What do you think of the show "Joan of Arcadia"?

[_pro-life_teen]

Joan of Arcadia is my favorite TV show! (I wish I had cable though, after hearing so much laudatory talk about EWTN) I love the fact that Joan always obeys God no matter what. (and all the other reasons mentioned previously)
It’s great to finally find a show I can watch and actually think about (unlike the predictable, trite sitcoms) and that presents God without being preachy.
I also like how it alludes to St. Joan of Arc’s life.

 

[Carrie_Andrews]

Prolifeteen,
First I gotta say I Love that your Pro life and you want the world to know it!
Secondly, the only reason I started watching Joan of Arcadia is because I think St. Joan of Arc was such an outstanding woman-shes my kind of saint and I was hoping there was a tie in.
Veronica,
I get a little uncomfortable at “Gods” guises on the show, I’m scared that the show may be disrespectful, but I think the real God has a really fantastic sense of humor(of coarse!). I was squirming when He was a hotdog guy. That said, its really made me stop and think and really love the oddballs that most people cross the road to avoid. Today at work a guy came in with dread locks and a knit hat and all I could think was “I hope I can work with that guy, he could be an angel”. Most people will act like angels if you treat them like they may be an angel!

 

[ELDEN_S_WIFE]

I also have been watching “Joan of Arcadia” since it started. I have mixed feelings.

Pros:
Yes the premise seems to be good, yes the family is “Catholic”. Yes God appears to Joan and asks her to do strange things that always turn out good if she does them. Yes she always ends up doing them in the end, even if on the way she thinks God wants her to have sex with her boyfriend.

Cons:
Joan is often very disrespectful to God, calling him names, talking back, etc. Would Moses have done this? No one in the Bible was allowed to see God the Father, except for Moses and he aged considerably each time.

Joans family is Catholic but do they show to the world a good Catholic family? No, they don’t pray before meals, in fact one show had them all going their seperate ways on Sunday, not even eating meals together let alone thinking about going to church.
(Joan says, “My parents are catholic, I am nothing”)
When they show a Catholic priest being asked why bad things happen to good people his only answer is, “Why are you asking me?” As if why should he know!
Joan’s oldest brother has sex on his first date with his boss and the immorality of this is never even hinted at.

Well, I’m getting long. As you can see, I have been thinking that maybe “Joan of Arcadia” on the surface looks like a good show but does Hollywood have a hidden agenda to undermine Christianity by secularizing God. They have taken the Protestant view of, you can do bad things but as long as you believe Jesus is your savior you will go to Heaven, and moved it even further along to not even mentioning Jesus at all. (when was the last time Hollywood showed God/Jesus in a good light) (and no I don’t count “The Passion of the Christ” as having anything to do with Hollywood)

My question is, who is more happy about the show “Joan of Arcadia”. God or Satan?

We will all have to decide for ourselves.

 

[Annunciata]

ELDEN'S WIFE:

I also have been watching “Joan of Arcadia” since it started. I have mixed feelings.

Pros:
Yes the premise seems to be good, yes the family is “Catholic”. Yes God appears to Joan and asks her to do strange things that always turn out good if she does them. Yes she always ends up doing them in the end, even if on the way she thinks God wants her to have sex with her boyfriend.

Cons:
Joan is often very disrespectful to God, calling him names, talking back, etc. Would Moses have done this? No one in the Bible was allowed to see God the Father, except for Moses and he aged considerably each time.

Joans family is Catholic but do they show to the world a good Catholic family? No, they don’t pray before meals, in fact one show had them all going their seperate ways on Sunday, not even eating meals together let alone thinking about going to church.
(Joan says, “My parents are catholic, I am nothing”)
When they show a Catholic priest being asked why bad things happen to good people his only answer is, “Why are you asking me?” As if why should he know!
Joan’s oldest brother has sex on his first date with his boss and the immorality of this is never even hinted at.

Well, I’m getting long. As you can see, I have been thinking that maybe “Joan of Arcadia” on the surface looks like a good show but does Hollywood have a hidden agenda to undermine Christianity by secularizing God. They have taken the Protestant view of, you can do bad things but as long as you believe Jesus is your savior you will go to Heaven, and moved it even further along to not even mentioning Jesus at all. (when was the last time Hollywood showed God/Jesus in a good light) (and no I don’t count “The Passion of the Christ” as having anything to do with Hollywood)

My question is, who is more happy about the show “Joan of Arcadia”. God or Satan?

We will all have to decide for ourselves.

Hi Eldens Wife,
Just our of curiosity, what do you think of “Touched By An Angel”?

 

[Matri-Moni]

My fiance and I started watching the show shortly after it began, and we are “hooked” as well.

