What gets me, is that people are so quick to condemn and judge a show, because it doesn't fit the mold of what they think is Christianity. When did normal people quit having normal lives and problems, just because they serve God? When did it become better to get advice and counsel from a Man of God, who has not experienced any of the problems that the masses have? To me, this show is refreshingly real, and I love everything about it. Great job!

People just need to lighten up.The show was fantastic. So what if it potrays Jesus there portraying him in a interesting way. The show is funny and well written everyone should watch it and learn to have a sense of humor.We are human beings with flaws and struggles, our priests are equally challenged. And Jesus still rides in the car with us. Great show - thank you NBC!

Okay, I've been reading all the reviews for the last couple of weeks regarding the new "It" show for controversy "The Book of Daniel". Personally I find the show to be funny albeit I'm in the minority from the look of things on this web site. However there is one matter that brings a smile to my face, the idea most people feel this show degrades christians? This IS fiction, right? It takes a few elements from the christian faith and some from what we call reality within the family mix it up and BAM!! you got a network TV show. Now find me any program that fulfills every person taste in entertainment. Again that's why we have a choice with cable TV hit the clicker until you are satisfied. Rather than argue I'll just say this, you want inspiration from your faith you go to church, you want entertainment turn on the TV. You want both there is the Christian Network, right?

It is beyond belief that so much disfunction could exist in a single family. This seems to be a transparent attempt to have a vehicle to dramatize every possible weirdity and human frailty in a single program.

What surprises me is there is in "real" life a man who is suppose to a man of God and has his own tv show who people seem to support tremendously and have no problem with. Yet this same man promotes the killing of a leader in another country..claims that God sent the hurricane to New Orleans as punishment..and says that President Sharon was struck down by his God. Yet a simple television program where the priest doesn't do any of this and is simply trying to raise his family in a time of real problems in every family and has a personal relationship with Christ gets condemned. I guess he should be promoting war instead of love. What a bunch of hypocracy.

This is the worst demoralizing, blaphemous show ever. Please don't ever show it again, the people who created this must want us all to come to harm and perish, what a horrible way to shape young minds, I can't believe it made it this far....what a shame

It's a great show and represents the foibales and daily issues dealt with on a daily basis in America. Not saying that all families would have all the issues this family is having but all the issues are represented somewhere in America in a family. Can't wait for the next installment.

What is there to say except complete piece of crap.... It is a bad show and is offensive too. No wonder NBC is in fast decline. It is so sad to see such a fine network hit bottom. Some folks at NBC will lose their jobs for this one.

I was embarrassed. The show made me angry because I am Episcopalian. There are black sheep in every church. "Just as I am" is not in our hymnal so it would never be sung in a real Episcopal Church. Not every one in the Episcopal church believes homosexuality is acceptable but we love the sinner and hate the sin.

Great show with a cutting edge. I hope NBC keeps the show on air despite the growing complaints from advertizers and the Christian Right.

So I thought this would be a funny show, so I tuned into the first two episodes, but I was bored and annoyed by just about everything in it. It could've been so good. I'm sorry, but you know there is a problem when you hate every character introduced in the main family. Who am I rooting for? Sure not that sister in law. The main Reverand was okay at first, but in the first five minutes I hated his daughter and I didn't understand the wife. I still don't understand the wife. I feel like that woman is trying to be Bree from Desperate Housewives but hipper so she can chill with her cool kids ("I think my gay son is the bomb! Hold on, let me tighten my preppy sweater around my shoulders"). And it doesn't work when the daughter is threatened about sitting in the car with the mom, but the mom does nothing in the car that any mom bailing their kid out of jail wouldn't do. So I searched the rest of the show to see what the big deal about her was... STILL SEARCHING. And why is she acting like... is she acting or doing a parody of... what is with her? I'll leave that for now. Next, Grace, the daughter whose name I proudly remember, SELLS DRUGS TO BUY A COMPUTER PROGRAM!!!!! Come on. At least give her an illegal alien boyfriend who she needs to buy a kidney off the black market for. A COMPUTER... A COMIC BOOK PROGRAM!!! Now I know Grace would read this and say "I knew you wouldn't understand!" and then huff and puff and storm to her room, but that is just a stupid reason to sell drugs. And if you are introducing a character who you want the audience to like and connect with, please let us see a glimpse of sorrow or regret or some real emotion that anyone would have when being sprung from the slammer. And oh, I forget, is there a gay son... is there an adopted Chinese son, because the every other line that was used to remind me of their status obviously didn't sink in. Can they be real characters too? Just a thought. Okay, so I did like the dad, but for a pastor he sure is a wimp. Jesus was cool. I talk to him like that, too. So that was enjoyable, but I don't think I could sit through those other people to get to his parts. SUCKED. And I wanted it to be good. I'm a Christian and I was really hoping to see something cool and new and funny. *I get it! Maybe the mom drinks too many martinis on Sunday. That would be a crazy thing that would bother the daughter.* Anyway, the idea seems cool and even if we could get to know the characters before all their antics explode would be cool (that way we'd still feel like we could identify with them). And don't even get me started on the extended family... WAIT-> Which son was gay and which was adopted? Just one more joke about it and I'll get it. I promise.

