Danica McKellar Becomes A Bible-Believing Christian After Leaving California

[Moviefan2k4]

I don't really want to get too much into individuals' personal religious beliefs, but I do find it interesting that you hold that as a contradiction. If I'm remembering correctly, you said you weren't really into the Original Series, right? The Original Series strikes me as very Christian-friendly. Granted, that is probably due to the time in which it was made. But just off the top of my head, "Bread and Circuses" had a very strong Christian message, and I believe there were others that at least touched on elements of Christianity.

I only saw a handful of TOS episodes, and it was a very long time ago. I couldn't even tell you what they were about. But the reason I used the "walking contradiction" phrase was because Gene Roddenberry was a humanist, and even after he died, a lot of the different writers stuck with that mindset. I don't recall where it was, but not long ago I read an online article about the history of the franchise, and one line stood out to me in particular. It said, "In the 24th century, everyone is an atheist, and humanity is better for it." Personally, I don't see that as a positive thing.

 

[fireproof78]

I don't really want to get too much into individuals' personal religious beliefs, but I do find it interesting that you hold that as a contradiction. If I'm remembering correctly, you said you weren't really into the Original Series, right? The Original Series strikes me as very Christian-friendly. Granted, that is probably due to the time in which it was made. But just off the top of my head, "Bread and Circuses" had a very strong Christian message, and I believe there were others that at least touched on elements of Christianity.

From the Original Series:
APOLLO: But you're of the same nature. I could sweep you out of existence with a wave of my hand and bring you back again. I can give life or death. What else does mankind demand of its gods?
KIRK: Mankind has no need for gods. We find the one quite adequate.
~"Who Mourns for Adonias."

UHURA: I'm afraid you have it all wrong, Mister Spock, all of you. I've been monitoring some of their old-style radio waves, the empire spokesman trying to ridicule their religion. But he couldn't. Don't you understand? It's not the sun up in the sky. It's the Son of God.
KIRK: Caesar and Christ. They had them both. And the word is spreading only now.
MCCOY: A philosophy of total love and total brotherhood.
SPOCK: It will replace their imperial Rome, but it will happen in their twentieth century.
KIRK: Wouldn't it be something to watch, to be a part of? To see it happen all over again?
~"Bread and Circuses."

 

[Moviefan2k4]

From the Original Series:
APOLLO: But you're of the same nature. I could sweep you out of existence with a wave of my hand and bring you back again. I can give life or death. What else does mankind demand of its gods?
KIRK: Mankind has no need for gods. We find the one quite adequate.
~"Who Mourns for Adonias."

UHURA: I'm afraid you have it all wrong, Mister Spock, all of you. I've been monitoring some of their old-style radio waves, the empire spokesman trying to ridicule their religion. But he couldn't. Don't you understand? It's not the sun up in the sky. It's the Son of God.
KIRK: Caesar and Christ. They had them both. And the word is spreading only now.
MCCOY: A philosophy of total love and total brotherhood.
SPOCK: It will replace their imperial Rome, but it will happen in their twentieth century.
KIRK: Wouldn't it be something to watch, to be a part of? To see it happen all over again?
~"Bread and Circuses."

That's definitely some interesting quotes, for sure. Did Gene write either of those episodes?

 

[Avro Arrow]

That's definitely some interesting quotes, for sure. Did Gene write either of those episodes?

Just checking Memory Alpha, he didn't write "Who Mourns for Adonias?", but he did share a writing credit with Gene Coon for "Bread and Circuses". (The original story was apparently by John Kneubuhl, but he didn't get a writing credit.)

I think it's fair to say that Roddenberry's approach to the material changed a fair bit in the two decades between TOS and TNG.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I don't really want to get too much into individuals' personal religious beliefs, but I do find it interesting that you hold that as a contradiction.

I sure don't. Not for a second.

DSC, for example, does not strike me as religion-friendly at all.

Spoiler: season 5

This thing with the Progenitors is DEFINITELY unfriendly to Christians.

