Mysteries of the Faith – Plugged In

TV Series Review

What is the Holy Grail? Why do people revere the Crown of Thorns? Are there really fragments of the cross Christ was crucified on scattered across the earth?

These are the questions that Netflix’s new documentary series, Mysteries of the Faith, attempts to answer.

As viewers watch, they’ll learn the histories of these religious artifacts. They’ll hear from those who have made pilgrimages and see them expound upon their emotional and spiritual experiences (and a few describe miracles they witnessed as a result). And experts on the topic, both religious and secular, attempt to explain why these ancient objects hold such significance, both for the church and the world.

Cup of Criticism

Mysteries of the Faith doesn’t have a whole lot of content issues. We see some real-life footage of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris burning in 2019. CGI recreations demonstrate the crucifixion (which, as we know, was an inherently violent act). And stories recount the theft, piracy and bloodshed that surround these relics. But viewers should be most wary of the spiritual concerns.

This documentary series does not approach these relics from a particularly religious point of view. And sometimes it seems to take religious beliefs with a grain of salt. It’s not saying that faith is false or that the artifacts it explores are fake. (In fact, it treats the people who revere and protect the relics with respect.) However, several of the experts interviewed imbue a certain amount of skepticism.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing, though.

As I watched, I kept getting a sense of Moses and the golden calf. One person after another approaches the Crown of Thorns to kiss it. The narrator describes people as worshipping the artifacts.

It all places emphasis on the objects instead of on the God they represent. And in the first episode, the narrator even states: “For centuries, pilgrims have spread stories of the power and wonder of relics through their own journeys of faith and discovery. But the greatest journeys of all belong to the relics themselves.”

So while we hear some amazing testimonies of faith, Christians really should think about the spiritual implications.

If you just want to learn the history of Christian relics, then this is a pretty neat series. But if you’re searching for a genuine and direct connection to Christ, pray, read your Bible and look to the Holy Spirit for guidance. These treasures, as holy as they may be, only serve to point to Someone far greater.