Episode 55: And Then?
Not Necessarily the Good News
YouTube - Jesse Dollemore
YouTube - Rebecca Watson
YouTube - The Young Turks
The More You Know
Last episode we looked into the nature of God. It was too big a subject for one conversation, but we touched on a few details that were important: God is greater that the way they are depicted in the Bible. God is greater than limitations and rules. We also discussed that the idea of God has changed over time. God, as mentioned in the Book of Genesis is a limited being who can be surprised or have his plans interfered with. By the book of Exodus God is closer to what we know now; “I am,” a mysterious and all powerful being who we are compelled to obey. He will grant us favor if we are faithful.
By the later books, the prophets like Jeremiah, or Isaiah, God is even more mysterious and his motivations are equally difficult. When we come to Jesus as God, the quality of mystery is overwhelming, and Jesus does little to dispel it. Jesus explains to us that God is too great to understand, and reveals only the things we can understand. Whatever else God is, God is love. God is connected with everyone, and sees us as his children.
So what are we addressing about God today? The Good and Bad places, and maybe the places in-between. Today we start with the big question: What happens after we die?
The Bible is a collection of 66 books compiled over many, many years. It has been edited over time by many scholars, and can include different books according to Church. The Catholic Church: 73 books. The Protestant Church: 66. The African Orthodox: 84. Those examples alone show a diversity of what is accepted as a basis of the faith, and they can include something close to mythology and other things that are tangible history.
So we start: What do you think happens after we die?