This is a fantastic show. A little bit in the vein of "Six Feet Under" and a little bit of "Huff". The bottom line, this is witty, engaging, respectful, has a good lesson at the end of each episode and doesn't take itself too seriously in the process. Bravo NBC! My whole family loves it. We TIVOed it for our neighbors to watch and we are all hooked.

I am a Christian in Southern California and was appalled at the show "The book of Daniel". It is degrading to my faith and a slap in the face to GOD. This show is so demeaning , inappropriate and a misrepresentation of the Christians and the Christian faith. I will not watch NBC until it is no longer aired.

If you like South Park, Monty Python, Arrested Development, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Family Guy (yes, you guessed it, irreverent shows)you'll like this one. Not perfect acting by some of the characters (except, of course, Ellen Burstyn, who can do no wrong, ever), but a lot of funny moments, and interesting scenes. No, it's not "Citizen Kane" or "The Godfather" but it is extremely entertaining. If you're easily offended, don't bother with it. If you want to bang the bible, do it somewhere else. This is not a show that trashes Christianity. It does, however, poke a great deal of fun at sanctimonious schmucks who think that because a priest has a gay son, or a bishop screws around on his wife a show is "anti" something. Get a life or crawl back into your fundamentalist shell.

To those who may say that this is not mocking christianity- you are dead wrong. You may express your opinions now. Go right ahead, it's called "free will".

The show was fantastic. People just need to lighten up. So what if it potrays Jesus there portraying him in a interesting way. The are not knocking Christian faith in any way. Basically there just saying wouldn't it be interesting if Jesus acted like this. The show is funny and well written everyone should watch it and learn to have a sense of humor.

I wasted 60min of my life watching the biggest piece of garbage yet. Not funny at all. NBC.....drop this or lose viewers.

This is one of the best new programs I've seen in a long time! You can take the reality shows and toss them in the can. When I watch tv I want to be entertained. Watching 'survivor' and all those other "reality" shows are NOT my idea of entertainment. The dialogue is clever...LISTEN to what they are saying to each other...kudos writing staff-keep it up! This show is what we face in our everyday lives/society-imperfection and how to deal with the stress we've created. To the 'religious types' (especially those that have not watched it-turn it on, THEN if you don't like it-turn it off!!!) Besides Friday's lineup sucks overall. I have other things to do than watch tv, so if I find a good one-I'm there...!

isn't it amazing that some people are ready to say that Christians who don't watch this show, know nothing about it; and then these critics declare that they are not Christians and then go on to tell us about what Christianity is! Talk about your double standards!

