Although Doctor Who typically presents a secular worldview, Biblical spirituality often surfaces. The episode, “Gridlock”, which happens to by my favorite, contains the clearest presentation of the Gospel message. It challenges the notion that “religion is the opium of the people”, reveals our society’s true addiction, and points to Jesus as savior.
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21 Reasons Darth Vader Is a Great Dad
As some of my readers know, my first son was born this past year. I have learned much from the example of God the Father, but why talk about that? Instead, I’ll share what I’ve learned from my favorite father in fiction: Darth Vader. (Warning: Some serious, some facetious, many spoilers.)
Addison’s Walk
Recently my husband and I had the privilege of visiting Oxford. Ever since I read C.S. Lewis’s account of his memorable walk with his friends JRR Tolkien and Hugo Dyson, I wanted to visit Addison’s walk myself. Walking where two of my favorite authors discussed faith and myth made a dream come true. Continue reading Addison’s Walk
Obi-Wan and Jesus, Alike but Not
In giving his life for Luke and appearing after death, Obi-Wan Kenobi clearly fits the role of a Christ figure. But, let’s dive deeper than that and learn from Obi-Wan’s 19 years on Tatooine. While minimizing spoilers from Star Wars Comic #7 and Star Wars Rebels: “Twin Suns”, we can see how his—dare I say—temptation in the desert enables him to give his life so easily. At the same time, this does not help him discover a critical fallacy in his Jedi faith. Continue reading Obi-Wan and Jesus, Alike but Not
Repentance and Sacrifice in Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and the Beast is a story of repentance. The Beast’s sin of pride and selfishness brought the curse upon himself and his whole household. He must repent and learn to love and to be loved before the last rose petal falls, or he will remain cursed forever.
Continue reading Repentance and Sacrifice in Beauty and the Beast
A Christmas Truce, Civil Religion, and Refugees
On Christmas Eve of 1914, the unthinkable happened. Soldiers from opposing armies defeated warfare itself to celebrate the birth of Christ. While using fictional characters, Joyeux Noel depicts the historical events of World War I that actually occurred in multiple places along the front. But when the commanding officers learn what happened, we see a clash of religions, of two very different versions of “Christianity”: Biblical spirituality and civil religion. This clash continues today, and we need to identify this false faith in order to overcome it, especially in the current controversy regarding refugees.
Continue reading A Christmas Truce, Civil Religion, and Refugees
The Heroes of Rogue One
Who are the heroes of Star Wars? Luke Skywalker? Leia Organa? Han Solo? Yes, but Rogue One (contains spoilers) shows us that there are more heroes than we could imagine—some named and most unnamed—who play critical roles in the successful recovery of the Death Star plans and, consequently, its destruction. As they press on with no guarantee of success or survival, they model for us how we can persevere in hope, faith, and love.
How Anakin Brings Balance to the Force
A Jedi prophecy said that the chosen one would bring the Force back into balance. Did Anakin fulfill it? If so, how? Obi-Wan thought this meant he would “destroy the Sith, not join them”. But how would that be balance?
The prophecy can be understood, but it requires an unorthodox explanation of the Force, heretical to the Jedi, but true to the films. This even reconciles key tenets of Eastern and Western spirituality and exhorts us to attain a balanced life, while purely good, uncompromising with evil.
How Batman Teaches Us To Vote
In The Dark Knight, the Joker brings people face-to-face with their true selves. In danger and chaos, who will they be? In some ways, the 2016 US presidential election does the same.
While some voters truly support their candidate, many feel that they must choose the lesser of two evils. But The Dark Knight draws a line that we cannot cross, even if it means voting third party or abstaining.
Continue reading How Batman Teaches Us To Vote
From Plato to the Trinity
In Plato’s dialogue Euthyphro, two characters discuss the nature of the divine. While Euthyphro considers himself an expert in pious living, Socrates dismantles his arguments. In so doing, he not only shows that Greek polytheism is internally inconsistent, but the logical extension of this reasoning gives multiple insights into the identity of God or gods, endorsing and discrediting various religious tenets. We find that the Trinity, perhaps uniquely, remains viable in the face of Socrates scrutiny.
Continue reading From Plato to the Trinity