Barbara Hall, the creator for the show, is a Catholic, but it is unclear how she personally lives her faith.

We like it for all the reasons mentioned previously. I do agree that “Touched by an angel” may have paved the way for this show. (I never got into that show because it seems aimed at the middle-older crowd, but this show has a lot of appeal for the teens to upper 20’s range.

There are some new-agey/secular aspects to the show, (Joan’s mother and father seem very distrustful of “organized religion”, Jesus is not mentioned, etc) but we try to give the show the benefit of the doubt because it does have a lot of Catholic flavor, and seems to be a “meet 'em where they’re at” situation. Perhaps some of the more Catholic things are toned down bc it is primetime network tv.

I am really curious about the next season bc Joan is going through a crisis of faith, thinking that God is just hallucinations brought on by lyme disease. I hope that this first “tame” season was so because the writers/producers/netword were testing the waters to see if it would be accepted at all. I can’t imagine Joan’s “dark night” will result in anything other than a great growth in faith, and she will no doubt bring her family and friends with her, or begin to challenge them as she was challenged in the first season. Or she will stop believing in God and the show will be canceled.

One last thing, my df (dear fiance, but only for 3 1/2 more weeks!) and I could not stop laughing when at the end of the season, God walks into Joan’s hospital room in the original form he came to her, as she is sleeping. He traces a LINE across her forehead.
What the heck was that? Don’t other Christians bless each other with crosses on the forehead? Or would God doing that in the show be too Christian?!

So we’ll see what happens.

 

[Carrie_Andrews]

Eldens wife,

Youv’e made some valid points. I don’t think all protestants believe “once saved always saved” The thing is, at least from what I see, this show may reach people who have no idea of how God works in your life and at least this show is bringing the idea of a personal relationship with God into the homes of millions. I think every person is at a different spiritual level and I think you have to step away from all you know and try to see it from a unschooled level.

 

[ELDEN_S_WIFE]

Annunciata:

Hi Eldens Wife,
Just our of curiosity, what do you think of “Touched By An Angel”?

I used to watch “Touched By An Angel” also. And yes I feel there was good and bad about that show too. However, I feel there was more good than bad. One thing, they did not pretend to represent the Catholic point of view so when sometimes they were a little too far on the Protestant side, they weren’t misrepresenting the Catholic Church. (This is a major issue I have with “Joan”)

At least they ALWAYS showed total respect when they were talking about God. God was always right, even when the Angels didn’t understand why he did what he did. They new there were some things they didn’t understand either.

This show I feel did help bring people to Christ/God. It was more apt to show both the good and bad in all Christian/Judeo religions but ultimately the enduring good in all who believe in God prevailed.
This at least gave the Catholic church a fighting chance of being considered by those newly evangelized. Joan of Arcadia, on the other hand shows a family disenchanted with the Catholic Church. The first time they have a tragedy in their family, they lose their faith. They question a Catholic priest about an important issue (suffering) and he has no answer.
(My cousin became crippled in a freak baseball accident at the age of 18, while a college scout was at his highschool game looking him over, he slid into the third baseman’s knee head first and broke his neck, never to walk again. This brought the whole family together, all 52 cousins plus spouses and brought some back into the church who had been estranged!)

Anyway. I knew the show would be cancelled before long. It was too popular in the Christian crowd and it did more good than bad. Hollywood can’t promote anything that would show their lifestyle is wrong. Notice anything about all the new reality shows on TV. Whose reality are they showing? I don’t know any of them that remotely reflect the reality in mine or my friends lives!

 

[YinYangMom]

Carrie Andrews:

I get a little uncomfortable at “Gods” guises on the show, I’m scared that the show may be disrespectful, but I think the real God has a really fantastic sense of humor(of coarse!). I was squirming when He was a hotdog guy. That said, its really made me stop and think and really love the oddballs that most people cross the road to avoid. Today at work a guy came in with dread locks and a knit hat and all I could think was “I hope I can work with that guy, he could be an angel”. Most people will act like angels if you treat them like they may be an angel!

I love the guises…to me it just shows how God has us crossing paths with people for a reason and it reaffirms how we’re supposed to be looking for God within the people we encounter every day. I firmly believe God speaks to us through others. Certainly he doesn’t talk directly to me as he does Joan, but in a way, he does, don’t you think? Look at how much God is revealing of Himself right here on these boards? On RelevantRadio? It can and does happen…so it seems to me.

