Monday 27 May 2013

is Dr. Who a Religion? or at least a Philosophy?

Many of you (myself included) may be fans of the BBC show Dr Who. Dr Who started in 1963 as a tv show about a time travelling alien who travels through time and space in a blue Police call box called "TARDIS" and the adventures he gets upto! but throughout its now 50 year history The Doctor has built up a massive devoted fan base of people who hang on his every word. The Doctor has touched many people lives (both in real life and his companions in the TV show) in an irreversable way and is very strongly themed around what is right and wrong and the battle of good vs evil. But is this enough to make The Doctor a religion?

Religion, sometimes used interchangeably with faith, is commonly defined as belief concerning the supernatural, sacred, or divine, and the practices and institutions associated with such belief. And to those who follow The Doctor there is no doubt that the is supernatural! for those of you who dont watch the TV series, The Doctor is an alien, who travels through time and space, he has the ability to regenerate after death and has intercepted human history at many vital junctions to asist in the survival of the human race. The Doctor seemingly knows all about the universe and its possibilities and is the last of a species know as "time lords" the doctor takes many forms throught his 50 year tv and the TARDIS gives him the abillity to apear differently and speak in different languages depending on what time period and geographical location he is at. This certainly draws many similarities to the Christian Deity known only as God. Scripture says God is all knowing and all powerfull, God is everywhere, all the time, and god is infinante, he always has been and always will be. God's true name is never spoken and he appears to people in different forms throughout history and his prophets.

When drawing similarity's to The Doctor you see there are countless conclusions to be made and you must have an open mind to this. as i said god is all knowing and all powerfull, the doctor seems to know everything about the universe and its existence, and with the aid of his trusty sonic screwdriver is seemingly able to complete any task, God is everywhere all the time, as a Time Lord, The Doctor is able to travel to any point in time and space at will (which could certainly give the illusion of being everywhere at once.) in scripture God's true name is never spoken, he has many names bt he is never know as Bob, or Frank. The Doctor is always just know as The Doctor, or Doctor Who? no matter what the situation his name is never mentioned even when asked. But to form a religion there is more needed than just a supernatural figurehead, religions give us sructure and an understanding of morals and ethics.

The Darleks are The Doctors, oldest foe's, they are known to be evil incarnate according to the doctor. although The Doctor faceess many foes the Dalreks just keep coming back for more. through all episodes of Dr. Who there is a sturgle between good (The Doctor) and evil. The Doctors role seems to be a protector, a defender of evil for the whole universe. and through these morals and ethics taught the doctor has touched many people lives. many people learn leasons which they apply to there everyday life from watching the doctor.

the purpose of this article wasnt a comprihensive history of Dr. Who, nor was it sugesting that Dr. Who is god and should be worshiped acordingly. It was mearly a comparison between the fictional TV show of Dr Who and one of the Worlds main religions. The Intent was not to offend, nor was it to start a new world order of "Whovians" worshiping a Deity known as The Doctor. it was mearly writen to  make you think, to make you question what you belive, and perhaps just maybe.... to make you realise that religion can be different things to different people, and what constitues religion varries.  

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