God empirically, but from what I've observed on earth and in my own life, I can't accept the alternative. I choose to believe in God though I haven't seen him, and Jesus said I'm blessed for it. (John 20:29) Doubt has made me stronger. 

I'll end this with an encouragement ripped off from the wonderful Ms. Frizzle: "Ask questions! Make mistakes! And get wiser!"

Until next time! May the TARDIS take you where you need to go.
Katya

The Satan Pit, Part 1: "I didn't ask"

(Picture courtesy of shadowproclamation.net, which is possibly the most epic name for a DW blog/podcast EVER. Check it out.)

This is the first installment of a two- or three-part analysis of series 2's The Satan Pit. Believe it or not, but there have been legitimate theses written on the theological questions raised by this Ten and Rose story. I'm not particularly interested in such an academic review of the religious paradigms explored in the episode, myself, but it's cool to know that other people have talked about it before me. (What? Other sci fi nerds with an interest in theology exist? WHERE ARE YOU AND LET'S BE BESTIES! *ahem*)

First, I want to say that the quote in the above collage is terribly romantic and lovely and comes at the end of a fascinating speech by my beloved Tenth Doctor. His monologue about "fake gods...would-be gods" is enough material for a post in its own right, and I might return to it in the future (or the past...this darn vortex manipulator's on the fritz). The subject of this particular post, however, is an interchange between the Doctor and Ida before Ten goes down into the pit to confront the Beast. The part I'm talking about is about a minute into the clip (SPOILERS):

Coming off the heels of my Gospel of Who post, in which I called myself out on not sharing my faith more, I thought it would be appropriate to take a look at what the Doctor does when it comes to discussing faith.

1. He gets to know Ida.

This scene is I think about halfway through The Satan Pit, which is the continuation of The Impossible Planet. In the meantime, Ten and Rose have been working with the crew of Sanctuary Base Six to get free and save themselves from the evil creature controlling the Ood. ("We must feed...you! If you are hungry." Love an Ood.) He's gotten himself and Ida stuck ten miles down from the surface of the base after they went down to explore. As he lowers himself into the pit (in her place, the dashing hero), he asks her what she believes, in a tone that says two things to me: 1) He's been talking to her about her other beliefs and is maybe a little surprised this question slipped his mind, considering the circumstances, and 2) He genuinely wants to know.

If you're building a relationship with someone, especially if that person is already a friend, it's only inevitable that you broach the subject of religion and worldviews. They affect a person so strongly and completely that you'll never really know someone unless you get down to the baseline fundamentals of how they see and interact with reality. There's such a stigma against discussing religion and politics with people, particularly strangers, but that's primarily because of how people go about it. Generally, when asked for an opinion on a "controversial" subject like religion, people immediately raise their emotional defenses. Why? Because in a room of twenty people, there will be thirty strongly held beliefs and, invariably, people will get snippy or even antagonistic if their position isn't immediately validated. It's frustrating at best and seriously damaging at worst when people, especially Christians, don't listen to others and respect their beliefs.

There is a huge difference between entertaining another person's point of view for the sake of conversation and condoning it. There is also a huge difference between sharing your own opinions and forcing them on people. The sooner you know how to represent your beliefs in a graceful manner, the sooner you'll be able to have deep conversations about religion in an open and genuine environment that actually lead somewhere. (If you want to learn how to do this, check out Art of Eloquence. I highly encourage it.)

Back to the Doctor: He asks Ida what she believes because he's a curious fellow, he cares about her and he's about to meet the devil, so it's all rather fitting. The next thing he does, though, is my favorite thing in the world.

2. He listens and asks questions.

Ever had someone ask you something but you know while you're talking that they don't really care about your answer? Or feel like they're waiting for you to shut up so they can say something else? Yeah. Well, Ten doesn't do that. Ida responds about her faith growing up and lack of it, then he asks a follow-up question about the mechanics of her parent's religion. Then he listens more and makes an insightful comment along the same theme! You may be thinking, "Well, duh, he's having a chat." But that's the part of witnessing that so many people miss! The listening bit! If you don't pay attention to what your conversation partner is saying, honor and take stock of their emotions, and invest in their side of the talk, you're having two monologues. Total failure to communicate, don't pass Go and don't collect $200.

