Does Buffy Believe in God?

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FiveByFiveB

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Okay, so I wasn't sure where to put this thread, so feel free to move it to its proper location.🙂

The subject is my question; Does Buffy believe in God? I don't believe that it has ever been said directly, and I don't recall the use of God's name, except for all the "oh my god"s. Has anybody ever caught on to something where the characters sort of say that they do believe in God? And then there's that whole deal where Buffy went to heaven... And Glory, who was a god, which makes it even harder to believe in God. But I'm thinking that Buffy and everybody don't believe in God because they believe that The Powers That Be are the "higher power". So basically I'm clueless. Anybody have any input?
 
Wow...no replies? Well I'll tell you what I think. First of all, The Powers That Be is a mythos that belongs to 'Angel'. Although I understand 'Angel' is a spinoff, it has worked very hard to create its own rules apart from 'Buffy'. I'll go on to say that in interviews with Joss he states that he likes to stray from religious topics. The Buffyverse is comprised of thousands upon thousands of dimensions--some good, others evil--which is where the notion of heaven and hell comes in. On a side note, Willow refers to being Jewish; whether or not she truly holds that credence is subjective. I can't think of a time other than 'Amends' where she mentions her heritage.
 
Thanks JenniLou. Yeah, no replies...I was starting to feel really sad.🙄 I completely forgot that Willow was Jewish. I hate the whole religious deal, so I'm glad Joss didn't bring it into the show. This question came to mind because I'm an atheist, and I'd be able to relate to the characters more if they were too. And yes, of course, there is the fact that this is a tv show, and thinking about what's not suppose to be thought about...will only make us more frustrated. But I'm still open for more input.
 
See! I hurried over! 😉
My my, you think if some difficult, yet interesting of course, question, dear, dont you?
I guess apart from wat you both have already said, im as clueless as you two! I think, just from buffy having gone to heaven and with no mention to G-d, or to higher powers, apart from glory, the god of a hell dimension, that buffy doesnt believe in THE
G-d ie one that made the world etc, all seeing all knowing (eg christian/jewish G-d). However she does know of glory being a god but when she or anyone in buffy refers to glory as a 'god' i think all that is meant by it is that she is the authorative figure and controller, not that she is all-seeing, all-knowing, and undefeatable.
Thats just my wee input! Lol, but this really is a deep issue and could be explored as far as buffy is concerned in many ways!
Im jewish, so i quite like the fact willow is, but i suppose considering what willow has seen and heard and knows about ie hell dimensions, she doesnt really practise the religion or believe it all.

😀
 
I'm not really sure about Buffy on the whole God subject. She never really mentions Him in anything and none of them go to church. In one Christmas episode, Willow does get upset a little becuase everyone is talking about Christmas and Christian beliefs but not her Jewish beliefs. If anything, Willow is the most religious person on that show because she is the only one who has mentioned anything about a religion besides the obvious Wican. Even if they say that they are Christian, Catholic, Jewish, or whatever, none of them show it on the show. 😕
 
Well, FiveByFiveB, i'm not an atheist, but I am an agnostic. Something may exist out there, but we have no way of confirming that. I work with a Christian zealot who is always hammering me with her beliefs. I don't mind that she loves Jesus, but I do mind being chastized for my unique view. The way I see it, there is truth in deep and hidden places; there is also truth in plain sight. Many of the world's religions, while admirable, are ultimately unsupportable. I think there is a bit of truth to all of them and that we have to discern for ourselves what is real and what is myth.

But I agree. I relate to the show because of its lack of religion. While religious imagery plays a key role in the narrative, it is merely there for the mythos of vampire lore.
 
I think she does.

Firstly, a cross burns a vampire. Secondly, Buffy was in 'Heaven'.

I think they incorporated the standard bible-god into the show, plus a few other beings from other beliefs, but still kept bible-god as the only real god. Glory was considered a 'god' by her worshippers, that doesn't mean she's actually a god, it just means that people thought she was a god and worshipped her as one, and she decided to take up the role.

