Anglican Prayer Beads  Prayer Beads  Anglican Rosary Rosaries  Natural Soap  Handmade Soap

I tried very, very hard to give it a chance, too. Hey, I know the average American family has some issues, but they crammed every horrible thing that could happen to a family and a church into a dreadful 2 hours. What's left for the next episode? Too late--I don't want to know anymore. I'm afraid they lost me at "He's a good man." Huh?

Katy www.fallible.com

Premium Review Gordon!

I especially liked how you managed to work in a little "preaching" at the end.

You had me worried when you mentioned Fundamentalists and Arkansas, I was afraid you were thinking about me!

peace & love,
brotherterry

Preacher--Your review is great. We (Christians) have bigger stuff to concern ourselves with than whining about getting dissed. My brother is an influential exec at NBC, though, and I am going to talk to him about this program, just to ask what the heck NBC is thinking--besides ratings, of course. And money. Somehow, I don't think either of those will flow their way with this show.
Katy www.fallible.com

I'll have to say that you pretty much said everything I have wanted to say to Christians concerning their culture. I'm tired of Christians having to be constantly validated by their culture. I'm tired of hearing Christians talk about how horrible tv is. My response is, "Turn the damn thing off and cancel your cable/satellite subscription and read something then!" Thanks for your article.

Great review -- made all the relevant points. Thank you.

Excellent article, rlp.

Scott Lyons

Preacher --
Just read your review at Salon...and I have to say, that after wasting 2 hours on watching Book of Daniel, (I realy wanted to like it too, and thought it was going to be like a Joan or Arcadia -- hah, was I wrong!) the one good thing that has come out of this all was seeing your review, and coming over to read your blog, which is now in my list of blogs to read regularly.
This was a surprise to me, because I'm about as polar an opposite to a Texas Southern Baptist as you can get (a NY born former Catholic, now Unitarian Universalist ultra liberal in DC, who lived in Texas for a few years and HATED it beyond all measure).
But after some reading of your archive -- you are my new hero.
Somebody should give you a TV show, because maybe if there were more voice likes yours, and less Talibaptists like Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell, we wouldn't be having the red state/blue state cultural and religious wars and feeling of mutual disgust.
--Mary

I have nothing to add to the other replies commenting on the issues discussed by your article; I feel the same way as the author of the previous comment ("I'll have to say that you .."). I just also wanted to commend you for your article and for submitting it to a website that is considered so 'liberal'.

The muse was with you, RLP. I especially related to your suggested line of turning to your sofa-partner and saying, "Well, that sucked." My son, not quite 2, is entranced by the movie Madagascar and one of my favourite scenes is the prolonged disappointed silence of the penguins when they finally make it to Antarctica. That pregnant silence is finally broken by the Private piping up with, "Well this sucks!"

I'm a regular Salon subscriber who followed the link to your site just to tell you how much I enjoyed your article. Salon could certainly use a regular column on religion, IMO, akin to the one they carry about air travel. In the meantime I'll have to bookmark your site. Thanks for writing about this topic and keep up the good work!

I actually liked it but I agree the weak points of the show is the plot with the torrid affair and the Catholic mob scenario(talk about typecasting Italian catholics!)
Maybe the writers will listen to the critics but not the fundamentalists.

Great review, Reverend. I'm also a regular Salon reader. I also ran as far as I could from my Southern and Southern Baptist roots. If I could have dialogues like this with all the so-called "Christians" I know back in the South, I might actually still live there. Kudos.

Very nice review, Gordon. I liked your light-hearted yet thoughtful approach. And your last point about the contrast between the show and/or the fundamentalists response and the life of the biblical Daniel was brilliant. ~pamela (www.nicapamela.blogspot.com)

Very well done, rlp. Congrats on widening your reach!

I didn't watch it, but I'll take your word for it. After all, you were right on about Napolean Dynamite. :)

"Gordon is a Cooperative Baptist not Southern Baptist. That may not be a helpful distinction to raise in ending the red/blue religious wars, but it is (I think) an important distinction."

I think the biggest distinction is that Gordon knows how to wear his tie below his belly. :)

Well put, RLP!! --textjunkie

I haven't watched this yet, and now I'm not sure I will. Bravo for an excellent review!

Gordon, an excellent review. I will be watching it, however, as it seems to be a story about Episcopal priests, even though I don't recognize it. I've been telling people that it is Hollywood all day. I did liveblog it, however. John Wilkins

TV show, Preacherman- sounds like the next thing!