There really is an art to listening, and it is pretty much always rewarding. I wish more people would practice it, nowadays. Nothing says "I value you as an individual" like listening to someone be honest with you. And, almost always, people will turn right around and extend to you the same respect and courtesy. Like Ida does.

3. He thinks about his reply and answers truthfully.

I love the little pause between Ida asking him about his own beliefs and him answering. It speaks volumes about Ten's character. I could analyze this to pieces, and I think I will in the next post (from a slightly different angle), but for now I'll keep it brief. I think he pauses because a) He didn't bring up the subject to talk about himself (I mean, let's face it, when does the Doctor really volunteer information about himself? Besides, I already said he was interested in learning about her),  b) Perhaps no one has asked him this before and he doesn't know what to say, and c) He wants to give her a good and honest answer. And his honest answer is basically, "I don't know."

There is nothing wrong with "I don't know" if it's true. As a believer in anything, you are expected to be able to explain the basics of what you think, but sometimes you haven't quite figured it out, and that's okay. When Ten responds to Ida, he is completely straightforward with the way he sees things, but he is humble enough to admit that he could be wrong. He could quickly rattle off something logical and philosophical, like he normally might, but instead he stops, considers himself and returns her vulnerability with his own. It's a beautiful picture, really. One we would do well to emulate.

"Know this, my beloved brothers: Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God." -- James 1:19-20 (ESV)

Until next time! May your sonic screwdriver finally work on wood.

Katya

The Gospel of Who

The above is a portrait of my life over the past several months. I went from not knowing the premise of Doctor Who to becoming a certifiable nut in the span of a couple episodes. (The Hungry Earth/Cold Blood and The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances, to be specific.) Since my baptizement into the Whoverse, I have taken it upon myself to convert as many of my friends into Whovians as possible, and I have to say that I have been quite successful in this endeavor.

Not only have I brought the joy of Who to my family and friends' lives, but I've also become something of an expert when it comes to trivia. It helps when you've seen every single episode an idiotic number of times in a short time span and you have played practically every DW game that exists on Sporcle. (Yes, Sporcle has it's own section devoted to Doctor Who. If I've just ruined your productivity, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.) My love for the show has been all over Facebook and real life, and it struck me one day that I'm doing something right and something wrong.

I've been spreading the gospel of Who: the story of a wonderfully positive show about a time-traveling alien who saves the universe as a hobby. This in itself isn't necessarily bad, since there's nothing in the Bible that says we aren't allowed to be excited about things. But I realized with a veritable degree of shame that I am more willing and more apt to talk about how awesome DW is than I am to share the same excitement about my faith in God. The latter is easily more important and even more exciting than a British sci fi show, but I find myself holding my tongue or simply not even thinking about telling others about Jesus.

I'm reminded of a quote by Penn Jillette, of Penn & Teller fame. Mind you that Mr. Jillette is a noted atheist:

If I could translate my enthusiasm for talking about my favorite TV show into an enthusiasm for gracefully and respectfully talking about my relationship with God, I'd be a better person and a better follower of Christ. We're called to take the message of the true gospel to the ends of the earth in Matthew 28:18-20, become "fishers of men" (Matt. 4:19) and "always be prepared to give an answer for the hope" we have in Jesus (1 Peter 3:15). Our feet are to be symbolically outfitted with the sandals of the "readiness of the gospel of peace" (Ephesians 6:15), which can have several interpretations including a need to be ever-willing and prepared to testify about God. As Penn Jillette says, fear of social awkwardness or any other reason is no excuse not to share your beliefs with everyone you meet.

That being said, there is something quite redeeming in the gospel of Who. I'll definitely return to this topic in more detail in the future (or the past...if my TARDIS acts up), but I want to sketch out the fundamental ideas of the show and explain why they're so beautiful.

Doctor Who: "The triumph of intellect and romance over brute force and cynicism."

