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Date Posted: 23:17:24 10/18/02 Fri
Author: Rob
Subject: The Gospel According to Jayne (spoilers for "Jaynestown")
In reply to: Scroll 's message, "Who wrote Ep 1.4? Also, my review (spoilers 1.4, BtVS 7.4, AtS 4.1)" on 19:54:06 10/18/02 Fri

I don't think that the paralleling of the Bible being based on faith and the creation of "Jayne the Hero" was meant to have negative connotations to the Bible. I think that it was meant to demonstrate that there belief and faith can become stronger than their own origins. Although Jayne's heroics were "fake," this does not imply that the Bible is also. The important aspect, I think, is that, even after Jayne reveals the truth to the townspeople, they still believe in his legend. Because the belief had grown past the real person Jayne and developed into this massive entity, existing in the hearts and minds of all of the followers, that could not be shattered. The episode asks the question, "If God, in whatever form he might be in, were to come up to you and tell you that everything in the Bible is false, would you believe Him?" That is an extreme example...How about a lesser one. George Washington--one of the things he's known for is the story of the cherry tree...a story passed down through the annals of American folklore...a story that is completely fictional! If George Washington were to come right now and tell you that that never happened, would the story cease to be passed down from generation to generation? I would say no because the idea of the man has become more important than the truth.

River tells Shepherd that the Bible is "broken...it doesn't make sense." He responds with: "It’s not about making sense. It’s about believing in something, and letting that belief be real enough to change your life. It’s about faith. You don’t fix faith. It fixes you."

Joss is an atheist, but he has also attested that he believes in the importance of faith. And this is what he is trying to say here, I think. He's not minimizing the Bible. He's saying what people have said for centuries...that explaining the Bible isn't the key. There is no explanation for it. Trying to use science to explain some of its phenomena only minimize it...and make it seem less awe-inspiring. What strikes more wonder? Learning about the Red Sea splitting by the force of God? Or figuring out that there is an easily explainable scientific...um...explanation dealing with the sea's tendency flow in a lesser quantity in certain areas, at some times of the year?

The townspeople reject Jayne's explanation for how his myth began, just as this episode implies we should reject those who try to put faith into easily definable terms. Because to define faith is to completely defeat its purpose.

Rob

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  • Re: Who wrote Ep 1.4? Also, my review (spoilers 1.4, BtVS 7.4, AtS 4.1) -- HonorH, 23:35:53 10/18/02 Fri
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