Recently ABC's Dateline rebroadcast...

Recently ABC’s Dateline rebroadcast…the Barbara Walters’ special titled Heaven: where is it and how do we get there? One blogger www.theamericanjesus.net responded with 53 things )in no particular order) he learned about heaven from Barbara Walters (she comes from no religious background). I found his commentary funny so here are a few. In italic are his comments below each lesson learned.

2. According to Melissa Etheridge, heaven is here on earth.
If that’s the case, then heaven seems a lot more like hell.

3. Most of us get out ideas about heaven from TV and the movies.
I couldn’t agree more.

4. Heaven is everything we want it to be.
Which makes sense. If you’re going to have an American Jesus, you’ve also got to have an American heaven.

7. Barbara Walters asks the same questions about heaven that a 5 year old would.
Not sure this is a bad thing necessarily. Maybe it speaks to the fact that heaven is one of our least complicated doctrines. It’s a nice place, everybody wants to go there, just give me directions and point me in the right way.

8. Muslims are promised sex, food, and silk couches in heaven.
Muslim heaven sounds pretty awesome.

21. The Dalai Lama laughed hard at Walter’s question “Are you a god?”
Good for him. I really like that guy. (In case you’re curious, he considers himself a teacher.)

24. The Dalai Lama seems like a really, really nice guy; the kind of guy I imagine Jesus being.
Go figure. Did I mention I really like this guy?

26. The Dalai Lama is emphatic that he is “just a human, nothing special”.
Be honest, you’re beginning to really like this guy too.

28. Barbara Walters has a really cool job.
Just saying.

29. Barbara Walters got a failed Muslim suicide bomber to sit down with and answer questions from a Jewish woman.
I don’t care who you are, that’s fascinating and impressive journalistic skills.

30. The 72 virgin promise for jihadists doesn’t come from the Quran, but other texts which quote Muhammad.
You learn something new everyday.

31. In Islam, 72 means countless. Also, women probably get virgins too.
Like I said, you learn something new everyday. Although I am curious about where all these virgins are coming from. Comic-Con maybe?

38. People’s heaven experiences sound suspiciously like the movies or a mitch album book.
Or is it the other way around???

42. Best question from the entire show: Why come back from near death experience?
Seriously. If Mitch Albom is right, your loved ones will be there eventually anyway. Why give up the sex, food, and silk couches?!

52. Almost 90% of Americans believe in heaven.
We like to believe in things we like.

53. Only around 60% of Americans believe in hell.
We don’t like to believe in things we don’t like.

 Where do you get your information about heaven? Media, news or the Bible which is more reliable?

In HIS Service and Yours,

The Rev