Easter
Morning, 2017
Immortality
or Resurrection
By Peter K Bullock, MDiv, MS
In 399 BC Socrates, the classical
philosopher and considered one of the Founders of Western Philosophy, was
executed due to his moral and ethical stance that “might does not make
right.” The form of execution was to
drink poison hemlock. While dying,
surrounded by disciples and friends, he spoke of the gradual numbing of his
legs and torso due to the poison. Those
around him were weeping and grieving and it has been said that he comforted
them, for after all, in good Hellenistic theology, he had a “soul” and it was
imperishable and immortal and that he “was going to a far better place (ie,
eternal life).
Human beings have in all cultures
had a notion of life after death. Neanderthals
buried their dead with food, weapons and favorite items to accompany them in
the life to come. Vikings believed in
Valhalla where warriors who died with weapons in hand would drink and be merry
in the great hall of Odin. Native
Americans did the same, believing one goes to The Great Mystery (eg, Happy
Hunting Ground). Muslims believe they go
to Paradise and some (the radical variety) believe if martyred they will be
greeted by 70 virgins.
Christians influenced by the same
Hellenistic philosophy of an imperishable and immortal soul believe, perhaps
due to the universal angst about mortality also believe in a Soul. Evangelicals, a relatively new name, brought
about to distance from Fundamentalists but not much has changed in their belief
system (“you can’t put new wine into old wine skins”). They, like Socrates (not Christian and dead
400 years before Jesus who was also executed for his moral and political
stance), believe in having an immortal soul.
The ancient Jews of whom Jesus
was one, did not believe in life after death, but they steadfastly believed in
a creator God who was the source of all life.
The pro life types having to do with abortion don’t seem to be pro life
when it comes to the environment (the planet is a living entity) or when it
comes to bombing brown people, or capital punishment or the use of guns. They would do well to take the scriptures
seriously – “God breathed into Adam
(Hebrew for human being) (Genesis 2:77 RSV) . . . the breath of life and he
became a living being.” We become human
(alive) when we take our first breath – as or shortly after we are born – not
before.
Comparing the death of Socrates
with the death of Jesus; Socrates was calm and comforted his followers. Jesus prayed, “remove this cup from me” and
“my God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Socrates, like many in the western world of Christianity believed he had
within him the capability to survive death (eg, immortality). Jesus, on the other hand, knew he did
not. Many Christians believe that if
they do the right thing, believe the right thing, the soul will be transported
immediately to heaven (paradise). In
other words, many believe the power to determine their fate lies within
themselves. Jesus believed he had no
such power, but was willing to trust in God, who created him in the first
place. “We are saved by Grace through
Faith, and that not of ourselves, it is a gift of God – not of ourselves, lest
any man should boast (Ephesians 2:8).
Socrates believed in the power of his Soul – Jesus trusted in the power
of God.
Postscript
A final note about mortality, about which I frequently ruminate as I
approach my 78th year. Recent
research found that the most prominent cause of human death on this planet is
not war, violence, poverty, famine or disease etc, but simply obesity. One would think that the “pro lifers” would
be deeply influenced by the need to maintain a healthy body weight.
