You Don't Fix Faith - Elizabeth Roy

You Don't Fix Faith
Choice blog
Elizabeth Roy
4/23

The TV series Firefly has numerous religious themes. In one of my favorite segments, River, a child prodigy and genius, is having a disagreement with Book, a missionary and preacher. River has been marking up and editing Book’s Bible, saying that it doesn’t make sense, and is full of false logic and contradictions. River says that the Bible is broken, that it doesn’t make sense. Book, on the other hand, says that it’s not about making sense, it’s about believing in something and letting that faith make it real in a way. According to Book, “you don’t fix faith…it fixes you.” This is very similar to what we discussed about Kierkegaard’s views on faith. For Book, the point is not that the Bible has unreasonable or illogical stories in it. The point is that faith is stronger and more important than anything else. We must suspend our human logic and disbelief in order to commit ourselves wholly to belief and faith. Interestingly, the director, Joss Whedon, doesn’t seem to choose a side. While River represents reason and Book represents faith, Joss does not show a preference – neither is immoral or stupid. River and Book are extremely similar and are both seen as good (albeit unstable.) Joss seems to be showing that it is a personal choice which of these perspectives to live by.