"Jesus was nice and all, but he was a straight-up ass kicker. Believe it."

This is the best description of Jesus I've seen in a long time! Maybe ever!

andrea

Well G man, you hit the nail on the head again. I just wish your blog could get as much airplay as a Fox soundbite.

I lived for thirteen years without a tv. When the Lord of the Rings triology came out on DVD, we caved. We still seldom watch anything other than movies and once again I see from your review, I haven't missed anything. Two friends were talking about how bad and disappointing the show was yesterday at work. I copied the review and e-mailed it. I thought your remarks about Christianity and culture were right on. Paul and Silas sang hymns of praise while they languished in prison, but we've got a bunch of whiners who complain that they've been dissed by Target and NBC.

I agree completely with your review. I watched the show hoping for something more realistic and less milquetoast than Seventh Heaven, but this was completely over the top.

There were two lovely moments in the show--one where Daniel is with the family at the hospital as they remove life support, and the other when Daniel's father gets slapped by his Alzheimer's-afflicted mother right after she had shown some real tender recognition of him. The actor did a beautiful job conveying the grief and sadness of that moment.

Other than that, it certainly did suck.

Thanks, everyone, for giving me points of view about "Daniel" that I haven't seen anywhere else. RLP, your review was excellent even though I don't think the show sucks. Your message to Christian believers not to seek validation from the wider culture is right on.

Yes, I did enjoy the show. I had no expectations going into it, but was curious because of censorship attempts by parts of the Christian Taliban. It's entertainment, and no more than that. A classic? Probably not.

Anyway, thanks for your time.

Excellent. Since I've been embroiled in an ongoing debate at the office over our radio station's coverage of religious issues and dealing with fanatical "Christians" who seem more intent on defending their faith than practicing it, this provided me with wonderfully cogent fodder.

I'll bet when Salon notes the traffic there will be future invites for the RLP perspective.

Good jorb.

"Pepe"

Great review, Rev. RLP! I didn't see the show, but I suspect I would have hated it, too.

I am thrilled that you're picking up new visitors to this site from that article. I hope you are invited to be a regular contributor to Salon.I can't wait to read them.

The Muse be with you.

ITW

I was really curious about this show and I think I will still end up watching it once or twice. Well maybe not, I hardly ever get around to watching TV (I'm too busy reading blogs). My mom watched it and she said the best part about it was the actor who played the mother with Alzheimers. She said that part had her in tears, that it was painfully like real life.

RLP, loved your review. It makes me want to go read the book of Daniel, something I haven't read for a very long time.

Hey Rlp, I didn't watch the show, three kids church adn all makes time precious. After reading your review I am glad I spent my time in a more productive way. I also enjoyed your "preaching" to the Christians about not seeking validation from the culture. Reminds me of the book "The End of Christendom and the Future of Christianity" by Douglas John Hall. It generally makes the argument that Weateren Christianity with secular power, close connection to culture is an anomolay. Hall argues to be truly powerful and stand for something the Church needs to stand apart from culture so as to be able to yell, "the Emperor has no clothers!" It also goes on to propose that wiht Christianity, power and Culture separating the churches, adn Christianity will grow stronger because people of faith will practice their faith not out of obligtion to neighbor, and image, but because of true commitment to faith, and God. At least that is my reading.
RLP thank you for your review and warning that the show sucks.

Hey Rlp, I didn't watch the show, three kids church adn all makes time precious. After reading your review I am glad I spent my time in a more productive way. I also enjoyed your "preaching" to the Christians about not seeking validation from the culture. Reminds me of the book "The End of Christendom and the Future of Christianity" by Douglas John Hall. It generally makes the argument that Weateren Christianity with secular power, close connection to culture is an anomolay. Hall argues to be truly powerful and stand for something the Church needs to stand apart from culture so as to be able to yell, "the Emperor has no clothers!" It also goes on to propose that wiht Christianity, power and Culture separating the churches, adn Christianity will grow stronger because people of faith will practice their faith not out of obligtion to neighbor, and image, but because of true commitment to faith, and God. At least that is my reading.
RLP thank you for your review and warning that the show sucks.

Oh, good, another show I don't have to watch. Back to House MD.

Gordon, what did you say about Napoleon Dynamite? I missed it- goooooooshhhhh

And now the final chapter in "The Book of Daniel"... The End.

3 Episodes - cancelled.

so it goes.