[bit.listserv.christia 7th April 2001]

We sometimes have discussions here about the failure of TV to represent Christianity among its characters. (In fact, many people on TV have no religion at all, unless it is some sort of mishmash of random feel-good nonsense.)

A notable exception is coming up next week, and it was remarkable enough that I feel it merits specific mention. (But note that I haven’t seen the show in two years, and my recollection is therefore incomplete.)

It is an episode of a science fiction series called `Crusade’. The setting of the show has it that an alien race called Drakh have (as an act of revenge) infected Earth with a genetically engineered virus. The disease threatens to wipe out pretty much every living species, and has resulted in a planetary embargo to prevent anyone from leaving Earth and spreading the disease further.

None of the friendly alien races with which Earth has contact knows how to cure the virus. So a ship called the Excalibur has been sent out to establish contact with other aliens, in the hopes of finding a cure.

The episode is titled `The Needs of Earth’, and centers on an alien from a world that avoids contact with other species. The alien has fled his own world with a large database of knowledge, and the Excalibur has been sent to try to find the alien and help him. They hope he will turn over the database to them, and that the knowledge therein will help to cure the Drakh plague.

One of the crewmen, Lt. John Matheson, is a telepath. Telepaths are allowed to serve in the military, but there are strict rules about not using their telepathic abilities without explicit authorization. The story doesn’t focus on him in particular (it is an ensemble show), but pay close attention to all of his scenes, especially the last one. While making an entry in his personal log, Lt. Matheson reflects on the events of the story — and his own behaviour — in light of his Christian upbringing.

The episode airs next Tuesday, 10 April. It’s on the Sci-Fi Channel at 8pm Eastern Time. You may have to check your local listings to see if it’s on at some different time in your area.

Some may not like science fiction in general (or Crusade in particular). Even so, the producers deserve recognition for including religious teachings and ideas as an intelligent and thought-provoking element of their story.

Darren F Provine ! ! http://www.rowan.edu/~kilroy “Show me the man you honor, and I will know what kind of man you are.” — Thomas Carlyle

Hi, Darren and All!

I would like to share a notable exception of the realistic treatment of Christianity on a regular TV series. CBS carries a series called “The District” on Saturday evenings at 10/9 Central. It stars Craig T. Nelson, as Chief of Police in Washington, DC. One of the inner circle in the cast is a young black detective, Temple Page, played by Sean Patrick Harris. He is engaged, is a professing Christian, and does not engage in premarital sex, drink, smoke, use profanity, etc., and quite often asks the chief or other people to pray with him. The way he is portrayed, and the way his faith is portrayed, is with sensitivity, honesty, and great respect. While others in the show do not share his faith, they do respect him and his faith, and are not offended or embarrassed by his very open attitude toward being a Christian. And he respects their rights not to be Christians, though he does invite them in tasteful, fitting ways to the Christ who is so real to him. As far as Christianity on TV is concerned, I find this series to be the best and most realistic approach it is given.

In the NBC series, “The West Wing”, which comes on each Wednesday night, Christianity is very often discussed, and it is presented as respectable, as well as having charlatans. Most of the staff don’t take Christians too seriously, but in one particular episode, “Shibboleth”, a group of Chinese Christians had escaped China and were asking for political asylum. The President met the leader of these Christians, and questioned him closely. The very real prospect that a group would feign faith was raised and discussed in detail, but the leader of the small church group showed the group’s faith and his own as genuine in every way, and they were humble, kind, and very committed to Christ. I found this the best episode in this outstanding television series. “Shibboleth” was repeated a few weeks back, but I can highly commend its intelligent, balanced and thoughtful nature to anyone who wants a really super presentation of honorable Christianity on commercial television.

Do you think we may be seeing a trend toward a more balanced presentation of Christianity on commercial television? I don’t want it to be presented as it used to be, as though all Christians are perfect or evil; I much prefer a believable, balanced view which admits of charlatans and hypocrites, while also showing that some of us are reasonable, honorable and real people who happen to believe in Christ.

Grace and Peace, Ricj