Quirky Theology

The venerable CBC radio science show, Quirks and Quarks, is nearly always worth a listen on Saturdays. It is aptly named because earnest and sometimes quirky guests are interviewed about science subjects which can be mind-blowing or mind-numbing, at least to me. I often don't have a clue what these scientific nerds/geniuses are describing, but that's okay. The show pushes me to ponder what is going on in the essential realms of physics and biology and astronomy and engineering.

Yesterday we heard from a couple of experts on nuclear weapons and they're effects. One speculated that one of the missiles developed by the mad-scientist team of Kim Jong Ill-in-the-Mind of North Korea may already be capable of reaching major American cities, which means Canadian cities as well. Canada is perceived as a benign nation by North Korea, but that doesn't mean that these guys can shoot straight. It wouldn't matter anyway. Another expert advised that if we got into even a modest nuclear pissing match the effects would be so catastrophic that we would all freeze or starve to death.



Chilling. As I listened it occurred to me that we are a wildly destructive species with no real will to curb our violent ways. We can speculate whether the Hermit Kingdom has developed a hydrogen bomb capable of striking the US, and whether the wing-nut in charge would use it. But folks, there is a sizeable nuclear club of eight and the United States and the Russian Federation have developed about 125,000 warheads through the years, although that number has diminished dramatically through treaties. Canada is one of the nations that has the technological skill to develop nuclear weapons but has chosen not to do so. The Americans told us this week that they wouldn't defend us if we were attacked by North Korea, which may or may not be true.

We don't like using the language of sin much anymore, because we got tired of sin being defined as individual moral failings, most of them associated with sexuality. I'm inclined to say that there is a lot that is immoral in our individual lives, but perhaps we've focused on the "motes" rather than the "logs," to use Jesus' imagery. The fact that we have expended so much scientific prowess and financial resources to figure out how to destroy every living thing on the planet a gajillion times over tells me that we are a sinful bunch.

So, this isn't just about science or politics or both. This is a deeply moral issue and it's important for us to keep up the God talk. I'm certain Jesus is agin nuclear weapons and wants us to repent of our warring ways. Those who live by the H-bomb die by the H-bomb Jesus said in the Garden of Gethsemane, or words to that effect. I better keep listening to Quirks and Quarks and offering the occasional quirky theological perspective.