I don't recall where this quote originated, but it gets to the core of the show's ideology. DW champions the cause of optimism, peace and beauty in a world lost in a maze of violence and pessimism, and it does so by resolutely arguing that individuals can and do make a positive difference. It's a refreshing change to see a worldview that doesn't write off humanity as not worth the trouble, but instead fights for the good that humanity can be, if inspired and galvanized. I feel that God has the same kind of attitude toward us. Yes, this world is a broken and sinful place because of the Fall, we are all sinners beyond our own power to save, and  the only time things will be restored will be when Jesus comes back to reign on Earth. However, God somehow still loves us as his children and he's constantly working against evil. He gave us a way out of this mess through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross and his resurrection and he uses his followers to accomplish good to his glory. If you think about it, it would have been SO much easier to write us all off after Eden and start over, but God chose to work with what we'd done to ourselves. God's working against the sin in our hearts and the evil that Satan finagles because he loves us and thinks we're worth it. The triumph of intellect and romance, indeed. And it will be a triumph - we're promised that in Revelation.

So, major props and kudos to a show that reminds us not to give up on ourselves!

Life is beautiful and sacred.

This might be my favorite part of the Doctor's personality. No matter who he meets, even his enemies, he values their life and their right to exist. In a society that shows senseless violence on television and in video games to the point that the audience has become desensitized to death, the Doctor reminds us that life is precious in all its forms. Whether he meets a giant killer wasp in 1920 or an aesthetically-challenged minotaur in a creepy hotel, his reaction is, "You are BEAUTIFUL." He has such a respect for creatures and life itself that he goes out of his way to avoid aggression, even when it costs him. He's committed genocide out of necessity to save the universe from the Last Great Time War, and that weighs heavily on him, so he extends mercy and peace and tries to rescue even his most bitter enemies. (Examples/SPOILERS. Highlight at your own risk: Ten tries to save Dalek Caan in Evolution of the Daleks, as well as retrieve Davros from the burning Crucible in Journey's End. Nine chooses to be a "coward" in Parting of the Ways to avoid killing all the Daleks.) The world would be so much brighter if more people had half the respect and appreciation for life that the Doctor does.

"There's no such thing as an ordinary human."

Beyond life being sacred, the Doctor believes everyone has the ability to be amazing. In 900 years of space and time travel, he has never met anyone "who wasn't important, before." I love this, because so often we can get caught up in our faults and mediocrity that we start to believe we aren't exceptional for just being alive. My friend Nick once wrote a delightful essay about how simply being made in the image of God means we have incredible value. And he's absolutely right. You have no business getting down on yourself when you should remember that we as humans are the pinnacle of creation (see Genesis) and are mirrors of an almighty and magnificent God. As the Skit Guys say, God doesn't make junk. You aren't ordinary; God made you. Thus, you're extraordinary.

Until next time! May the fezzes, 3D glasses and leather jackets be with you.
Katya

Seminarian, Whovian and Proud

God loves nerds. I should know because I am one. Even Jesus talked about us in the greatest sermon ever preached: "The geek shall inherit the earth." Well, maybe that's not quite what he said in Matthew 5, but it isn't any less true.

There's a misconception that God and popular culture don't intersect, and that only Christian programs, Christian books and Christian music speak truth about who he is and who we are in relation. However, I know for a fact that God was communicating to his children long before The Fish, Lifeway and Focus on the Family ever existed (hiya Biblical record!) and that he still reveals himself to us through a variety of media. In fact, I find it most poignant and powerful to discover Biblical truths in secular places because it makes those truths all the more absolute. Case in point: Doctor Who. (Aside: If you aren't familiar with the greatest thing the Brits have ever shared with the world...what are you doing here?! Stop reading, go on Netflix and watch an episode called Blink! Right now!)

I was having a discussion with a friend of mine about the beauty of the human spirit when I admitted that, until recently, I had been a die-hard cynic of humanity. What with the moral degradation of modern society, I had come to view people's potential for goodness in a highly skeptical light. However, in watching my favorite TV show of all time and space, I have gained a new perspective on the human race as something that can be beautiful and is worth fighting for. The Doctor's love for humanity and his indomitable efforts to save it time and time again without thanks or recognition reminded me a little of God's own love for us.