This show does not mock Christianity, but instead mocks the dysfunctional Christian society that DOES exist today. I think this show is hilarious. I think the problems in the American Christian society do need to be pointed out. There is nothing wrong with this show just because it doesn't glorify Christianity and make it seem like every Christian family is a perfect one. Just because this show is about Christians, and is called "The Book of Daniel," that doesn't mean it HAS to teach Bible lessons. It's primetime TV, and cynical humor is becoming more and more popular. What else do you expect? I feel that this show will only be offensive to the Christians who are bitter towards the truth that Christians aren't perfect, or Christians who are generally close-minded and/or unable to understand the sense of humor. This show is a COMEDY. All of the angry reviewers are acting like this show is supposed to teach good morals to their children. Does any 9:00 p.m. show teach such things? Actually, I'm watching it as I type this. The show just ended. The last ten minutes of the show were VERY wholesome, consisting mostly of father-son reconciliations, family gettogethers, etc. Even though everyone in the family has made sinful mistakes, they come together instead of disown each other in the end. That's good programming if you ask me! If you can't take critique of your OWN RELIGION, just don't watch it. Did you know? In the real world, sin EXISTS. Christians SIN. YOU SIN. Everyone sins. Just because this show DEPICTS sinners, that does not in any way, shape, or fashion mean that it PROMOTES sinning. The fact is that this show is about Christianity, but is not meant to be enjoyed by intolerant Christians. In the end, that is the only thing you guys are angry about. Also, I have news for you: Protesting this show so ignorantly is only going to make it more popular. And even if you protest, that will NOT take it off the air. If the Christian community controlled television, well, we pretty much wouldn't have television, would we? (I am saying this as one who is neutral to Christianity. Admittedly this comment is very negative, it is not because I am angry towards Christians, but because I am angry towards ignorant, narrow-minded people of any faith. Anyone who can't tell the difference between mocking a faith and criticizing a faith's society does NOT need to be reviewing television shows!) P.S. - the people saying things like "if this show was about a Buddhist with prostitutes and cocaine!" etc. -- your arguement is ridiculous. How often do you hear about such a thing happening in America? Then again, you QUITE often hear about a Christian family rejecting their son because he is gay, or a sexual scandal in a church. This show shows the narrow-minded, ignorant breed of Christians the TRUTH, which they have been notoriously known for rejecting. I end this with a question: Would God want you to point out the impurities in his faith's people, or would he want you to ignore them?

First let me say NBC is my favorite station. I have a fan of ER and Law and Order from day one. Medium is my new favorite show. That being said,I think The Book of Daniel is the worse show I have ever seen. It trysto see that all of the ten commandments will be broken.It treats sin as a joke and offends me as a person, parent and a Christain. If this porgram stays on the air, I will stop watching any NBC program. Jesus Christ is NO laughing matter. I feel that will one day be proven to you and everyone envolved with this piece of trash. Deorah Simoldoni 10508 Daysville Rd. Walkersville,MD 21793

I'm noticing that a lot of these reviews are from people who haven't actually seen the programme. Those of us who have seen it seem to have enjoyed it. I thought it was fun. Many of the conventions are stolen from other programmes (Joan of Arcadia comes to mind) but the writing rescues it from being just another re-hash. Families have problems, and every member of this family has major problems. So what's new? Priests' families are no different in this regard, and a show that addresses the problems people really do face is hardly the work of the devil. I did find it interesting that more people seem to be upset at the idea of a priest having a gay son than at the two bishops committing adultery.

Anyone that enjoys this (and watches Deperate Housewives) and professes to be a Christian needs to go examine the bible a little more deeply. These are not my words... Philippians 1:9-11 9And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christto the glory and praise of God. Ephesians 5:3-5 3But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. 4Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy personsuch a man is an idolaterhas any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God

With poor writing, horrible acting and over-the-top stupidity about what Jesus and Christianity are about, this show will go away, don't worry people! With a 2.7 Nielsen Rating and NBC stations across the country already dropping it, this is of no concern to me anymore. Romans 9:33 As it is written: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” This Rock of Offense is Jesus Himself, the writer of this show is blind to Him and does not know Him! For if he did know the King of Glory, he would certainly not portray Him in the light that he has. Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."

I tried to give it a chance, but after one hour I opted for something more entertaining. I know the problems the family encountered are real as I myself have faced some of them. The truth is that none of it is funny. It is painful to deal with them. Only my faith in God's love and the peace that I receive from my heavenly father carry me through. Perhaps if the family depicted was only dealing with one of the difficult issues the message would come into focus faster. I don't have time to wait for it.

Speaking as a life-long Episcopalian - I found Book of Daniel very refreshing and extraordinarily funny. It is great to have a show that shows our relationship with God in in its true, broken and faithful fullness. We are human beings with flaws and struggles, our priests are equally challenged. And Jesus still rides in the car with us. Great show - thank you NBC.