 

[Annunciata]

ELDEN'S WIFE:

I used to watch “Touched By An Angel” also. And yes I feel there was good and bad about that show too. However, I feel there was more good than bad. One thing, they did not pretend to represent the Catholic point of view so when sometimes they were a little too far on the Protestant side, they weren’t misrepresenting the Catholic Church. (This is a major issue I have with “Joan”)

At least they ALWAYS showed total respect when they were talking about God. God was always right, even when the Angels didn’t understand why he did what he did. They new there were some things they didn’t understand either.

This show I feel did help bring people to Christ/God. It was more apt to show both the good and bad in all Christian/Judeo religions but ultimately the enduring good in all who believe in God prevailed.
This at least gave the Catholic church a fighting chance of being considered by those newly evangelized. Joan of Arcadia, on the other hand shows a family disenchanted with the Catholic Church. The first time they have a tragedy in their family, they lose their faith. They question a Catholic priest about an important issue (suffering) and he has no answer.
(My cousin became crippled in a freak baseball accident at the age of 18, while a college scout was at his highschool game looking him over, he slid into the third baseman’s knee head first and broke his neck, never to walk again. This brought the whole family together, all 52 cousins plus spouses and brought some back into the church who had been estranged!)

Anyway. I knew the show would be cancelled before long. It was too popular in the Christian crowd and it did more good than bad. Hollywood can’t promote anything that would show their lifestyle is wrong. Notice anything about all the new reality shows on TV. Whose reality are they showing? I don’t know any of them that remotely reflect the reality in mine or my friends lives!

Thanks for your answer, I too enjoyed “Touched By An Angel” but it never showed anything Catholic, at least in my recollection…“Joan” does. True sometimes it puts the Church in a less than great light, but it shows the struggles that some people who are Catholic might be having and that God is near…(nearer than we think according to the story line) I just dont find it that bad. If you want to get technical and I’m not trying to be argumentative, but angels don’t have bodies…so I guess that could give some the wrong idea too??? Just my thoughts…

 

[ELDEN_S_WIFE]

Annunciata:

Thanks for your answer, I too enjoyed “Touched By An Angel” but it never showed anything Catholic, at least in my recollection…“Joan” does. True sometimes it puts the Church in a less than great light, but it shows the struggles that some people who are Catholic might be having and that God is near…(nearer than we think according to the story line) I just dont find it that bad. If you want to get technical and I’m not trying to be argumentative, but angels don’t have bodies…so I guess that could give some the wrong idea too??? Just my thoughts…

I don’t think your being argumenative, but I was wondering why you thought agnels don’t have bodies.

The Archangel Gabriel had a body when he appeared to Mary to tell her of God’s plan for her. The angel’s who came to warn Lot of the pending destruction of Sodom and Gomora (spelling?) had bodies because the people in the city wanted Lot to send them out because they were beautiful men and instead he offered his daughters. The angel who appeared to Mary and the women who came to attend to Jesus’ body on Easter Sunday also had a body. There are also other instances in the bible where angels appeared. Sometimes they were known as angels from the start and sometimes it was during their visit or after they left that their identity was realized.

Thanks for you viewpoint on Joan. I am not totally against the show, just wary. Everything with satan is not as it seems. He doesn’t show up looking like a dragon all the time. Most times evil doesn’t appear to be evil until it’s total plan is revealled.

 

[Annunciata]

ELDEN'S WIFE:

I don’t think your being argumenative, but I was wondering why you thought agnels don’t have bodies.

The Archangel Gabriel had a body when he appeared to Mary to tell her of God’s plan for her. The angel’s who came to warn Lot of the pending destruction of Sodom and Gomora (spelling?) had bodies because the people in the city wanted Lot to send them out because they were beautiful men and instead he offered his daughters. The angel who appeared to Mary and the women who came to attend to Jesus’ body on Easter Sunday also had a body. There are also other instances in the bible where angels appeared. Sometimes they were known as angels from the start and sometimes it was during their visit or after they left that their identity was realized.

Thanks for you viewpoint on Joan. I am not totally against the show, just wary. Everything with satan is not as it seems. He doesn’t show up looking like a dragon all the time. Most times evil doesn’t appear to be evil until it’s total plan is revealled.

