I Enjoy Meaningful Conversations
On Sunday mornings, here in the UK, there is a program aired on BBC1 called “The Big Question”. It’s hosted by Nicky Campbell and is a discussion piece which takes current affairs issues and attempts to debate them from theistic perspectives. In the interest of a balanced and fair view, there are always representatives from the major religions and, atheists.
This weeks Big Question was, “Are we facing the end of the world?
The discussion ensued and topics as far ranging as immigration, global poverty, population levels, exploitation and social injustice, the ecology and conservation, were all thrashed out. At one point, Nicky Campbell asked why all of the major religions have an “End of Days” prophecy enshrined in their belief system.
Interesting question. So, why?
One of the guests said that it was because we have always been obsessed with death, with our own mortality. I think that it’s a bit more complicated than that. Yes, we are obsessed with death but, we’re also obsessed with life. With questions of the how and why of life.
Whether we believe in a deity (or deities) or not, I think that it’s fair to say that the various authors of Holy Scriptures were people who had one thing in common. They were all people who were interested in, and knowledgeable about, the world around them.
Taking that view leads me to the conclusion that perhaps these authors understood the delicate balance of nature. Furthermore, they understood the human condition. Maybe they understood that mans greed and blatant disregards for the natural world would ultimately cause our own demise.
This weeks Big Question was, “Are we facing the end of the world?
The discussion ensued and topics as far ranging as immigration, global poverty, population levels, exploitation and social injustice, the ecology and conservation, were all thrashed out. At one point, Nicky Campbell asked why all of the major religions have an “End of Days” prophecy enshrined in their belief system.
Interesting question. So, why?
One of the guests said that it was because we have always been obsessed with death, with our own mortality. I think that it’s a bit more complicated than that. Yes, we are obsessed with death but, we’re also obsessed with life. With questions of the how and why of life.
Whether we believe in a deity (or deities) or not, I think that it’s fair to say that the various authors of Holy Scriptures were people who had one thing in common. They were all people who were interested in, and knowledgeable about, the world around them.
Taking that view leads me to the conclusion that perhaps these authors understood the delicate balance of nature. Furthermore, they understood the human condition. Maybe they understood that mans greed and blatant disregards for the natural world would ultimately cause our own demise.
