Where do animals and women fit in? Why do evil and viruses exist?
The next twenty questions of Richard Bewes' book focusses on the Truth We Believe.
Q.22 The Trinity to other religions?
As a student, I get so frustrated when talking with non-Christian groups at my campus, about the Trinity. Your help, please.
Richard Bewes' response hinges on the omnipresence of Jesus, and by extension, God. He highlights that as a corporeal being, Jesus, only came into existence in 4 or 5 BC. However, on a spiritual level, he has existed as part of the Trinitarian God throughout the whole of history. Allusions to the Coming of Christ exist throughout the Old Testament, particularly in Isaiah and the Minor Prophets:
"I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,' says the Lord Almighty." Malachi 3:1
Bewes then references Exodus 33:20, which tells the story of the Angel of the Lord. Moses is communicating with God, who is shrouded in darkness, on Mount Sinai. When Moses asks to see God, God replies "you cannot see my face for no one may see me and live." Bewes continues by arguing that this is a common pattern throughout the scripture: God - the father, unseen by his people facilitates in his domain, Jesus, the son, acts out his work on Earth (and I personally think that the Old Testament Prophets and leaders e.g Moses, Isaiah, Joshua play a similar role) and the spirit exists internally within us. We find salvation with this Trinity through the "will of the Father, the saving work of the Son, and the indwelling witness of the Holy Spirit."
Bewes is arguing that the three elements of the Trinity are simultaneously interrelated, but are also independent of each other. My friend Naomi explained the Trinity in a similar way: God, the father, created the world and also judges it, God the son, aka Jesus, who is God incarnate and lived the perfect live that we all should've lived, and the spirit which is what leads to people believing in Jesus and becoming Christians.
Other religions and even other denominations don't believe in the Holy Trinity. One of the core differences between Catholicism and Protestantism is that the latter doesn't believe in the Holy Trinity. Judaism and Islam don't like the idea of the Trinity, as to them it looks like they're worshipping three separate gods. This idea isn't compatible with their monotheistic beliefs.
24. Where does Jesus fit in?
I can under God, but I can't see where Jesus fits into the picture.
When I initially read this question, I was baffled by its inclusion. Surely everybody knows the significance of Jesus Christ? Then I realised that I had made the fatal mistake of over-simplifying religion. Naomi told me that in the past she has wondered about Jesus' place, when she was having doubts about her faith.
Richard Bewes quickly points out that we can understand how Christ fits in, when we realise that everything begins with Jesus. Just like I was discussing before, he has existed since the beginning of time. Through his role as a mediator between us and God, can we achieve salvation.
Bewes' argues that "Christ's name claims supreme recognition in all the areas of life that matter most:"
The World of Worship where Paganism and polytheism gave way to the monotheistic Christianity.
The World of Suffering, where the suffering of the leaders of history and thought is nothing compared to the suffering of Christ or God.
Christ has also inspired a World of Creativity, due to his influence on paintings, literature and architecture, which would be meaningless without his presence.
Finally, his life is supreme in the World of Eternity. His longevity of his significance. I am just the latest in a long of writers who love to discuss Christ.
I can definitely agree with Bewes' World of Worship and Eternity arguments. To think about how polytheism was subordinated by the monotheistic Christianity is evidence of its power. Although, whether this was more of the result of Emperor Constantine or the power of Christ is up for debate. Classicists, please correct me in the comments below.
It is the World of Suffering and Creativity arguments that I take issue with. Bewes argues that when we put the leaders of history and of thought together, it is evident that none of them suffered as Jesus did. My question is, how could you argue that one person's suffering is greater than another's? What measurable scale is there for that? Yes, Jesus was crucified and died for our sins, but the Romans executed scores of Christians who refused to abandon God. Nero tied them to stakes, covered them in tar and set them alight. The vast majority of Jesus' disciples were martyred. Peter was crucified upside down by Nero. Fast forward to the Tudors and Mary I burned countless Protestants at the stake. Was Jesus' suffering any worse than these innocent Christians?
Onto the World of Creativity, I'm not denying that Christ and religion hasn't had a considerable influence on art and literature. Just look at the roof of the Sistine Chapel, Dante's The Divine Comedy or John Milton's Paradise Lost. What I don't like is how Bewes concludes by arguing that "atheism, by its very nature could never have this impact, for atheism has no wings." As I have said before, Bewes is offensive to non-Christians, and by doing so, is perpetuating the misconception that religious people are too close-minded to deviate from their monopoly of truth. Atheism has been just as influential as Christianity. It was the questioning of these beliefs that led to the Age of Enlightenment, which in turn, led to secularisation. I don't think that people would be asking questions like, "where does Jesus fit in," if it wasn't for Atheism shaking their faiths. And as for literature, I'd like to just mention one book you may have heard of, Richard Dawkin's The God Delusion.
30. Does Purgatory exist?
What is purgatory, and how should we think of it?
Richard Bewes argued that the notion of purgatory, that is a waiting place between heaven and hell, where a person's soul is judged and cleansed, emerged at the end of the second century AD and eventually became fully accepted by the Greek and Latin churches at the church of Florence in 1439. However, Bewes then categorically states that "purgatory does not exist." He asserts that its very notion undermines what Jesus died for. We all know that Jesus died for our sins and upon his death, all of our sins were forgiven. Purgatory implies that his sacrifice was in vain and it was imperfect.
Furthermore, Bewes argues that purgatory shouldn't be regarded as a waiting room for the next life. We should aim to use our current lives to prepare for the next, not wait around until we reach purgatory. Naomi similarly argued that the whole notion of purgatory diminishes God's grace. She said it doesn't exist, as Jesus died for our sins. I find myself agreeing with both Bewes and Naomi.
The whole idea of purgatory makes no sense, as it is completely contradicts some of the most commonly-held beliefs of Christianity. It also serves to undermine God's divine authority. Why would he allow his own son to die for our sins, if we are to be cleanse by them in purgatory. Also I think that the absence of purgatory encourages people to do good in their current lives. Rather than trusting their sins will be washed away in purgatory, they will work hard in their present lives to ensure that they go to heaven.
Comment your own thoughts, comments and criticisms. Just keep it respectful.
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