Hi,
I have been looking everywhere to find the documentation or explanation for angels no having bodies so I started a new Thread(do Angels have bodies) so maybe we will get an answer. Maybe you could post the same answer there to get it started.PAX

 

[JudieK]

Dear Elden’s Wife:

I’m with you. I began the season LOVING this show… we planned our Friday nights around it… even my small children. The portrayal of the priest really bothered me, though… I mean, even my 14 year old son gave a better answer to why God allows suffering than the priest on “Joan” did! (By the way… I’m so proud of him… he said “God allows us to suffer because that’s how he purifies our soul… we learn something from it. We learn to carry our cross like Jesus.”) Anyway… I continued to watch in spite of that. But then I realized something… Joan kept getting more and more hostile to God, even though time and again He worked good things through her and she could see that He was genuine. When He was a pizza delivery boy, she slammed the door in His face. The straw that broke the camel’s back was when she was asked to learn to jump rope. God was some kind of homeless musician and Joan said “You really suck.” I thought, “something isn’t right here.” Here is this girl priviledged enough to be able to speak face-to-face with the almighty creator of the universe and all she can say is “You suck.” I mean once you believe in God/ Jesus, the only real response you can have is one of total awe and reverence, isn’t it? I was sickened by Joan’s complete LACK of any reverence whatsoever. I decided that me and my family would be better served by turning the TV off, and I explained to them why. I wouldn’t stand for my kids telling me or their father that WE suck, and I certainly don’t want them thinking that it’s OK for them to say that God does. I think it sends the wrong message. Just my 2 cents! Judie

 

[ELDEN_S_WIFE]

JudieK:

Dear Elden’s Wife:

I’m with you. I began the season LOVING this show… we planned our Friday nights around it… even my small children. The portrayal of the priest really bothered me, though… I mean, even my 14 year old son gave a better answer to why God allows suffering than the priest on “Joan” did! (By the way…

Judie,

Thanks for reminding me of that episode. I couldn’t remember the specifics but I knew she had basically cursed at God. Anyway, I am ashamed to admit I still watch the show. I keep getting drawn to it, hoping that it will get better. (Is this Satan trying to erode away at my soul?) Anyway, I watched the season ending where Joan thinks her sightings of God may all be hallucinations. I will watch the season opener but I have a feeling that will be the end of it for me. Most shows, whether about God or not start off the first season pretty calm. Then if they are renewed, watch out, no holds barred, out comes the trash! So many shows have gone this way and I have stopped watching them. So, it won’t surprise me if they finally throw out the straw to break my camels back on the season opener.

Mary

 

[RichT]

How many of us have slammed the door in God’s face? How many of us do it everyday? I say it’s better to show us something we can relate to instead of expecting to see a show where everything is perfect. Let’s keep in mind what reality is and what fantasy is. This show helps us to see that we all struggle to hear and obey God. it show us that if we ultimately hear and obey, something good will come out of it. Finally a television show that I can let me children watch, and someone’s gotta bash it instead of being thankful for the small amount of decency it has brought to television. I’m all for Joan!

 

[Fitz]

I like the show. I have raised three daughters, and unfortunately I relate to the flip way Joan answers even God. I am not saying my girls always were that way, but they had their moments. I think of course it seems disprespectful, but Joan does remain faithful and she always learns so much. When I watch it I cringe at some of her remarks, but they are real to our day. It is unfortunate, but our young people are more outspoken than I was raised and perhaps many of you were raised.
I too question why the writers couldn’t at least include grace before meals, or some evidence that it really is a Catholic family. I am afraid that this show represents a fallen away Catholic family. I see very much evidence that Joan’s parents want to be good moral people, but that they don’t understand the need for belonging to a church. It is a more humanistic family and perhaps that is what some of you are worried about.
It would be real nice if the writer next season had them make a return to church, but I doubt they have that in mind. I watch it with my 14yr. old son. It is a good topic starter for families with that age child. Like one responder said- it sure beats “Friends” or many other programs that our kids have been exposed to.
Let’s hope this paves the way for the next better written show.
Hollywood needs to know what we will turn on, and what we turn off.

 

[JudieK]

RichT:

Finally a television show that I can let me children watch, and someone’s gotta bash it instead of being thankful for the small amount of decency it has brought to television. I’m all for Joan!

Rich- I wasn’t really “bashing” Joan, but I am uncomfortable with the way she “bashes” God. I think we way be making a mistake by letting our childen see this disrespect and not condemning it. I think perhaps our society has become a little TOO casual with God… we go to church in shorts and flip-flops, we don’t teach our kids to listen in Mass, etc. And now a TV show has a young girl telling God he “sucks” and we hold it up as exemplary television. I realize it starts conversations, which is good. But for MY family, I felt it sent the wrong message. I try to use current events and things going on in my kid’s lives as conversation starters and “teaching moments.” I’ll be teaching 9th grade religious education classes this fall and I’m interested in seeing what the kids think of the show. Judie

 

[Veronica_Anne]

ELDEN'S WIFE:

JudieK:

Anyway, I watched the season ending where Joan thinks her sightings of God may all be hallucinations.

Shoot! I missed the last episode… didn’t know it was the season’s ending episode.

Don’t know anybody else who watches it… guess I now know the ending of that particular episode.