Celestial navigations

[on_the_hill]

Is anyone familiar with the audio programs “Celestial Navigations?” They are played on XM Radio on the Book Channel.

I really, really enjoy them. They’re far-out stories, fantasies, with generally uplifting, feel-good messages. The man who reads them does a wonderful job. He’s got a great voice.

Because I liked them so much I did a little research and found out that the people who create and produce the stories are connected to Scientology. At least, I think they are.

So now, I kind of can’t enjoy them so much anymore. Is this the kind of media/entertainment one ought to avoid?

Thoughts?

 

[meteoric]

The Illiad was written by a pagan!

The Declaration of Independence was written by a Diest!

(I’d have to start researching to point out great works of literature written by Jews, Muslems (oh – the 1001 Nights!), Protestants of various traditions, atheists…

The point isn’t what do the people who wrote it believe – the point is did you enjoy the story? Was the plot good? Did the characters develop? Were the actions believable for those characters? Did you like the outcome? If you didn’t like the outcome, was it based on logical results from the characters’ actions? If it was a fantasy world, was it internally consistent?

As Duke Ellington said about music, “If it sounds good, it is good.” Even if you don’t agree with the philosophy or theology or morality in the story, you can still enjoy the story.

And just because a story does include immorality, illegality, heresy, blasphemy – you can still like the story and disagree with some of the ideas involved. And you certainly don’t have to emulate them.

Tom A.