The Gospel According to Dr. Who, Part 1

The holidays and BBC/America have allowed Teri and me to catch up on five seasons of Dr. Who. Christmas Day was a marathon of Christmas themed episodes leading up to this year's retelling of Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol. What draws Dr. Who to Christmas each year? Is it purely marketing, or is there a theological reason?

For those unfamiliar with this long running British scifi serial, the Doctor is a traveler in space and time accompanied by a human companion. The Doctor is over 900 years old with the ability to regenerate. We are now on the 11th Doctor.

Mostly Dr. Who is a smart distraction, but it does contain distinctive theological themes. I could probably understand them better if I knew more Church of England history, for the series is as much history fiction as it is science fiction. Here is my first run at the Gospel According to Dr. Who:

1. The Universe is always in peril. Move toward the sound of trouble. Even though the odds are 10,000 to 3, trust your own wits. Beyond courage, enjoy the struggle. BTW Because you are always around when trouble shows up, you will be blamed for being the cause of all trouble.
   
2. The Doctor refuses to use weapons, but will often place the future of the Universe in the hands of common humans, trusting in their ability to do the right thing at the right moment.
3. When given the choice between saving a friend (or stranger, or even an enemy) and saving the whole universe, save the friend (stranger, enemy).
   
4. Everyone has a name. Learn it.
   
5. Most of the frightening species who threaten us are simply working their own survival plan. Respect others and their right to exist. Work toward a mutually beneficial solution. Be fascinated, not fearful.
   
6. On the other hand, there are real enemies, those who play the long game for domination and destruction. Know your enemies well and don't let them make you hate them.
   
7. Fixes you put in place will show up 100 years later as the source of a new bigger problem. Your good intentions will invariably back fire.
8. You can't rationalize slavery or unethical treatment of so-called lesser species.
9. London is the center of the Universe. The Battle of Britain is the turning point of all history. New York will always be a great city.
10. The enemy who knows you best is you. Know this enemy well and recognize him/her early.
11. Get a sound track for your life. The BBC National Orchestra of Wales with Katherine Jenkins will do nicely.
    
12. Never ignore coincidences, unless you are in a hurry.
13. Run!
    
14. It feels good to declare, "Everyone lives today, everyone lives!"
    
15. Time can be rewritten.

What does all this have to do with our missiology? In short, to paraphrase Churchill, "There is nothing more exhilarating than to walk along side pastors who put it all on the line to save their villages." and thereby save a Universe.

Bob