The Doctor Who series 3 finale airs this week in the United States. I won't spoil it for those of you who have yet to see it, but suffice it to say that once again the show is BofG appropriate.
The show's compelling blend faith and science fiction has not gone unnoticed by the UK's Christians, where pastors have been using it as inspiration for their sermons. Show writer Paul Cornell has this to say about a church that did a series of sermons on the show:
And finally, if you’re in the Chorleywood area next Sunday, June 17th, that is, Father’s Day, at 7pm, you might like to pop along to St. Andrew’s Church, where Mark Stibbe will be delivering the latest in a series of ‘Lessons from Doctor Who’, in this case ‘Father’s Day: Healing the Wounds of Time’. I’m greatly honoured that my work should be the subject of a sermon. I think that’s the first time that’s happened. At least, the first time in a positive way.
The show he mentions--Father's Day--is a classic exploration of faith, memory and sacrifice, in which chaos ensues when a daughter goes back in time to save her late from his premature demise. Most of the episode actually takes place in a church--St. Paul's in Cardiff--which also garnered international attention this summer with its own Who-inspired sermonizing. Quoth the priest, Father Ben Andrews:
“I love the series and it has such a great following that we couldn’t resist doing something for young people on a Dr Who theme.
“We will be looking at the idea of Jesus as a Lord of time and showing who Jesus was and the different images of him throughout time.
“We will try and get some Dr Who props in to try and make it as lively as possible.”
Many thanks to avatar of cool Alex Sandifer for the news tip and post idea!
Bonus book: UK Christians have also written on the spiritual lessons of Doctor Who, but this is the ultimate: Caroline Symcox, Paul Cornell's wife, wrote a Doctor Who audioplay in which the Fifth Doctor goes to The Council of Nicaea.