Brian’s Reflection: Monday, January 7, 2008


From somewhere in the skies above us come, from time to time,
flaming discs and weird phenomena. What are they? Whence
have they come?

- Voiceover for “Buck Rogers” radio show (1939); the comic
book series started on this day, 1929


Zowie! I remember Buck Rogers. He had been going 17 years before I was born! I think I remember listening to the radio program at night in bed. Could that be right? Would they have had it on so we little kids going to bed could listen? I seem to remember “The Shadow” at that time too.

I am a complete devotee of “science fiction”. I have all the Star Wars DVD’s, and I watch reruns of Star Trek (in any version) whenever I can. I like thinking about what the future can possibly bring. In this sense sci-fi is like Scripture. They both hold out enticing possibilities for us humans. Most sci-fi is hopeful – it is optimistic that we can grow and develop in positive ways. The humans in Star Trek have “done away” with religion (presumable because religion proved basically negative - a warning we need to hear!), but they always explored various aspects of religion in intelligent ways when met in other species.

“Flaming discs and weird phenomena”. We humans are fascinated! A huge numbers of people believe in ET’s, in flying saucers, in aliens. I don’t believe in any of them. But I do believe that we human beings want to become fully and gloriously human. “God” is a path to that becoming. What amazes me is that so many humans cling to gods who offer the opposite.

Give it up! Buck Rogers was a decent guy, fighting for fairness and justice against the forces of evil. We could do worse than emulate him!

Brian+