Customer Reviews

Faith and Choice in the Works of Joss Whedon

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I thought this book was very thoughtful in that, like Sheppard Book, it didn't insist that belief meant faith in God. "When I talk about faith [Mal], why do you always think I'm talking about God?" This book makes that discussion evenhandedly, even though the author has a decidedly religious leaning. In the words of Henry Drummond in Inhereit the Wind, "Religion is suppose to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable, not scare people to death."

Atheists and agnostics are often left out of the belief and goodness equation, as if their beliefs aren't deeply held, personal and moral. Questioning or not believing in a diety is not easy in this society, no matter how good a person you are. Whedon defies those prejudices by creating characters who, like society, believe in different things and are bad or good because of who they are, not what they choose to present to others. Therefore, Caleb is bad and Angel and Spike become/are good.

The PTC (Parents Television Council), a right wing quasi-religious group, routinely ranked Buffy and Angel in the 10 worst TV shows for teens because, for example, the show portrayed Buffy losing her virginity at 17, totally missing the point that the show actually showed the perils of doing so (I went all the way and now he won't call me). This book avoids that kind of prejudice and talks about moral issues as adults should, as difficult issues of conscience often leading to different places.

Anyone who is a committed Joss Whedon Fan should really enjoy this book. While it falls into the are of literary criticism, it provides a lot of insight into the machination mind of Mr. Whedon (who is an astonishing man) and his characters.

I was left with a sense of gratification that there are multitudes of folks out there who know that while the shows are fun or sad or action packed and a host of other entertaining things, the one thing they are not is shallow.

I learned a lot about characters I am not (yet) all the familiar with and left the book headed for my dvds. The only thing I could have wished for was a discussion of the incredible chaaracter development of Wesley from Buffy to the last episode of Angel.

Loved the cover too!