Joan of Arcadia -- Opinions, please!

[Nora_Kent]

Could you please offer opinions on Joan of Arcadia? I’ve heard that it is a show with good religious content and was wondering whether it was worth investing the time to start watching it. If you’ve seen the show, please comment. Thanks!

 

[Catholic_Dude]

From what I have seen its disrespect and blasphemy, all in the name of Christianity.

 

[Nora_Kent]

Catholic Dude:

From what I have seen its disrespect and blasphemy, all in the name of Christianity.

Could you please offer specific examples of what you’ve seen, CD? Thanks!

 

[1ke]

Nora Kent:

Could you please offer opinions on Joan of Arcadia? I’ve heard that it is a show with good religious content and was wondering whether it was worth investing the time to start watching it. If you’ve seen the show, please comment. Thanks!

New Age ****.

 

[Fidelis]

Catholic Dude:

From what I have seen its disrespect and blasphemy, all in the name of Christianity.

I agree, except maybe on the blasphemy part, which I didn’t see in the few episodes I forced myself to watch on the advice of a friend. It is typical teen fare where adults are (for the most part) clueless, teenagers (especially girls) are smart, and sarcasm and disrespect for grownups passes for cute humor. The fact that Joan is portrayed as “spiritual” doesn’t negate the juvenile-ness. Maybe when I was 12-14 I would have liked it.

Since you asked,
my :twocents:

 

[Meggie]

I love it, I think it is a poingnant reminder of how we all act towards God.

We say we have to respect and follow God just as if he was a real person standing there. Yet, many times we are just as ignorant and self-centered as Joan.

Its funny because on a bus I talked to a nun about this and she said, “its silly to think that God or anything would have phyiscal manisfestation in this world” Ironic since my friend had told me “I pray that God will send an angel to protect you and sit with you on your trip”

 

[Catholic_Dude]

This trash on having the sacred voice of God blabbed out from any average joe is disgusting. It waters down Christianity into a fun religion where there is no commitment but all entertainment.

 

[Annunciata]

I have watched it from time to time especially since my CCD classes liked it. It can be somewhat shocking because of what most of us would perceive as disrespect, kids today don’t. My CCD class seemed to get more out of imagining God could be close to us…as the song goes w/ the series, “What if God were one of us…. just a stranger on the bus…”

I stopped watching it when I stopped teaching… I personally wouldn’t condemn it though. I do watch it now and then when there is nothing else on on a Friday night.

The writer, Barbara Hall, is a Catholic and has been interviewed by Msgr. Jim Lesante of “The Christophers” regarding this series…she also writes “Judging Amy”.

 

[YinYangMom]

Good golly.

I’ve watched it from day one, particularly to see if it was going to be against church teaching or the ‘usual’ teen fare, and I have not found it to be the case at all.

My teen son and daughter watch with us and we find the messages very insightful, on the mark, and the humor refreshing. Character development is there, the issues they’re faced with are real, particularly for teens.

I’m not sure one would get the same experience, though, jumping into the show at this point. Right now, where the characters are in their lives - what issues they’re dealing with - those have been building up since the first episode, so I don’t know if the appreciation for what the character is feeling can be conveyed.

But the messages of God are as I would expect them to be. The one dealing with unexpected death, the one about love, the one about not always seeing the result of your efforts but knowing the ripple effect is there, the one about each of us being God’s light on this earth, how too many people are living in caves not even knowing the joy of the light they are missing…do those messages seem blasphemous?

I particularly appreciate the way it shows how we cross paths with certain people because it’s woven into God’s plan. The frustrating part is how self-centered Joan is! Even after two seasons, of many lessons learned, she still looks at how things affect her personally - but my daughter reminds me that 17 year old girls are self-centered, and that’s what makes it more realistic. Still, God continues to work through her - and that’s a very important message - even though I think he should move on and find someone more appreciative of being blessed with such a gift - but that’s how God is, isn’t it? He uses even those we would least expect?