Also, in Angel, I recall Darla saying 'God doesn't want you' to Angel.
 
I know exactly what you mean, JenniLou. My father is a Christian extremist as well; almost as if his whole life centers around God. I don't consider myself absolutely against anything to do with religion, but there isn't one religion out there that I can agree with. I guess you can say that I'm like you, but probably not so 'willing to believe'.

It seems weird to me that they have never brought this up in full discussion on the show. spacemankgh, about Glory: How do you explain not being able to kill her (unless by killing Ben, her human half)? A god is immortal, so what else could she be? Yes, vampires are also immortal because they live forever, but there are ways of killing them. From what spacemankgh has said, I'm going to go with they do believe in God...at least some of the time. Lol. Maybe I should say they have faith, rather than full belief. Cause, if I remember correctly, Jesus was the only one who had the power to bring back the dead...and last time I checked Jesus wasn't another name for Willow.
 
I'm kind of indecisive at the moment. Sure they've mentioned Willow being Jewish (which is nice. It made me feel alot closer to Willow 🙂 ), but other than that, they kind of tend to stray from the whole religion issue. I dunno about you guys, but I'm glad that Joss doesn't touch on religion much. It's just nice not to have it thrown in your face with tv, since alot of other things incorporate religion. I just like the fact that they don't really bring religion into Buffy.

I don't think Buffy and the gang believe in God. I'm tending to side with FiveByFiveB and say that they have faith, but they don't believe in God. How could they, after what they've been through? The things they know, the things they've seen. In the world of Buffy, there are so many different demensions, so how could there be just one, almighty god? By saying she was in 'heaven', I take it that Buffy means she was in a demension of peace and serenity, not the one and only 'heaven' that the Bible refers to.

Ok, that's my little shpeal. I hope that made at least some sense. 😀
 
I totally agree, your buffdomness. I mentioned earlier that there are thousands of dimensions and alternate realities. Buffy said she was in heaven because it was a peaceful place that wasn't bright and harsh and violent. What was she supposed to say? "I was in another dimension that wasn't hell"? Doesn't have quite the same ring to it. Heaven is just a word that the audience can comprehend--we know what she means when she tells us where she's been...she was safe and was loved and as Buffy herself said, "...and I was finished."
 
Originally posted by FiveByFiveB
spacemankgh, about Glory: How do you explain not being able to kill her (unless by killing Ben, her human half)? A god is immortal, so what else could she be? Yes, vampires are also immortal because they live forever, but there are ways of killing them. From what spacemankgh has said, I'm going to go with they do believe in God...at least some of the time. Lol. Maybe I should say they have faith, rather than full belief. Cause, if I remember correctly, Jesus was the only one who had the power to bring back the dead...and last time I checked Jesus wasn't another name for Willow.
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She may be just another Demon. A powerful one. So powerful, they (pagans) consider her a 'god'. And she is able to be killed, by killing Ben.

Regarding the bringing back from the dead, you can't expect a vampire show to completely base itself around the bible. What they have done is take parts out of every religion and belief and turn it into a reality they can work with.

It isn't black & white. Just because one part of the show doesn't conform with one part of the bible doesn't mean the shows characters don't believe in bible-god. All it means is that the bible isn't considered a totally accurate and complete book in the buffyverse.
 
You all have great points!!

Personally, I don't think that Buffy believes in God. Yes, she believes in something, but I'm not sure what. She has relied on Willow's magick quite a few times and sees magick all around her all the time. From what I know, the Christians way back when had something against Wicca. Even though there is not such a big contrast between the two religions today, I know that the Catholic Church would not encourage their followers to explore the Wiccan faith. Therefore, Buffy probably doesn't believe in God, simply because she has been exposed to the happenings of so many other gods in her lifetime. But that's just my reasoning to this.

