Tuesday, February 07 2012: remains in unbelief
This afternoon Shannon's uncle died from a severe case of pneumonia. We received a number of emails from Shannon's mother this morning because her brother, Philip, went into the hospital suddenly when his health rapidly worsened. Everyone was apparently aware that the situation was pretty grave. She reports, "He’s been in good spirits whenever I’ve called him, although very tired, but he remains in unbelief and my heart is very heavy."
Uncle Philip, at one time, was a divinity student and obtained his Bachelor's degree from a Bible college somewhere in the Midwest (no, not that one). The reports, as I understand it, are that he stopped being a Christian after his youngest son died, if it is to be believed, it sounds to me like the problem of evil snatched another skeptic from the jaws of belief. My mother-in-law thinks that Noah stuffed the entire world's biodiversity onto a leaky boat for 40 days, so it's not clear what constitutes "unbelief" by her definition, however, while only knowing Uncle Philip casually, I feel a certain obligation to attend his funeral as a fellow unbeliever. See, there are atheists in foxholes.
This, of course, is idiocy. I cannot make a show of solidarity with a piece of embalmed meat even if it did used to be a person. More importantly, Uncle Philip isn't a cause. It's crass to define him as "the one that wasn't a believer anymore". I am reminded yet again that I have no idea how to respond, what to feel, or what to think when faced with death. It is completely perplexing to me and no response is appropriate.
Uncle Philip, at one time, was a divinity student and obtained his Bachelor's degree from a Bible college somewhere in the Midwest (no, not that one). The reports, as I understand it, are that he stopped being a Christian after his youngest son died, if it is to be believed, it sounds to me like the problem of evil snatched another skeptic from the jaws of belief. My mother-in-law thinks that Noah stuffed the entire world's biodiversity onto a leaky boat for 40 days, so it's not clear what constitutes "unbelief" by her definition, however, while only knowing Uncle Philip casually, I feel a certain obligation to attend his funeral as a fellow unbeliever. See, there are atheists in foxholes.
This, of course, is idiocy. I cannot make a show of solidarity with a piece of embalmed meat even if it did used to be a person. More importantly, Uncle Philip isn't a cause. It's crass to define him as "the one that wasn't a believer anymore". I am reminded yet again that I have no idea how to respond, what to feel, or what to think when faced with death. It is completely perplexing to me and no response is appropriate.