Joan has kept her virginity and seems to be slated to do so throughout all this and that’s very important. I hope in continued episodes she’ll come to understand why she doesn’t feel it’s the right thing to do…but at least she definitely recognizes it’s not appropriate. How many other teen shows convey that message?

Her parents and her siblings have a strong relationship. They care about each other. They eat dinner at the same table. They are dealing with the eldest son’s disability as a result of his friend driving drunk. They showed that same friend in one episode not dealing with living with that fact very well…they showed the disabled son reaching out to that friend, forgiving him, helping him heal, welcoming his friendship back, providing support.

Again, what other teen shows even deal with those sort of issues, let alone with the proper perspective of love, kindness, compassion, forgiveness, acceptance???

I’m waiting for the first season to come out on DVD, the show is THAT good in the messages it conveys.

 

[Catholic_Dude]

Annunciata:

It can be somewhat shocking because of what most of us would perceive as disrespect, kids today don’t. My CCD class seemed to get more out of imagining God could be close to us…as the song goes w/ the series, “What if God were one of us…. just a stranger on the bus…”

I agee people dont know what basic respect for God is. If anyone has heard that song before they would see how low the standards have fallen. Pure blasphemy is all I think when I hear that song, I try to cover my ears.

 

[Annunciata]

Catholic Dude:

I agee people dont know what basic respect for God is. If anyone has heard that song before they would see how low the standards have fallen. Pure blasphemy is all I think when I hear that song, I try to cover my ears.

Just a thought…aren’t we supposed to be seeing God in our neighbor? That is what the writer, Barbara Hall said she is trying to convey…if my memory serves me…I’m not especially fond of it myself…but it does make you think… If it makes the kids today think…then I say go for it. My grandchildren attend Catholic school and are a little young for it. My CCD kids were 7th graders from public schools…big difference.

 

[YinYangMom]

Catholic Dude:

I agee people dont know what basic respect for God is. If anyone has heard that song before they would see how low the standards have fallen. Pure blasphemy is all I think when I hear that song, I try to cover my ears.

I don’t get the blasphemy charge.
Aren’t we all called to be Christ on earth?
Isn’t that what being Christian is all about?
Didn’t Mother Teresa see Christ in every face she tended to?
Aren’t we called to do the same?
THAT’s what the song is about…it’s a call to stop seeing everyone around us as anything BUT God and to start treating each person better.

Let’s look at the lyrics:

"If God had a name, what would it be
And would you call it to his face
If you were faced with him in all his glory
What would you ask if you had just one question"

How many times have we called people names…when they cut you off on the road, when they appear to be staring at you, when they’re taking forever in the grocery ‘speed’ aisles??? If we don’t say it out loud - we think it…Would you still call that person that name if you recognized God in that person?

What WOULD you ask of God if you were faced with him in all his glory - only one question??? Don’t you see that just putting that question in a song has thousands of people reflecting on that thought? Something they may never have considered had it not been presented that way?

"And yeah yeah God is great yeah yeah God is good
yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah"

Well, isn’t He??? Where’s the blasphemy?

If God had a face what would it look like
And would you want to see
If seeing meant that you would have to believe
In things like heaven and in jesus and the saints and all the prophets

What a question! Again, think of the non Christians listening to the song and enjoying it…they’re on board with the image of God…they’re beginning to reflect on God’s existence, perhaps feeling good about themselves for believing in God at all…and then WHAM! What about God’s son?? And if the Son, then the saints and the prophets…how could you continue denying the rest of the package if you can wrap your mind around being face to face with God in all His glory, able to ask Him one question? The fact that she asks this question forces those hearing her song to at least reflect upon how they would respond. That’s a good thing.

and then the last part:

What if god was one of us
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Trying to make his way home
Just trying to make his way home
Like a holy rolling stone
Back up to heaven all alone
Just trying to make his way home
Nobody calling on the phone
Except for the pope maybe in rome

