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Reviews
The Outer Limits: Josh (1998)
Truth is stranger than fiction
"They say seeing is believing... But the true question is.... What do you believe you've seen? Season 4, Episode 7 (JOSH) goes far beyond the opening narration presented by this sci-fi program. In the world of fiction, you are often required to believe a premise which you would never accept in the real world. The fictional premises of sci-fi involve the various possibilities with the unknown, unexplained or the unbelievable. Accordingly, we should remember science fiction is the proposition of thoughts, ideas, art and theories. Science fiction has been used by authors as a device to discuss philosophical ideas such as identity, desire, morality, and social structure.
Since sci-fi possibilities are unlimited, it is our suspension of disbelief, which constitutes a poetic faith that I am interested in. Because it has been advanced, materialized or even contemplated as a matter of routine for the most part within the last 60 years.
It is certainly within the power of our imagination that a benevolent "God" could focus our suspension of disbelief, unitize human technologies or connect our scientific innovations to communicate; interact or even intercede with his creation. It is my desire, if not my duty to try to tell you that this television program (Josh) is evidence of the natural order through the Unseen Hand of Providence.
What is Providence? Providence is the means by which God directs all things - animate and inanimate, seen and unseen, good and evil - toward a worthy purpose, which means His will shall finally prevail.
Yes, the Outer Limits is a sci-fi "program" but like any "program" it can have an effect, shape our vision or become a physical reality. Remember... The Outer Limits is the only T.V. program that delivered a distinct warning at the beginning of their programs.
Look at Facebook or its one billion users. Facebook is an innovation using a trusted platform for the devoted purpose of social media, which reaches into the human mind for answers to our problems, positions, plans and common interests. However, everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth. Perhaps, Facebook is within the outer limits of our Faith and will become a living narrative of human evolution and a record of our successes or sacrifices to it. Conversely, and without doubt the central paradox of our existence is found in the thoughts, words and actions of two thousand years ago and can live in us today as:
"The answers to Mankind's future problems can be found within so long as there are those among us willing to make the sacrifice."
I shall maintain this candid boundless belief in sci-fi possibilities and I certainly believe in the extraordinary truths of this episode's profound thoughts and honest words that were expressed. Simply because... "Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn't."
"Throughout history, the search for faith has led man to look to the stars and the heavens for answers. But only by looking into ourselves may we truly find it."