Engaging With Secular Fantasy Television Shows
Early Christian thinkers, such as Tertullian and Augustine, addressed the question of how believers should interact with cultural forms that contained elements of paganism or secular entertainment. Their reflections offer a framework for considering contemporary secular fantasy television shows.
Tertullian, writing in the early third century, emphasized the Christian's renunciation of "the devil, his pomp, and his angels" upon baptism [1]. He connected this renunciation directly to idolatry and "every unclean and wicked spirit" [1]. While Tertullian's primary concern was with direct participation in pagan rites and spectacles, his underlying principle suggests a need for discernment regarding cultural expressions that might be imbued with non-Christian spiritual elements or promote values contrary to Christian faith. His writings reflect an austere spirit, deeply committed to Christian principles and wary of anything that might compromise them [3].
Augustine, in City of God, distinguished between "fabulous theology" and "civil theology" [2]. Fabulous theology, for Augustine, encompassed the stories and myths of the gods as depicted in theatrical performances and literature, often highlighting their "baseness" and moral failings [2]. Civil theology, on the other hand, referred to the public religious rites and practices of the Roman state, which priests attempted to present as noble, despite the underlying "baseness" of the gods they honored [2]. Augustine observed that actors effectively represented the moral flaws of the gods in their theatrical art, while priests struggled to portray a nobility that did not exist [2]. This distinction is crucial because it highlights Augustine's awareness of how cultural narratives (like those in fantasy) can shape perceptions of spiritual realities and moral character. He recognized that even seemingly innocuous entertainment could convey problematic theological or ethical messages.
Applying these patristic perspectives to modern secular fantasy television shows requires careful consideration. While these shows do not typically involve direct idolatry in the ancient sense, they often present alternative cosmologies, magical systems, and ethical frameworks that may diverge significantly from a Christian worldview. The "pomp" of the devil, as Tertullian described it, can be understood not just as overt pagan worship but also as the allure of worldly systems and values that stand in opposition to Christian truth [1].
From Augustine's perspective, one might analyze whether a fantasy show's narrative implicitly or explicitly promotes a "fabulous theology" that undermines Christian understanding of God, humanity, and morality [2]. For instance, if a show presents magic as an inherent power of creation independent of a divine creator, or if it glorifies morally ambiguous characters and actions without critical reflection, it could be seen as presenting a worldview that conflicts with Christian doctrine. The question is not merely about the presence of non-Christian elements, but about the underlying messages and values being communicated.
Both Tertullian and Augustine call for a discerning engagement with culture. They do not offer a blanket condemnation of all forms of art or entertainment, but rather encourage believers to evaluate cultural products based on their alignment with Christian faith and ethics. The early church's concern was to maintain the purity of Christian confession against the pervasive influence of pagan society. This historical context suggests that Christians today should approach secular fantasy with a critical eye, evaluating its themes, moral implications, and spiritual assumptions against the teachings of Scripture and Christian tradition.
Sources
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 3: Tertullian — CHAP. IV.: Lest any one think that we are dealing in mere argumentative subtleties, I shall turn to that highest authority of our "seal" itself. When entering the water, we make profession of the Christian faith in the words of its rule; we bear public testimony that we have renounced the devil, his pomp, and his angels. Well, is it not in connection with idolatry, above all, that you have the devil with his pomp and his angels? from which, to speak. briefly--for I do not wish to dilate--you have every unclean and wicked spirit. If, therefore, it shall be made plain tha”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 2: Augustine — City of God, Christian Doctrine — CHAP. 7.--CONCERNING THE LIKENESS AND AGREEMENT OF THE FABULOUS AND CIVIL THEOLOGIES. (part 3): of the sacred things; not of the theatres, but of the temples, that is, not of the fabulous, but of the civil theology,--are reported by so great an author, not in vain do the actors represent with theatrical art the baseness of the gods, which is so great; but surely in vain do the priests attempt, by rites called sacred, to represent their nobleness of character, which has no existence. There are sacred rites of Juno; and these are celebra”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 3: Tertullian — ELUCIDATIONS. (part 5): beautiful testimony of our author to the sanctity of marriage, and the blessedness of its fruits, I see his austere spirit reflecting the spirit of Christ so tenderly and so faithfully, in the love of children, that I am warmly drawn to him. I cannot give him up to Montanism at this period of his life and labours. Surely, he was as yet merely persuaded that the prophetic charismata were not extinct, and that they had been received by his 428 Phrygian friends, although he may still have regarded them as prophesying subject to all the infirmities w”