The Good Place & Christianity

Jason: I am here to learn about ethnics. Chidi: Wow, that’s great, man. I mean, it's “ethics,” but that’s great. Jason: Pretty sure it’s “ethnics.” - - - Chidi: Let’s move on to this week’s main event, David Hume’s “A Treatise of Human Nature.” You read this, right? Eleanor: I did. Well, I tried to. Well, I tried to want to. (Season 1, episode 4) Continuing from part one , here are some factors Christians might take into account when deciding on an action to take. Loving God. The reason God created humans was to love and be loved by him. His people are called the bride of Christ, and he is deeply in love with us. Jesus said the most important command was to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength.” That isn’t something we strive to produce; it is a response to knowing we are loved: “we love because he first loved us.” The motive isn...

Did you know: Remembering your sister’s birthday gets you 15.02 points towards entry into the Good Place? Ruining an opera could make you lose 90.9 points? Genocide costs 433163.57 points, but ending slavery gains you 814292.09 points? Selling a camel without disclosing its illness costs 22.22 points? (Episode 1, Season 1). The premise of The Good Place is that people’s place in heaven is earned: their good and bad deeds over a lifetime are painstakingly weighed up (by immortal accountants), and a high enough total gains them a pass mark. This idea has a few different consequences: ☛ People who are aware of (or suspect the existence of) the point system can get stressed about missing out by a few points; if they do something wrong, particularly just before they die, it might be enough to tip the balance and forbid them entry to the Good Place. Having your eternal fate depend on how good you are at “being good” is very anxiety inducing. (Th...