In 2009 the creators of Glee brought forth a groundbreaking blend of musical, comedy, and drama that would take network ratings by storm. Glee's first season attracted a following of individuals young and old, male and female, multiracial, and of various sexual orientations. The diversity of this audience reflects Glee's own story: a spirited group of outcasts who form a community of radical acceptance.
Throughout its first season, the characters are confronted with social issues such as teen pregnancy, bullying, and homosexuality as well as dilemmas that have plagued teenagers since the beginning of time-how to handle dating, popularity, and parents. One of the reasons Glee resonates with so many different types of people is that its characters deal with universal emotions: insecurity, disappointment, acceptance, and love. Who among us has not, at some point, felt like the outcast? What person doesn't want to be accepted for exactly who God made him or her to be? Who doesn't remember that teacher who made us believe in ourselves? As viewers are invited to connect with vulnerable characters, their stories also remind us that we are never without hope. Not every episode ends happily, yet the characters move forward knowing they are loved for who they are by their community, the glee club.
In this study, participants are invited to use their own story, the story of Glee, and the greater Christian story to consider what it means to be an outcast, and how we as Christians are adopted into Christ's community of acceptance. As they discuss these themes, they will use their own experiences to explore how their faith community might grow in its own practice of radical acceptance.