C’mon, we’ve all come across people who strike us as slobs on first impression…but, hey, it’s God, people. God resides within the homeless…
He resides in the stranger on the bus…
Trying to make his way home??? Maybe his trying to bring us with him? He’s here trying to remind us to follow him?
I don’t get the holy rolling stone part but I don’t find if offensive either…
Back up to heaven all alone…we don’t think of God being alone up there, but doesn’t it seem at times when we look around us that humanity has abandonded God - stopped longing to be with Him??
Nobody calling on the phone…We’ve stopped praying to Him…
Except for the Pope…he will always be God’s representative on earth.

 

[Timidity]

Joan of Arcadia is one of three shows I make a point to watch (the others being 7th Heaven and Battlestar Galactica).

It’s a TV show in the teen angst genre with a supernatural element. It’s a piece of fiction–if you’re looking to this show for Cosmic Truth you’ll probably hear some psychobabble that you might mistake for it, but the show’s religious message is very non-Catholic.

On the other hand, if you’re just looking for some mindless teen angst, and you’re able to separate the show’s version of Truth from the real thing, then go for it.

I will disagree with the comment that the teens seem superior to the adults in the show. Joan repeatedly disagrees with her parents, only to find out that they’re right in the end.

 

[YinYangMom]

Joan of Arcadia is one of three shows I make a point to watch (the others being 7th Heaven and Battlestar Galactica).

It’s a TV show in the teen angst genre with a supernatural element. It’s a piece of fiction–if you’re looking to this show for Cosmic Truth you’ll probably hear some psychobabble that you might mistake for it, but the show’s religious message is very non-Catholic.

On the other hand, if you’re just looking for some mindless teen angst, and you’re able to separate the show’s version of Truth from the real thing, then go for it.

I will disagree with the comment that the teens seem superior to the adults in the show. Joan repeatedly disagrees with her parents, only to find out that they’re right in the end.

I don’t recall a non-Catholic message as presented coming from “God” yet…which episode are you referring to?

Or are you referring to the over-all family story and they way they approach things not being ‘Catholic’?

Because each episode has the two aspects of the same premise going on…I would only expect the “God” parts to be Christian/Catholic, not the rest.

 

[Almeria]

I’m with YinYangMom; the moral of each episode is always steeped in Catholic teaching. It may be subtle, but it’s there. I think this show is helping to bring a lot more people closer to the faith–most of them without them even knowing it.

 

[Sean.McKenzie]

I have not seen the show, but i have heard numurous reports and not just on this site, but from other peope, and coming from todays media and what we have seen and heard i wouldn’t trust it, it maybe that they have truth, it is said that truth can come the mouth of any man, Osama bin laden had truth somewhat, he said how can you, America claim freedom, when the very life that is being crerated is killed in the womb, THAT IS TRUTH, no matter what he did and all he did (great evils), yet truth can come from whom ever good or ill. It could be the case with this show, they may have truth, but as people said earlier, Christianity is now starting to be looked at as lovey dovey, kumbaya campfire nonsense. With no real commitment. We are called to be CHRISTLIKE. And yes we must be Christ to others meaning, they can see Christ in us, Christlike qualities, no one can fill that role, the role of Christ, no one. Another point, far too often we try to over emphasize Christ’s humanity, yes he was human, but he was and is God. Do we sing songs about El Shaddai, God Almighty the CREATOR as being “just a slob like one of us” he is alot lot lot more than we could ver comprehend, and that last line

“No body calling on the phone, except the pope in Rome”

it is very blasphemous

 

[Catholic_Dude]

YinYangMom:

I don’t get the blasphemy charge.
…
Let’s look at the lyrics:

"If God had a name, what would it be
And would you call it to his face
If you were faced with him in all his glory
What would you ask if you had just one question"

