Death

Thanks to all for a great discussion last night.
Here's a link to the podcast of Stanley Hauerwas that DG mentioned last night:

Stanley Hauerwas on Theology and Death.

(For those with iTunes, click on the "Add to iTunes" link. Then open iTunes, and clink on "Podcasts" on the right toolbar, and you'll see the file. For those without iTunes, just click on "Here's the mp3 for download" - you can select the location to save the file on your computer, and then you can listen to it in whatever media player you normally use (windows media, real player, winamp, etc).)

It seemed like there was so much more to talk about, so I'd encourage all of you to continue this though provoking conversation through the blog.

And, to stimulate the conversation a little bit more, here is a classic "what-if" exercise that is used to in both medical ethics and legal theory. There are 30 people trapped in a cave that is rapidly filling with water. One of the members of the group - who is quite fat - has become stuck in the opening of the cave - which is quite narrow (and yes, I know it doesn't make sense that he could get in but not get out...so, let's thrown in a mini-rock slide that significantly narrowed the entrance). The fat man, because he is stuck at the opening of the cave, can continue to breathe freely, even if he can't move. The 29 others will drown before any rescue can arrive. One of the 29, however, has a stick of dynamite, which he could use to blast open the cave opening, allowing all to escape, except of course, the fat man, who will be killed in the explosion.
So, the question is, simply, what to do?
Alternatively, from a legal perspective, if the 29 others proceed to save their own lives by using the dynamite, are they guilty of murdering the fat man?

Here are the two passages we read last night:
Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; 3 he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name's sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff-- they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD my whole life long.

NRS 1 Corinthians 15:50 What I am saying, brothers and sisters, is this: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I will tell you a mystery! We will not all die, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When this perishable body puts on imperishability, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." 55 "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Have a great week everyone!