Ep 55: The Plague & The Crucified God

As a global pandemic rapidly affects the way we do normal life, I have been thinking quite a bit about the 20th-century philosophical masterpiece by existentialist philosopher and author, Albert Camus.

Long after our own plague subsides, there will be lingering questions for millions about God, meaning, & how one ought to live in this world that Camus' novel can help us explore. 

We'll discuss some of the basics of existentialist philosophy, and I'll take you through a short synopsis of the book even if you haven't read it. There is a haunting aspect to some of the parallels in this fictional story with our own real experiences in the world right now. These parallels only serve to help us give language to the deep, existential questions that emerge in unprecedented times like these. We'll explore the symbolism behind how the books central characters respond to the plague, their quarantine, and the ethical choices in front of them.

If God is dead, then can there even be heroes and villains, sinners and saints in a story? Can we create our own values and meaning without God? Is Christ secretly embedded in this "godless" story from Camus? Is Christ present in our own calamities in people and places we've overlooked?

 

If you want to support this podcast and become a member of the Deep Talks Patreon Community, go to this link:
https://www.patreon.com/deeptalkstheologypodcast

 

To Subscribe & Review on Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/deep-talks-exploring-theology-and-meaning-making/id1401730159

 

Connect with Paul Anleitner on Twitter at:
https://twitter.com/PaulAnleitner