Faith in Film, Week 10

On Wednesday we wrap up our look at "The Stand," and our look at Stephen King with The Last Word on Heaven. Heaven is something that we yearn for and hope for, but it's also something that we get wildly divergent opinions about. That is especially true in Popular Culture.

Belinda Carlisle once mused that Heaven is a place on earth. The band Creed, who were mostly Catholic, sang about Heaven in the song "Higher," talking about it as a place with Golden Streets. On NBC, the comedy "The Good Place" has given us images of Heaven and its counter-part. Most of it is used for comedic purposes.

In "Field of Dreams," some wondered if Heaven was located in Iowa. In the Robin Williams film "What Dreams May Come" it was a beautiful, if surreal dreamscape. And in "The Invention of Lying," Ricky Gervais painted the hope for Heaven as something like the best place you could imagine, a paradise where you can be your best self.

Even Christian culture has considered Heaven. Todd Burpo, a Christian pastor, once wrote a book about his son's experience of Heaven during a near-death experience. Called "Heaven is For Real," it has drawn some mixed opinions. But it remains overwhelmingly hopeful if nothing else.

"The Stand" is an apocalyptic tale, but it really isn't interested in Heaven. It is about a showdown between good and evil, but it ends with people re-building society. And, in book form, without evil even really being defeated. That makes it a curious kind of tale for one that sinks its teeth into such profoundly religious material.

And yet, we know from Revelation, that something better awaits us. "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:3-4)

That's the hope we'll talk about Wednesday night.

Discussion Questions:
1.  What do you think of when you think of Heaven?
2. The Stand is an apocalyptic tale, but it doesn’t mirror Scripture. While good and evil face off, it isn’t a final battle. What do you think of the ending of this story?
3. How does the picture of the end times in Revelation differ from The Stand? Why is the Revelation version more hopeful?