And I'm also glad that Joss doesn't expose the audience to too much religion in the show. That way, everyone can relate to all the characters on the show and it makes way for less arguing over religious things. 😉
 
You don't have to be Catholic to believe in god. You don't have to be a part of any organised religion.
 
Originally posted by JenniLou
I totally agree, your buffdomness. I mentioned earlier that there are thousands of dimensions and alternate realities. Buffy said she was in heaven because it was a peaceful place that wasn't bright and harsh and violent. What was she supposed to say? "I was in another dimension that wasn't hell"? Doesn't have quite the same ring to it. Heaven is just a word that the audience can comprehend--we know what she means when she tells us where she's been...she was safe and was loved and as Buffy herself said, "...and I was finished."
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I'm glad someone agrees (and understood my rambling).

Oooh. "Your buffdomness". I like it! It has a nice... ring to it. 😀
 
Originally posted by queenofbuffdom86
I'm kind of indecisive at the moment. Sure they've mentioned Willow being Jewish (which is nice. It made me feel alot closer to Willow 🙂 ), but other than that, they kind of tend to stray from the whole religion issue. I dunno about you guys, but I'm glad that Joss doesn't touch on religion much. It's just nice not to have it thrown in your face with tv, since alot of other things incorporate religion. I just like the fact that they don't really bring religion into Buffy.

I don't think Buffy and the gang believe in God. I'm tending to side with FiveByFiveB and say that they have faith, but they don't believe in God. How could they, after what they've been through? The things they know, the things they've seen. In the world of Buffy, there are so many different demensions, so how could there be just one, almighty god? By saying she was in 'heaven', I take it that Buffy means she was in a demension of peace and serenity, not the one and only 'heaven' that the Bible refers to.

Ok, that's my little shpeal. I hope that made at least some sense. 😀
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Ok, firstly, your 'spiel' did make sense! Lol.
Secondly, i agree with your paragraph that sayas theyve seen so much so it might be hard for them to believe. But yet, she did say she was in "heaven" - id like to point out, that, if i remember correctly, she said, or giles or someone said, that she was in "a heaven" or "a heaven dimension", therefore definetly contradicting popular belief in the heaven with the G-d

🙂
 
It's true, there hasn't been really much of a reference to any beliefs in God or another deity. I don't really believe they do believe in God or a god. For one thing, they certainly don't act like they do. For another, after all Buffy and the gang's been through, it's hardly likely. You don't see anybody praying to God "Please...don't let this vampire/demon/monster/etc. bite me!"
 
I don't think they believe in the standard bible-god, but instead, in one almighty higher power which they may consider to be god. Even if it isn't a conscious god, and is just made up of endless positive energy.
 
Originally posted by spacemankgh
I don't think they believe in the standard bible-god, but instead, in one almighty higher power which they may consider to be god. Even if it isn't a conscious god, and is just made up of endless positive energy.
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Thats interesting - but wheres the actual evidence for this "endless positive energy" specifically? Im not necessarily saying you're wrong, but id like to see the argument for this opinion! 🙂
Sweetie Flippie - thats definetly one way to see things! If they dp believe in some sort of G-d, or are religious, they dont really show it and obviously arent practising participants of any religion. This is a very complex question, but very interesting!

😀
 
Well if you look at most religions, they consist of a belief of one good side and one bad side. Or at least, one passive side, and one agressive side (or similar).

A lot of spiritualists believe in the endless positive energy (love) theory, and that just seems like a half way point between bible-god and pagan beliefs.

In the Buffyverse, crosses work on vamps, so jesus must be holy. Jesus claimed to be the son of god. Darla says "god doesn't want you" in Angel. So we know that there is a god, but his form, the workings of the universe, and whether the bible is accurate and complete or not is questionable.
 
I suppose - i just dont see it that way. But angel is different to buffy, but i suppose they probably work on the same principles. And the cross is holy and holy water, another example, provide protection and weaponry. I just dont like that theory as much as the others, but valid points.

😀
 
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