For those that don’t know this about me, I am a Whovian. I LOVE Doctor Who. When trying to introduce friends to Doctor Who, though, there is always the question of what episode they should watch first. I started from the beginning of the modern series (so, with the 9th doctor. If you don’t know what that means, go watch Doctor Who.), and almost didn’t keep going because those first few episodes are cheesy and hokey like you wouldn’t believe. It wasn’t until the 9th episode, The Empty Child, that I got sucked in hardcore.
Jack Harkness, amiright?
So for people without the patience to sit through 8 episodes before the show gets awesome, I’d recommend skipping that first season and starting with the David Tennant seasons. Once you fall in love with the show, go back and watch that Christopher Eccleston season. It’s much easier to appreciate the hokey-ness once you have a better idea what’s going on.
This totally happened to me.
I say all that to say this: I have a massive ability to sit through cheesy boring things when I want to like something. (I watched a whole season of The IT Crowd before giving up because I really really wanted to like it. Sadly, it never won me over.)
I am on day 34 of my Bible read-through, and I’m still not sold. I want to like it. I want to know what the fuss is about, and why approximately 1/3 of the world is Christian and loves this book. But, you guys, the Bible has a serious Christopher Eccleston problem. There is no way the average person is going to sit through Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy before hopefully having an “Empty Child” moment.
I’ve had some people tell me that it doesn’t get good until the New Testament, which isn’t until page 509! Yikes! Even Pride and Prejudice got interesting before then. (Around page 185, in my opinion, when Mr. Darcy finally confesses his feelings for Elizabeth Bennett.)
If someone tries to watch Doctor Who from the beginning, or from any place in the series, and decides they don’t like it…well, I’m a little sad that they don’t share my love of the show, but it’s not life or death. The Bible is supposedly the unerring word of God. My eternal soul hangs in the balance here– not that I believe I have a soul, but you get my point I hope.
It says something interesting about Christianity that I can go straight to the source and want to give up by page 41. Heck, a large number of Christians don’t even read the book, and they claim to believe it. That would be like calling yourself a Whovian having only watched “Blink” and never planning to watch any more.
Don’t blink. Blink and you’re dead.
I don’t know where I’m headed with all of this. Just a thought that popped into my head as I sat down to suffer through more Leviticus today. Maybe Russell T Davies and Steven Moffat should collaborate on a Bible 2.0.
Essential Everyday Pineapple 
Actually, calling the Bible the unerring word of God is debatable. There are two schools of thought, and unfortunately, we grew up in the extreme-going-to-hell-if-you-don’t-believe-the-true-and-holy-word-of-God school. But that’s not the only way of looking at it. Also, I don’t think the Bible is where Christianity can truly be found. I think the Bible is for people who are already “there” spiritually, but are just wanting some background info. Christians are not Biblians. They are supposed to be followers of Christ, not the Bible. So, to understand Christianity, I wouldn’t point to the Bible. I would point to the works of Christ. Of course, you don’t have to be Christian to love your neighbor as yourself, but that is what Christianity is supposed to be based in….I think some people have just gotten a bit confused along the way.
Just so you know, I adore this blog. You are awesome.
Aw, thanks. You just brightened my evening 🙂