House, MD Episode

[Deleted]

Last night, on House (Fox-13), Dr. House was slimming down his selection of fellows-to-be and one of them was casted as a black member of the LDS Church. House questioned his faith and tested his beliefs about the Word of Wisdom. Basically, it came down to this student was a non-drinker and for some diagnostic testing, House needed to know how quickly he would show signs of getting intoxicated. This character did a good job of refusing until House challenged him with "every life is sacred" and then, the student relented and agreed to participate.

My wife and I were watching this and got a bit nervous during this scene. We were hoping it would come out as a positive and while not being entirely negative, it showed the guy compromising his beliefs after being challenged and given a "good reason".

Without getting too much more into personal beliefs, how did you that saw this feel about the alleged exposure this very popular TV drama brought to the Church?

[Terry]

I never miss "House". I find it easy to identify with ornery old men. I was happy to see LDS ethics on display. I'm not LDS myself, but LDS ethics are among the best and I'd like to see more of it in this world. Parenthetically, I think this can only help Mitt Romney who is my preferred Presidential candidate.

[dolt]

Would rather open a can-0-beans with rat head than touch this can-0-worms.

[x]

I liked how it showed that the candidate wasn't just a mindless zombie who just does whatever he's told just because he's told to do it. As I recall, he said that the Church encourages people to think for themselves and to judge each situation accordingly. While he would normally not drink due to his beliefs, this was a special case where he could do some good for another human being, maybe even saving her life. I see that as portraying the Mormon faith in a good light.

[Deleted]

Good, valid points... It was interesting that the whole premise of the show was based around this girl's dreams, not necessarily her life. So while that is romanticized a bit, it's not really about "life" being sacred, it's about someone's dreams. And if the question was raised whether your faith and beliefs should come above someone's dreams, then I would say yes. If it was between my faith and someone's life, I would opt for helping someone survive.

Quite the diabolical quandary.

[x]

It's even more difficult in this situation because the alternative to doing the oddball test would be House going back on his word to the patient, even if it would save her life. Was there a way to have everyone's ethics fully satisfied? I can't think of one.

[Deleted]

It's definitely hard to say what I would do in the same type of situation. I know what I would like to think I would do.