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There is one main belief centered theme in the movie Serenity, by Joss Whedon.

Faith. To have Faith in oneself and Faith in those around you, as opposed to having Faith in larger constructs such as God, Government, or organizations. This is shown time and again throughout the film. There is a climax on this when "Book" discusses it was "Mal" that he needs to have Faith. When Mal indicates he is not a Godly person, Shepherd Book asks him why people always assume his is talking about God when he discusses Faith. This is a seminal point in that humans need to have Faith. Faith in SOMEthing, be it themselves, their friends, God, their country, or whatever. It has been shown in psychological studies that people do better in life when they aim for a goal that is external from them selves. It acts as a buffer to life in general. It does not even have to be a Faith in God. But we need a higher ideal, something bigger than the Self.

I might argue that those who can only have Faith in them selves, have a stronger Faith, but it takes a very solid foundation for this and most of us, are simply too dysfunctional. And so, we require something we can think of as more perfect, or more functional, than ourselves, because, in truth, we know our selves all too well. We may in the end not believe in anything that is any more functional than ourselves, but it helps us to have that Faith, to carry on and persevere to a conclusion.

Mal had Faith in God and his organization during the battle of Serenity, but when his own people abandoned them to the enemy, to the "Alliance", he lost all Faith in any outside forces, including God. From then on he only has Faith in himself, and sometimes, in his friends, those who are closest to him. This is something that is proved time and again to him, that it is better to have Faith in something not too far outside yourself. God, he thinks, doesn't hear you. The Government, doesn't care about you; certainly not if you are not of their inner circle. And we see time and again, how even those in that inner circle are not safe from danger by the hands of their own protectors.

Near the end, the dying Shepherd Book tells Mal, "It doesn't matter what you believe Mal, only that you believe it." Why does he say this? Because Mal is adrift. He doesn't really believe in anything other than survival. By beginning to believe in something, anything, Mal starts to elevate his existence into something higher than the mere survival instinct, and it opens the door for more positive things to enter his life. Because the beginning of belief, is the beginning of a higher existence. From mere existence to truly living.

So, Mal continues on striving to survive on the outskirts of those most powerful influences outside of himself, that of organizations, Government and God. But now, perhaps, with a higher purpose than before. A crack has begun in his hard shell exterior that will eventually let someone in, or possibly something, some higher thought, process or Faith. It will kill the story, but will bring the man, the character, back to life.

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