This song is very bad. First of all the woman singing it sings it in the britney spears slut-like moan voice and as I have said about most of this kind of music it is aimed at kids. And it becomes the teacher to the kids instead of from the parents.
Now to the music:
God has many names, look in the Bible, they are names of majesty and goodness far greater than we can comprehend. We dont go blabbing out names like tom, dick and harry, we have no place thinking that we are to give God a name. Who would dare think about “gett’n al up’n His face” talking to Him like a gangster starting a fight. Nobody has seen God, even be in His presence prophets would shake in fear. This song teaches people to feel they are entitled to call God whatever they want, they have the right to ask any question they want, walk in on Him at their convenience. NO! This is main stream secularism at its best, and to have people who call themselves Christians following this stuff is very sad. Dont buy that music, dont support the singers, dont let children listen to it.

If God had a face what would it look like
And would you want to see
If seeing meant that you would have to believe
*In things like heaven and in jesus and the saints and all the prophets *

Who has the audacity to say what God looks like? We are created beings, we are less than nothing compared to God. Pure blasphemy. Things like Heaven and Jesus require us to take up our cross, take the straight and narrow, dont do as the world does, that is not what this song teaches. Jesus says there were be weeping and gnashing of teeth if you dont obey God.

What if god was one of us
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Trying to make his way home
Just trying to make his way home
Like a holy rolling stone
Back up to heaven all alone
Just trying to make his way home
Nobody calling on the phone
*Except for the pope maybe in rome *

And now for the punch in the gut of our Lord. How dare someone compare God to a slob, He struck people dead for talk like that. Who says we are slobs, is Mother Teresa a slob? We have dignity which Jesus said to treat people with, and ONLY the CC teaches this. You wont find it anywhere else. God is not a stranger, He MADE us. He doesnt find His way home like a dog. STOP THE BLASPHEMY!. HE IS NOT ALONE, HE DOESNT NEED ANYTHING. The pope and the CC is all this world has to preserve the truth, the pope is the head of Christ’s one and only church, he doesnt sit around partying and having fun.

Music like this is very bad. The average joe listening to this is not helped one bit, in fact when he does start asking the questions he will be very disappointed. Christianity is a difficult path, to teach otherwise will leave a lot of people weeping and gnashing teeth.

 

[Meggie]

the song was picked for the show…that song has been around for almost a decade, I think, and was written when the artist was a young teen, not more than 14 or 15 I think…at the time she was living in a car with her mom and very sick with a kidney desease…I am pretty sure that is what I remember from an article on her many years ago…

 

[Almeria]

Catholic Dude:
Who has the audacity to say what God looks like? We are created beings, we are less than nothing compared to God. Pure blasphemy.

Wow. Better call the Vatican, then. They’ll need to know that they need to remove God from the Sistine Chapel.

 

[ProudArmyWife]

I never watched the show because I thought it would another misguided “angel” show. That was until I was “forced” to watch it one time while visiting my in-laws and found it pretty good. I watch it when I can, but I don’t go out of my way to do so (but I don’t with any show).

Now, if you are watching it for true relgious value, you will be disappointed. Stick with EWTN. Joan is a television show with no swearing, no sexual scenes, real life situations for teens. I think it is a great show to sit down with your teens to watch and discuss during commercials. Like another poster stated, the characters develop and grow with each show. The family is a non-practicing Christian family that is slowly finding its way to God.

I actually like the song. It reminds me to be charitable to everyone I meet. The singer isn’t a Christian music star. When the song came out is was quite daring - bringing God into mainstream MTV music was unheard of. Joan does highlight Christian music on the show, though. I take the meanings of being a “slob” as one who is not perfect, with faults. It is the question what if he was one of us - how do we treat our neighbor and strangers - do we treat everyone with the same respect - do we see Christ in every person we meet? Are people running away from Christ? If I could ask one question, what would it be? I think they are all great thinking questions.