The BBC science fiction series Doctor Who has enjoyed a kind of popularity that is seldom seen in popular culture (though I do live in a country where you can study Buffy the Vampire Slayer). With roughly 8 million viewers a week domestically and even more through cable export and DVD sales, it’s fair to say that this long-running series is unique in its success.
But can it save your soul?
32 year old Father Ben Andrews thinks so. His church was featured in the the episode ‘Father’s Day’ in the first series of the new Doctor Who. With such on-air exposure, Father Ben had to take advantage of the tie-in to bring in more parishioners. He started a Doctor Who-themed evening to reach out to youngsters, putting old Jesus Christ in a ‘time-lord-ish’ light.
Hey… whatever works , padre.
On the flipside, Whovian Simon White has discovered the face of God and He may just have a wee goatee since His nemesis is the snappy dresser Doctor Who. A once happy collector of K-9 cookie jars, a closet full of knitted scarves and cricketing gear, White woke up one day only to realize that his childhood hero was actually the devil.
Dr Who and his materialistic obsession with it represents the “greatest lie that Satan ever told” according to Mr White. …Having discovered Christianity Mr Smith has renounced his old life and is putting the whole collection up for sale in local trade magazines and on eBay. He said: “God delivered me from the evil that is Dr Who, materialism and alcoholism.
“Through my relationship with Jesus I saw that none of this was making me happy and I was born again like Lazarus. It’s a timely tale as we come up to Easter. I wanted to tell others that no matter what trouble you are in God can deliver you from the evil. If you are prepared to have a relationship with him then God can help. I have been resurrected. My old life is dead, my new life is alive.”
While personally I enjoy the adventures of the time traveling hero, I’d hardly say he is either God or Devil, yet… whatever works. I just want to know if Father Ben is bidding against me on the Weetabix Ice Warrior standee.
Why oh why did Simon split up the set into separate auctions!!??