And yet, I could care less. It's just a TV show. I have no right to expect it to take my religious faith into account. Now if it ever DOES, I'm happy, but if not, hey, what the heck. It's not harming me. I can always stop watching if things get too rough.

 

[fireproof78]

And yet, I could care less. It's just a TV show. I have no right to expect it to take my religious faith into account.

Yup. It's a TV show. I really should just relax. Faith has nothing to do with a TV show production.

 

[Moviefan2k4]

Yup. It's a TV show. I really should just relax. Faith has nothing to do with a TV show production.

This is one area where I tend to differ with a fairly large variety of people. Every form of media - books, radio programs, movies, TV shows - they all are stories, and every story contains some kind of message. It may not be a specifically clear spiritual one, but its still there, and different people respond in various ways to what they see and hear. I don't take any form of entertainment lightly; its all a very serious subject to me. I don't advocate censorship; we all have free will...but I do think parents should not be kept from protecting their own children in these situations. Its their job to raise the kids, not the government's.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

If you don't like the message a show is sending, DON'T WATCH. Easy peasy.

 

[bdub76]

If you don't like the message a show is sending, DON'T WATCH. Easy peasy.

Pretty much. I’m against banning books.

 

[Moviefan2k4]

If you don't like the message a show is sending, DON'T WATCH. Easy peasy.

The overall problem with this, is that many people behind these stories stubbornly refuse to stop making them, even if the audience starts lessening. Ultimately of course, people can watch whatever they want, but from a spiritual standpoint I also believe that if there's someone in your life that you love or care about, and you know they're involved in something dangerous, you have a responsibility to protect them. Things like dangerous drugs can obviously harm the body, but destructive messages have the power to negatively impact the mind and soul.

 

[Moviefan2k4]

Pretty much. I’m against banning books.

Me, too - outright force is rarely the proper answer. But there's a very distinct difference between that, and trying to influence those you care for to make a more healthy decision on their own. You can't do it for them, but you can do your very best to guide them properly.

 

[Tosk]

I have no right to expect it to take my religious faith into account. Now if it ever DOES, I'm happy, but if not, hey, what the heck. It's not harming me. I can always stop watching if things get too rough.

I agree. I'm an atheist, but I enjoy stories that feature characters of faith. Heck, I even like stories that are entirely centered on faith.

 

[Avro Arrow]

DSC, for example, does not strike me as religion-friendly at all.

Spoiler

This thing with the Progenitors is DEFINITELY unfriendly to Christians.

Is it? I'm obviously no expert on religious doctrine, but I thought some Christians supported evolutionary theory, rather than believing in a strict creationist viewpoint.

The overall problem with this, is that many people behind these stories stubbornly refuse to stop making them

"Stubbornly refuse to stop making them"? Secular entertainment producers have no need to be beholden to any specific religious viewpoint. The way you phrased that sounds like you believe there's some moral imperative to stop making the entertainment just because you don't personally like the message.

 

[fireproof78]

This is one area where I tend to differ with a fairly large variety of people. Every form of media - books, radio programs, movies, TV shows - they all are stories, and every story contains some kind of message. It may not be a specifically clear spiritual one, but its still there, and different people respond in various ways to what they see and hear. I don't take any form of entertainment lightly; its all a very serious subject to me. I don't advocate censorship; we all have free will...but I do think parents should not be kept from protecting their own children in these situations. Its their job to raise the kids, not the government's.

I use to be that way. But, I took Paul's advice to heart and became less concerned. However, I appreciate that point of view.

As for parents, here is the thing about parents-most are doing the best they can, but they don't have the answers to everything. I grew up sheltered, and had that but it left me less aware of the how to manage challenges in the world. To my mind, teaching how to be wise as serpents and as innocent as doves is more important than censorship. If you want to empower parents to raise their kids you have to start with having the parents engaged.

 

[Moviefan2k4]

Is it? I'm obviously no expert on religious doctrine, but I thought some Christians supported evolutionary theory, rather than believing in a strict creationist viewpoint.