This is no different from soap operas or other sitcoms that have been on television lately. I too talk to Jesus and he sits beside me in my car and yes HE does have a sense of humor and I can tell him anything and I feel HE leads me to a solution in most situations. As for the drinking, pills, etc. this unfortunatly is reality in this day and time. Not that I like it mind you, but personnally I was more offended by the love making between two teenage boys on Desparate Housewives then I was by Book Of Daniel. I am a christian and I really don't think you need to take this program off the air, everyone has a choice and an off/on switch. I really think by people protesting so hard that it has made the show a "I gotta see this" show. Don't protest so much, just turn the tv off and take a walk...

You know, I've read many of the notes on this show as they've been posted. Having dumped cable I don't watch much TV and I know nothing about the show except for these comment. Furthermore, I'm not Christian. Since I'm not Christian, I won't presume to tell Christians as to whether they should be offended or not. I will say however that I would never have bothered to go see The Last Temptation of Christ but for the hoopla and protests (along with occassional accusations that the film was financed by Jews to destroy Christianity). I went to see it out of curiosity, and I was bored to tears by a very long winded movie of which I knew the ending (did anybody think that Jesus wouldn't make the right it's-a-wonderful-life choice and end up back on the cross - and that was supposed to be a happy ending?). The lesson - just because someone is offended, it does not follow that it is entertaining. On the other hand, right wingers screaming about Tales of the City on PBS led me to see it, and I found it to be one of the best mini-series aired by any television station, maybe because I lived in the Bay Area during the time in question - and because I obtained a permanent crush on Laura Linney. Did I mention that I don't know a thing about the Book of Daniel? Hint to those offended by it - shut up and it'll probably just go away (if it's as bad as you say). Keep screaming about it and the ratings are going to be pumped up just by the curiosity you're evoking.

Give NBC credit for trying to deliver a product targeted to - or at least friendly to Christians. Regrettably, they apparently hav no clue about what sells to that audience. TV is supposed to be 'entertaining' and/or educational, but while this show may be entertaining to non-Christians, it will never be accepted as a 'christian-friendly' show. When Christians watch their faith so badly misrepresented - even mocked, it's no suprise that it is failing to draw those viewers. Judging from the Neilsen ratings, this show won't even make it to syndication. I give it maybe 3 more episodes until NBC pulls it. If you like it, you better get your fill now before it's pulled.

This show is original, creative, and funny. It's fantastic writing. I find it absolutely absurd that people in the US are so narrow-minded.

This show was a surprise. It questions and challenges the role of spirituality in everyday life. And it is funny. Don't turn it off. Turn it on and let it trigger a dialogue with your own beliefs as well as others.

Great show!! I will watch anything with Adian Quinn! Well written & funny.

If any show will drive those right wing idiots crazy, it must be good! Stupid, narrow minded, won't get it. Good show, it will encourage people to have some interesting discussions about faith.

A few lightning bolts, but overall a good program. To those that didn't enjoy it - get a life.

hollywood still doesn't get it.

Light'in up people, some of you are gripp'in about not letting your children watch it, Well ok then don't, look what the bible says about gays. Now look at the Will and Grace show. It is funny and makes me laugh out loud. Thank God I am an American, I have the right to use my remote.

This is not about true Christian. I feel sorry for this dysfunctional family. They need to study the bible more and follow Jesus's teachings. This is not something I can watch with my kids. Therefore, I will not watch it.

Terrible show with unlikeable characters.

I did not and do not plan on watching this show. I see no ponit in making a show like this. I am always up for a good laugh but come on. Do we really need another drama on tv that is not safe for our kids to watch. I am a Christian and this is really offensive to know that in my own contry where I am supposed to have religious freedom people would think a show like this is ok. I agree with the comment about the Muslim religion if there was a show like this about ther faith it would be pulled for being prejudice. SO I believe it should be pulled.

This show is disturbing to those of us who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. It should be pulled off television.

TV is a pit of poor programming in general. I seldom watch anything except the History Channel or TCM. When programming such as BOD is provided in primetime that depicts all the downfalls of man (and women) in one show the networks have sunk to an alltime low in respectibility and value to the viewing public. You can leave the shock factor to others such as Howard Stern at least then we can be assured such poor programming is out there in the satellite ether few of us want to pay to hear.

Just another way to give the non-believer satisfaction that they are not the only ones that are going to hell!!!

