[ SECRET POST #2144 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #2144 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 01 pages, 023 secrets from Secret Submission Post #306.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Comments

[fscom]

05. http://i49.tinypic.com/90ty5y.png

[brightblueink]

Eh, I can understand that (particularly since I'm assuming you're also an Atheist). I like a character a lot more when they're stated to be a Christian and they're written as neither perfect saints or horrible bigots, so it'd be hypocritical of me to complain about other people liking characters that share their religious views (or lack of religion).

[(Anonymous)]

Man I just love overanalyzing characters' belief systems no matter what they are. But I love overanalyzing characters in general.

[brightblueink]

haha yes overanalyzing characters is why I'm IN fandom.

[maverickz3r0]

Yeah, overanalysis is fun. It's my favourite part of meta.

[(Anonymous)]

I just like characters more if their faith is addressed at ALL, really. I'm devoutly Catholic, but my favorite characters are a mix of everything. To me, what a person believes inn or doesn't is often a big look into who they are or what sort of place they grew up in, so I like to at least get some passing reference.

[(Anonymous)]

Yeah, I feel the same (also for politics), I feel that when it's addressed in canon it shows that the writers are giving real thought about who this person is and why they do the things they do, and the more I understand the character the more I enjoy watching them, even if I don't share their beliefs or think I'd get on with them in RL.

[cloud_riven]

Same. I don't mind vagueness or ambiguity, but I kind of just like having more details since beliefs and learned moral compasses give me a frame of reference to where they're coming from (or what they're personally transgressing).

[avatarmn]

Serious question. What would it take to make you leave Catholicism for another denomination?

[(Anonymous)]

Eh. I mean, it's kind of an irrational preference, but it's not really a problem, I don't think. Having irrational preferences is what fandom is all about.

[(Anonymous)]

I don't know if I'd say I respect them more, but I do give a little mental cheer and a 'yay representation!' (unless they are an atheist serial killer or something, adding to the negative idea that atheist=no morals etc).

[badass_tiger]

Man, I wish I could say 'Yeah, I love it when characters are revealed to be Muslim, too!' but that hasn't happened yet, except where it's a plot point. Yay under-representation?

[ill_omened]

Heh, I actually really liked the reveal with this particular character as well.

It's nicely done in a really understated way, but entirely fits with his character and doesn't feel like a throwaway line.

Thinking on it though, I interpret all the contractors as being atheists. Honestly it seems it would fit their entirely detached rationalist perspective.

Warm

[trollometer]

This could be good if some trolls decide to start wank. It's a pretty wanky opinion, but not one that seems to be prone to producing wank on F!S. I'm curious to see how this thread goes.

[kamino_neko]

I'm always happy when someone in an American work is explicitly something other than Protestant Christian if they're not clergy, Catholic if they are.

[(Anonymous)]

I have a spark of fellow-feeling for a character who is revealed to be an atheist.

I can respect a character equally well if they have put careful thought into crafting what they believe, or are able to thoughtfully negotiate a balance between religious ideals handed down and actual reality.

[(Anonymous)]

Yes, because respect is only for people we agree with.

[(Anonymous)]

Unless the character's faith is integral to the plot or their characterization, I'd really prefer if it's not brought up at all. Because all too often it turns into a thinly-veiled Author Tract and I fucking hate that.

[forgottenjester]

I think it's perfectly fine to enjoy a character more for such reasons. I'm not sure how I feel about respect. Mostly because it implies that other groups get respected less simply because of a belief. I guess I feel that should be based more on the character's actions or inactions.

I dunno. This thread is really reasonable but your secret is worded in a way that makes me think you're trying to start wank.

[(Anonymous)]

Each to their own OP. I don't have a lot of difference in respect for a character based on their faith (although the traditional trappings of them can affect my regard), but I am happier for a character when they are revealed to be Christian.

(Not that fictional characters are going to heaven, but I like to feel that if it were real they'd be heading there.)

In short, our responses to characters, as to RL people, will be coloured by our own personal beliefs. I think that's probably a good thing overall.

[kallanda_lee]

Honestly, often I just prefer it going unmentioned, and you can make guesses based on how they carry themselves.

[(Anonymous)]

I'm an atheist. I really don't care one way or the other if a character is atheist per se. What I do care about if the character is shown to have a belief system, whatever it may be (atheist, Christianity, Wicca, Flying Spaghetti Monster, what have you), is 1.) that their belief system is treated respectfully and they're not turned into a caricature; 2.) that they don't become a soapbox for TPTB to expound on their views on that faith, and 3.) and most important, that this belief system arises organically from the character, that the authors have put thought into how and why the character believes this, how the belief system functions in the character's life, and how this belief system informs the way the character approaches the world. In short, I want to see the character's religious belief (or lack thereof) as a fully-integrated trait, rather than something just bolted on as an afterthought to make a point. And if TPTB can't do any of the above, I'd rather they just not address character's belief at all than do it badly.

[(Anonymous)]

Haha, this brings to mind this Zoro scene from the Skypeia arc in One Piece:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3UUGBzmYBU
Puts a huge grin on my face every time I see it.

[(Anonymous)]

I know how you feel.

[(Anonymous)]

I like any character with strong religious beliefs (my personal definition includes atheism and agnosticism there, YMMV), as long as—

- they're not a walking stereotype
- their beliefs play a logical role in their choices and actions
- they have a significant number of character traits OTHER than ones related to their beliefs/religion (seriously, let him/her/it have a favorite food or book or band or SOMETHING)

In other words, I like 'em three-dimensional.