[The Walking Dead is a popular television series in its second season in the United States. The long anticipated zombie apocalyse has happened: How, has not yet been revealed. The series follows a group of survivors who are trying to avoid becoming zombies themselves. The interest the Atheist Turtle has in the show is its exploration of the faith of the main characters. Rick is a deputy sheriff by profession. He is a straight shooter with a well developed sense of right and wrong. Glenn is a former pizza delivery boy in his early 20's. He is of asian extraction and is a blank canvass as far as faith goes. Hershel is a retired veternarian with a strong and apparently unshaken faith it God. As Rick is searching for a lost child from their group he enters a church. At the front of the church is a crucifix. Rick looks at the figure of Jesus and asks for a sign that he is doing the right thing by leading the group. Shortly afterward Rick's son Carl is accidently shot and nearly dies. They make their way to Hershel's farm where Hershel operates on Carl and saves his life.]
Maggie (a member of Hershel's family. She finds Glenn alone on the porch) I'm sorry, were you praying?
Glenn: Yeah, I guess.
Maggie: are you religious?
Glenn: No, not really. I guess I just figure that we could all use some prayer now. What about you? Do you think prayer helps?
Maggie: I have to figure that with everything that has happened, there had to have been a lot of prayers which went unaswered. But, yeah, I still pray.
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[During break in show]
Mat (sarcastically): I suppose you are going to tell me that every prayer gets answered - Yes, No, or not now.
Ary: Suppose I did say that?
Mat: That answer only satisfies the sheep. They are too stupid to question things rationally That answer is a cop-out. It's a way to justify whatever happens and leave god in control.
Ary: you realize it's just a television show don't you? It isn't real.
Mat: Neither is god.
Ary (smiles): What caused the Zombie Apocalypse?
Mat: In the show?
Ary: Yes.
Mat: We don't know. Probably a chemical weapon gone awry.
Ary: So, something humans have done.
Mat: probably.
Ary: And you think it shows that God either doesn't exist, or doesn't care that He doesn't do something in answer to prayers.
Mat: or he is not powerful enough to do anything.
Ary: How many of the prayers do you suppose were from people who don't believe in God? Should He have answered them?
Mat: Why not?
Ary: Why would He? So they can turn their back on Him again until they are in another disaster?
Mat: What about his believers; why doesn't he answer their prayers?
Ary: I can't really answer for God, but suppose I was Him, how do I decide whose prayer(s) to answer?
Mat: By answer you mean - intervene in a positive way not the yes, no or not yet?
Ary: Right. I grant their wish.
Mat (sarcastically): I guess based on merit. The best person's prayer is granted first.
Ary: There are two problems with that. First, God isn't in the wish granting business. Remember, we said they were the wishes of the individual. God has His plan for our lives and if some one is making wishes which oppose that plan He is not going to go along with it.
Mat: Even if it means being chewed on by a zombie?
Ary: Zombie, cancer, heart attack. We are going to die from something eventually. In this case we did it it was up to us.
Mat: Up to us? I didn't vote for zombies.
Ary: Actually you did. From the beginning we have been trying to replace God, to become Him - We've had three chances: Garden, Ark, and Nativity. In each case we had a chance to live life according to His plan but we rejected it.
Mat: So it's our fault?
Ary: No, it's your fault.
Mat starts to object
Ary: And my fault. Each of us individually makes the choice to honor God or not. And, by the way, God doesn't play favorites; one believer is not more worthy than another.
to be continued.
doesn't play favorites.
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