The Book of Daniel ( show name ) = REVELATION 22:18 and 22:19 look it up ! The New NBC drama show called " The Book of Daniel " about an Episcopalian priest who is Not a Christian and he pops pills like they are candy , his wife is a drunk , his son is a homosexual and daughter is a drug dealer and the church secretary is a lesbian . Then in the show Jesus appears and tells Daniel suggestions about things instead of telling him he his defying his Father God and himself The Lord Jesus Christ . Now if this show was about a Muslim Cleric in the USA who's wife is a prostitute on the side to earn extra money , the cleric's son is a homosexual , his daughter is a girls gone wild girl and they all drink booze and eat pork . Then the Islamic prophet they believe in named Mohammed appears and pretty much says it's wrong but seems ok with it all exactly what do you think would happen ? Every Muslim in The USA would try to make USAMA BIN LADEN look like a Sunday School Teacher and kill kill kill , with bombing every public place they can and killing as many as they can for JIHAD ! It wouldn't matter if they totally love the USA or even if they are honorably serving as police officers or even in our military they would still JIHAD our Country ! Christians won't reply like that to the show " The Book of Daniel " , Christians will pray and write you letters informing you of their disaproval of what NBC is doing , it's ok because GOD will reply to this great blasphemy ? What all the disasters and catastrophes over the last few years didn't give you the hint God is upset with us all ? This show is a ploy by the episcopal church and their gay bishops to make homosexuality and immorality seems normal and ok with God ! God will answer back unless this doesn't remain on the air , however we might already be too late to beg to stop God's Wrath for this one !

Keep it up NBC and you'll be bankrupt before you know it..and you wonder why people have abandoned the networks for cable....Don't listen to your viewers tell you what they want to see...make those decisions yourself..its about choices you see...we don't have to watch what you shove at us anymore....I'll continue to choose what pleases ME! get that ME! You keep stooping lower and lower and losing more and more of your viewers...I don't own stock in NBC so go right ahead and drive your Company out of business

I fell asleep while watching the show. Maybe next week, it will get better. But its only chance for success is maybe as a cult classic like the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Even then, some parts are pretty hard to watch like the adopted son's self deprecating humor and the sister-in-law's lunatic rantings. I have never seen a story where so many characters are introduced with such serious problems. If this is suppose to be a serious drama then the story should develop the characters so you can understand what is going on. But with such exaggerated characters, this show more of a satire like Monty Python but without the humor.

Too bad the writer couldn't come up with something more entertaining than this.

I really wanted to see Aidan Quinn's beautiful blue eyes, but the show stunk. Oh well, just have to play my Bennie and Joon DVD one more time.

Once again, I still don't get it. Why is it alright to smear Christianity in a country which boasts about being so multiculturally sensitive? Believe me when I say if a national network came out with a show depicting a totally incompetent Buddist family where Budda is shown as an everyday nitwit, they would not only have their operations shut down, but probably burned to the ground as well. This merely empowers my belief that our society is dilapidated, weak and hypocritical.

This is a bad show... the show has already hit bottom and started digging...nowhere to go but down. A bizarre family, pathetic almost loathsome, detestable characters, shallow story lines and just the kind of Jesus that Hollywood would like (just one of the good ol' boys). There is nothing redeeming about this show...even Jesus would likely have a hard time saving it. A show that stinketh exceedingly and needs to be tossed in the trash... sooner than later.

Up front, I'm a tough critic, who likes to think--so probably only art films or indies would ever get a 5 star rating. Second, I heard about BoD mostly from spam/emails of offended Christian groups thought this show would give a bad name to Christians. Third, I'm a Christian who wondered how this show would pull it off. The show's creators claimed that once you got to know the characters, you'd see that the show is about a dysfunctional, quirky family and what seemed "over the top" in the initial descriptions, would play itself out. So I thought, give the benefit of the doubt and see for myself. Conclusion: I agree. Where opponents want to dismiss the show because they fear some sort of sacriledge, I saw the show as "zany". Where offense was taken by a Jesus appearances, I saw comic relief to Fr. Daniel, being played mostly as the straight-man priest who is having one heck of a day. While there are claims that this is a spin on the genre of Desperate Housewives, I'd have to point out that it's also in the secular tradition of Sex and the City and 6 feet under, as well as the "family values" tradition of Picket Fences and the "zany" mixture of Northern Exposure. I'll watch the next episode. As a lay Roman Catholic minister, I enjoy the laughter.