Some might, but I believe what the Bible says: that God created the natural world in an initially perfect state, and that He also made the first humans to be the exact same way. We're the ones who screwed everything up over time, through repeated disobedience.

"Stubbornly refuse to stop making them"? Secular entertainment producers have no need to be beholden to any specific religious viewpoint. The way you phrased that sounds like you believe there's some moral imperative to stop making the entertainment just because you don't personally like the message.

As I've already said, I do not condone censorship. However, I do think that all of us have a moral responsibility to look out for the best interests of our fellow man...and that includes spiritual matters. Christians can't outright force anyone to listen, or do things our way, but that doesn't mean we can't or shouldn't continually attempt, to persuade them that we're right. After all, if they have a right to their view, then so do we.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Is it? I'm obviously no expert on religious doctrine, but I thought some Christians supported evolutionary theory, rather than believing in a strict creationist viewpoint.

I'm not a literal creationist.

Spoiler: DSC

I'm willing to take evolution into account. I am NOT anti-evolution. But this thing with the Progenitors just seems so blatant, so final. Evolution is a natural process , which God can set in motion; the Progenitors are a distinct entity, with specific free will and intent.

I mean, from my perspective, why am I supposed to believe that the DSC writers intend to allow for the existence of God and the Progenitors simultaneously? How am I supposed to reconcile that?

And again, I'm still watching the show. I'm not knocking it. I'm not upset! I'm not pissed! I am simply trying to get out of this dilemma without sounding like a fanatic. I hope that’s still possible.

Oh well. This is hardly DSC’s fault. It’s been around ever since “The Chase” aired. So why am I doing this NOW?

 

[Moviefan2k4]

I grew up sheltered, and had that but it left me less aware of the how to manage challenges in the world.

I grew up extremely sheltered as well. My Mom worked most of the time in my early years so her aunt and uncle were tasked with raising both me and my younger sister. They both loved Jesus, but they were also extremely fear-minded and legalistic. Their view of Scripture was super-strict, and I lost count of how many times I was told that if I did something they didn't approve of, it would send me to hell. That approach to Christianity actually resulted in my walking away from Jesus in my teens, and it wasn't until my 30s that I finally came back to Him. I made a lot of personal mistakes during that time, and I still regret many of them.

If you want to empower parents to raise their kids you have to start with having the parents engaged.

Oh, I completely agree - one of the biggest reasons a lot of kids are so messed up these days, is because their parents aren't involved in their everyday lives. I know this is partly due to many elders being overworked, but there has to be some way for most folks to monitor at least some of what their children are seeing, listening to, and experiencing online.

 

[UssGlenn]

I'm not a literal creationist.

Spoiler: DSC

I'm willing to take evolution into account. I am NOT anti-evolution. But this thing with the Progenitors just seems so blatant, so final. Evolution is a natural process , which God can set in motion; the Progenitors are a distinct entity, with specific free will and intent.

I mean, from my perspective, why am I supposed to believe that the DSC writers intend to allow for the existence of God and the Progenitors simultaneously? How am I supposed to reconcile that?

And again, I'm still watching the show. I'm not knocking it. I'm not upset! I'm not pissed! I am simply trying to get out of this dilemma without sounding like a fanatic. I hope that’s still possible.

Oh well. This is hardly DSC’s fault. It’s been around ever since “The Chase” aired. So why am I doing this NOW?

Spoiler

Easy answer, God creates life on the Progenitors planet, and things unfold from there.

 

[Michael]

Christians can't outright force anyone to listen, or do things our way, ….

Well, it’s not for lack of trying.

… but that doesn't mean we can't or shouldn't continually attempt, to persuade them that we're right. After all, if they have a right to their view, then so do we.

A right to your view ≠ a right or obligation to continually try to draw others to your faith. Quite frankly, I respect everyone who is living a peaceful life with religious beliefs, but people trying to persuade others to join their faith I just find reprehensible.

 

[fireproof78]

If one believes they have the words of life I would expect them to share it, to talk about, to and discuss those powerful aspects.

If it is reprehensible, I'll be reprehensible.