The Unpardonable Sin?

[LoveMrsG]

Hello everyone.
I wanted to ask everyone's opinions about the season four two-part episode "Best Sister." I think a lot of fellow Christians (and fellow FOL fans) tend to like this episode, but as a Christian, I actually have a couple of issues with this ep. I'm not saying what I'm about to say in order to make anybody mad or anything. I'm just stating my own personal opinion and I'm asking what all of your opinions are.

In part one of "Best Sister," Mrs. Garrett goes up to the girls' room to ask Blair what time it is so she can reset her watch (although we all know she's really going up there to talk to Blair about her "sister" Meg.) She asks Blair what she's doing and Blair answers that she's reading The Exorcist because her sister's quote, "possessed" and someone has to screw her head on straight.

This may sound like a simple sarcastic joke, but for those who study the Bible, can you see where this could be something potentially disturbing? In the New Testament Jesus is working miracles and others come along and actually say that the work Jesus is doing is being done by the devil, and that is where Jesus begins talking about the unpardonable sin (a.k.a. blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.) There's all kinds of debate about what blasphemy of the Holy Spirit truly is but many people agree that in essence, it is saying that something that is truly the work of God (or Jesus or the Holy Spirit) is in fact done by the devil. It is giving the devil credit for God's work.

In essence, isn't that kind of what Blair's doing here??? I mean, Meg's calling to become a nun, although Meg herself admits that she still isn't completely sure, it is a likely possibility that that calling is coming from God. And Blair states that Meg is receiving that calling because she is "possessed" and is even reading The Exorcist in order to do research about it! Now I know I'm the world's worst when it comes to taking my sit-coms too seriously, but I really dislike this two-part episode because of the way it does seem to want to flirt with committing the unpardonable sin and selling your soul to the devil. I don't find that funny in the slightest respect, not even in a joke. Also at the end in part two, Blair actually DOES make the joke that she would "sell her soul" for the Pope's wardrobe and again Blair is joking, but WHY must the writers constantly flirt with committing the unpardonable sin and selling your soul to the devil and going to hell in an episode that is supposed to be supportive towards people having relationships with God??? Maybe I do take things too seriously at times, but those are my honest feelings about that episode and my own opinion as to why I don't like it and have the problems with it that I do. I'm just curious as to what everybody else thinks.

[zypherix]

As an atheist I really couldnt care less what kind of jokes they put into the show, as a Facts of Life viewer I think Blair was just a tad afraid her sister was rushing into things.

[PlayOn]

I'm sure blasphemy was the last thing the writers were trying to do. Not everybody is a believer and the writers wanted to make a character who wasn't (Blair). The show is about people from all walks of life.

[LoveMrsG]

Originally Posted by PlayOn

I'm sure blasphemy was the last thing the writers were trying to do. Not everybody is a believer and the writers wanted to make a character who wasn't (Blair). The show is about people from all walks of life.

I'm well aware of that Brandon, thank you. I was just saying that I personally don't like this episode because the writers really seemed to want to flirt with selling your soul to the devil, even in jokes. I wish they hadn't gone to that extreme, but that's just me.

[catlover79]

I'd personally love to know what Lisa Whelchel (a devoted Christian for many years, including the FOL era) thought about this episode.

[Smartboy]

I was thirteen years old when this episode came out and I liked it a lot! I have since watched it on "Youtube". When Eve Plumb's character was telling the girls about how angry her family was, she mentioned a bunch of things that they called her, one of them being a lesbian! This is the only time I ever heard the word lesbian used on this series. I guess it was before the age when a show having gay characters was the rule rather than the exception. The only other time that the issue even came close to being dealt with was in the pilot episode. This was when one of the girls who was history by the second season was in the habit of touching the girls and acting very much like a tomboy. Even though the word gay was not used, I think it was implied that this is what some of the other girls thought that she was.

[ABlairican Pie]

I thought the joke she said about reading 'The Exorcist' and wanting to know how to screw her sister's head on straight was pretty funny! I don't know if it's ever been Lisa's or anyone's intention on the show to over-analyze every segment of humor in every episode and try to determine which was "blasphemous" or not.

This is one of the reasons why religion is always a tricky subject on sitcoms. Since 'The Facts Of Life' was released on Embassy Television, which was owned by Norman Lear, it's no surprise that the show would court controversy, because, after all, it was about real life situations. You have to remember that for Meg to announce that she was becoming a nun is, when you think about it, a rather radical step. I don't think too many of us, if we had a sister or family member who contemplated the decision, would be too thrilled with it. When someone embraces a religious calling, there is a tendency, even with those of us who are Christians and the like, to caution a person from getting too "carried away" with that belief. When a person has a sort of religious epiphany, we go 100% into it, but eventually, if we're lucky, we come down and embrace life with a little more moderation and common sense--not that we abandon our newfound faith, of course. Sometimes there are people who get very despondent that things don't happen to go their way when they embrace their new faith, and will either fight to resist change, or abandon their faith altogether.

