The Book of Daniel

Lately, everyone is asking me about the controversial new TV series The Book of Daniel. I've always liked Aidan Quin and wish any show well which gets people thinking about how Jesus is relevent to their lives. And you sure can't miss Jesus in a show that has our Lord as a main character discussing life with an Episcopal priest.

I talk to Jesus all the time, so it is hard for me to be offended by a character who does so, even if the TV show resorts to the device of Jesus being physically present and talking out loud to Daniel, the priest who wants to take more Vicadin than his conversations with Jesus will allow. My main issue with the show is that it packs a LOT of problems into one family in a short period of time—perhaps that is the nature of a pilot episode in the sink or swim world of TV pilots.

For more reasoned looks at the show than mine, you may want to visit the Episcopal Diocese of Washington DC's Blog of Daniel at which show creator Jack Kenny commented in part

Our goal has always been to tell a specific story about a man and his family... a man and his flaws... a man and his own personal, private relationship with his faith - in the embodiment of Jesus... how anyone can be offended by this, and deny the opportunity of others to watch it and make up their own minds is a continual source of confusion for me... It was written with nothing but respect and love for the Episcopal church and it's members.

You may also want to visit the blog Father Jake Stops the World who posted this.

The official NBC website for the show is here.

So what do I think? The show has already proved to be a starter for several good discussions and a few other entertaining ones and for that I am thankful no matter the shows merits or deficiencies for any TV show that gets people thinking about Jesus and how he intersects with their daily lives.

Have you seen the show?
What do you think?

peace,
Frank+
The Rev. Frank Logue, Pastor + King of Peace Episcopal Church