This blog is mostly about my walk with God, my journey toward a deeper relationship with Him. Today, I’m pausing to spend a few moments on a soapbox.

According to the most recent Harris Poll, only 26 percent of Americans think they will have bodies in Heaven. I ask you, what in the world does that have to do with anything? I mean, really, is it important or relevant whether we have bodies in Heaven or whether the majority of us believe we’ll have bodies in Heaven? This was just one of several things in a recent Newsweek article that rubbed me the wrong way. Here’s the link. So read it and tell me what you think. 

http://www.newsweek.com/id/235418?GT1=43002

Evidently, Newsweek staffer Lisa Miller has a new book out called Heaven: Our Enduring Fascination With the Afterlife. In her article, which promoted her book (different issue for another day), Miller also quotes research showing that the number of Americans who believe in the resurrection is down 10 points to 70 percent, while those who believe in reincarnation is on the rise at 30 percent.  She states that 21 percent of Christians believe in reincarnation.  

Miller also says, “Resurrection may be unbelievable, but belief in a traditional heaven requires it.”

Really? Resurrection is unbelievable. But Heaven is totally explainable and rational and as easy to prove as saying the sky is blue? Resurrection. Reincarnation. Heaven. Any belief you have in a higher being. You can’t prove ANY of it. None of it is “believable” in terms of the reality we all live in day-to-day. Later in her article, Miller discounts those who fall back on the “intellectual flabbiness” of the “theological cop-out” that says “We cannot know what God has in store for us.” If we could solve for Heaven and the afterlife with a mathematical equation or a scientific explanation, we wouldn’t need faith, now would we? I’m not sure why people feel the need to assault specific elements of the Christian story when the entire point of any religion is faith. Not empirical knowledge or undisputed fact.

Hard to say why this wound me so tightly, but I must say that I got fired up after reading this article.  Given this reaction, you probably think I’m going to ask you not to buy this book. On the contrary. I’ll likely buy it myself. I’m curious to more deeply understand where she’s coming from and exactly what view she’s promoting. I could be jumping to conclusions. Not likely, based on the article. But possible. 

So, anyway, the number of Americans who truly believe is on the decline. That much seems to be a mathematical certainty based on the research. It wouldn’t hurt for us to stop and ask why. I think it is very important as Christians to delve into the cause and effect there. Meanwhile, I have no interest or curiosity around the whole body in Heaven thing. And I have no patience for people who want to propose that the resurrection is unbelievable. If you want to challenge something, step up and challenge the idea of God Himself. Take that one on. Because if it’s no great stretch to believe in a Higher Being who created the world from scratch, how is it so “unbelievable” that He could send his Son to earth and raise Him from the dead? As for not knowing what God has for us. Yes, this is true. TRUE. Not flabby logic or a cop out. And as Christians, it is a fact we have to embrace and accept. We don’t know exactly what lies ahead. But once again, if we did, faith would not be the necessity that it is.

So there you go. Soapbox over and out. Back to the journey. And in case I don’t post again between now and then…Happy Easter to all!