[Nighthawk76]

Originally Posted by ABlairican Pie

I thought the joke she said about reading 'The Exorcist' and wanting to know how to screw her sister's head on straight was pretty funny! I don't know if it's ever been Lisa's or anyone's intention on the show to over-analyze every segment of humor in every episode and try to determine which was "blasphemous" or not.

This is one of the reasons why religion is always a tricky subject on sitcoms. Since 'The Facts Of Life' was released on Embassy Television, which was owned by Norman Lear, it's no surprise that the show would court controversy, because, after all, it was about real life situations. You have to remember that for Meg to announce that she was becoming a nun is, when you think about it, a rather radical step. I don't think too many of us, if we had a sister or family member who contemplated the decision, would be too thrilled with it. When someone embraces a religious calling, there is a tendency, even with those of us who are Christians and the like, to caution a person from getting too "carried away" with that belief. When a person has a sort of religious epiphany, we go 100% into it, but eventually, if we're lucky, we come down and embrace life with a little more moderation and common sense--not that we abandon our newfound faith, of course. Sometimes there are people who get very despondent that things don't happen to go their way when they embrace their new faith, and will either fight to resist change, or abandon their faith altogether.

That's a great post.

[blairmusica]

Wow, u took this waay to seriously. I thought the episode was excellent. the only line I disliked was Meg's about gossiping nuns. Gossip is a sin and can lead to horrible consequences. Other than that... I thought it was good. By that way I'm Catholic, but my friends tell me I'm pretty easy-going for a "Jesus-lover".
When some stupid tabloid said the virgin Mary was in Playboy, my friends got upset, I laughed it off, saying-"I'm surprised she would pose, ya think you know somebody.." Heh.
Anyhow I like the "Sister Meg" story, don't take one line and blow it out of proportion!

[Smartboy]

Who would ever say anything as stupid as that the Virgin Mary was in "Playboy"? She was long dead by the time that the use of paper was introduced to the Judeo-Christian world much last when "Playboy" began publication!

[ABlairican Pie]

Originally Posted by blairmusica

Wow, u took this waay to seriously. I thought the episode was excellent. the only line I disliked was Meg's about gossiping nuns. Gossip is a sin and can lead to horrible consequences. Other than that... I thought it was good. By that way I'm Catholic, but my friends tell me I'm pretty easy-going for a "Jesus-lover".
When some stupid tabloid said the virgin Mary was in Playboy, my friends got upset, I laughed it off, saying-"I'm surprised she would pose, ya think you know somebody.." Heh.
Anyhow I like the "Sister Meg" story, don't take one line and blow it out of proportion!

Well, Christians do sin. Nothing surprising.

Yes, Christians do gossip. It's bad, but yes, it goes on. This is one reason why so many scriptwriters dance around the topic of religion in shows and movies. How do we write about something without offending someone about something that goes on?

Adultery in Christian circles goes on. Drugs go on in Christian circles. Lying goes on. It's all bad, but it's real. How do we get the rest of the entertainment industry to not discuss things the whole world knows goes on in our less-than-perfect Christian world?

[candycandy]

well i liked the episode "Best sister part 1+2" cos it was very unique & refreshing to see a new character: MEG was fab + she s the prettiest one of the girls! I think she handled the situation with JO punching BLAIR s face very well too! JO "god made me do it" MEG "Whaat?"
Plus the fact that MRS. G , once again worked her magic on BLAIR lol!

[AnnaMarie]

Being a religious person myself (or trying to, at any rate), I have to say that this episode has once again hit the nail on the head. When a person starts getting attracted towards religion, they go a bit overboard at first, like Jo did here. Even the fact that Jo said that God wanted her to hit Blair, and Meg getting so indignant about it--it's rooted in real life. People who don't know much about religion at first and then start getting into it tend to make these very basic mistakes.

As far as Blair's lines go, I think there could not have been any lines in such an episode which do not say something of the kind-what some would see as approaching blasphemy. But for blasphemy, you have to look at the intention with which the line is said, right? For me, I think Lisa agreed to such a part in order to illustrate how people react when someone gets all religious-y on them and the many misunderstandings that ensue. I don't believe there's any harm in saying such a thing then.

[blairmusica]

wow, I think ur all taking this episode too seriously. It's one of my favourites, 'cause Lord knows I've had my times with the Almighty, but it was funny, thought-provoking and fresh. Not something u can say about many sitcoms, now or then. Lisa was very good in it, so was Eve Plum, both under-appreciated actresses. It was very smartly written. Sheesh, don't read more subtext than there was!

[AnnaMarie]

Lol, I think it's a little too late to talk about too much subtext with this sitcom. I always love reading about the so-called lesbian subtext. Hilarious stuff...