Doctor Who is not only an entertaining sci fi show, but it's also chock full of amazing, positive insights that align terrifically with scripture. I was first alerted to this reality when another friend of mine wrote a beautiful blog post on the spiritual significance of the Doctor's words to Amy Pond in "Flesh and Stone" about walking "like you can see." (Go read it! It gave me shivers.) Indeed, one of the reasons I adore DW is for its endless capacity to make me think about the world and my place in it. Everything from the importance of optimism, to the question of what it means to be human - when I watch the Doctor and his companions go on adventures, more than just my imagination gets an exercise. And that is what this blog is for: a medium to share the deep significance and applicability of the show's themes, ideas, quotes, characters and, of course, silliness.

I am a Whovian; I am utterly obsessed with the show and don't have any shame in admitting it. I don't suffer from an unmanageable addiction, though - I enjoy every moment of it. I am also a devoted follower of Christ who is about to start seminary in two weeks to pursue a Master's in Biblical Counseling. I love having deep, theological conversations with friends and learning more about the person (as opposed to the concept) of Jesus. So, naturally, I combined my two greatest loves in all the universe and came up with God & Doctor Who! And you have no idea how excited the idea of this blog makes me. I get to ramble on about religion and sci fi?! Is such epic awesomeness even legal?! I DON'T CARE! Geronimo!


Before I dive into the rest of the blog, there are a few things you need to know.

1. Just because I'm a seminarian doesn't mean I know everything. In fact, I know plenty of Christians (and probably some non-Christians) who are better versed in classical theology and philosophy than I am. Everything I say on this blog I will back up with scripture, but in the end, it's my own insight, analysis and opinion. It's up to you to decide what to make of it.

2. I'm a non-denominational Christian who spent the last four years attending a pretty relaxed Southern Baptist church in Nashville, TN. Take that as you will.

3. For the sake of aesthetics and simplicity, I am not going to capitalize personal pronouns like "he" and "his" when referring to God. It would clutter up the page and maybe turn some people off from reading because the language looks too "churchy." This is a blog about Biblical insights from a TV show. It's going to be casual.

4. I haven't seen much of Classic Who, so this blog will be pretty strictly about the series since 2005. Please don't go all hipster on me and tell me how an episode of Patrick Troughton's is a better example of the point I'm trying to make, or complain that Tom Baker was sooo much better than Eccleston/Tennant/Smith. Thanks.


Now for the fun, nerdy stuff:

5. Who is your favorite Doctor?
Ten! He's my Doctor because of his depth of emotions, his gleeful awe and wonder for everything, his humor, his sass and his storyline. He is NOT my favorite because he's the most attractive. Don't impugn my love for Ten with accusations of fangirl obsession.

That being said, I am a David Tennant fangirl. I started becoming one after I watched his interpretation of Hamlet (I'm a huge Shakespeare nerd, too), but I joined the bandwagon after I learned that he's not only an exemplary actor, but also a pretty fabulous human being. He's my favorite British actor, deal with it.

6. Favorite companion?
That's fairly impossible to answer, as I love them all pretty equally. If you put a gun to my head (the Doctor would be ashamed of you) and forced me to pick one, I would flip a coin between Donna and Amy.

7. Least favorite companion?
Mickey. As Chameleon Circuit so aptly put it in Journey's End: "Didn't mention Mickey 'cause he's really not much use." Rose could have done so much better...Oh, wait. She did. :-)

8. Favorite episode?
Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead. It has everything. The Waters of Mars and The Doctor's Wife run a close second, though.

9. Favorite alien or monster?
The Midnight Entity. There's nothing scarier than an enemy you can't see, can't fight and can't even identify.

10. Favorite DW quote?
"What's good about sad?" "It's happy for deep people." -- Blink.

11. Best catchphrase?
"Allons-y!" Though, I quite enjoy "Fezzes are cool." Gotta love Eleven.


Until next time! May the bow-ties, Converse and bananas be with you.
Katya