What Does it Mean to be Evil? Did God create disorder and chaos? What does it actually mean to be evil? And how do you tell your kids that in the Bible dragons are actually the “bad guys”? In this episode, Tim and Jon respond to your questions from the first half of the Chaos Dragon series. Thank you to our audience for your incredible questions!
What Does it Mean to be Evil?
Episode Chapters Intro
0:00 - 2:24
Did God Create Disorder?
2:25 - 2:28
"Chris from South Africa
My question is regarding the creation narrative of Genesis 1. You mentioned that creation was first in a state of disorder/"nothingness" (Gen. 1:2) and then God formed it into a state of order. My question is: Did God create disorder, and if so, why? If the clear antagonist of the story is the serpent (the chaos creature), and it's his goal to bring creation back into a state of disorder/nothingness, then why did God create the world in a state of disorder in the first place?"
2:29 - 14:58
What Is God's Relationship to the Darkness?
14:59 - 15:04
"Danielle from Kansas
If the chaos dragon is darkness, is darkness a created being or an eternal force of some kind? And if it is an eternal force of some kind, what is its relationship to God the Father?"
15:05 - 21:28
What Does It Mean to Be Evil?
21:29 - 21:40
"Andrew from Washington, D.C.
The Chaos Dragon series introduces a range of language to describe the forces of chaos and disorder. To what extent are these ways of talking about what followers of Jesus have traditionally called “evil”? Is being an agent of chaos different from being evil, and has your research into chaos creatures given you a more nuanced understanding of evil?"
21:41 - 33:40
Does God Use the Dragon for His Own Purposes?
33:41 - 33:48
"Ajaika from Washington, D.C.
In Numbers 21, God instructs Moses to place a snake on a staff and hold it above the people. If they looked upon it, they would live. Is God using snakes or the sea dragon as an agent for him, rather than as an agent of chaos?"
33:49 - 47:43
Does the Dragon Theme Give People a Way to Justify Violence?
47:44 - 47:48
"Rebecca from Kentucky
I'm concerned that this theme could lead down a dangerous path if taken out of context. By saying that individual human beings can become actual chaos dragons, you may be giving people a convenient label for their political enemies, which could be co-opted to increase hatred or even to "baptize" violence. Without getting into politics, could you address this from a biblical perspective?"
47:49 - 52:51
How Do You Tell Your Kids Dragons Are the "Bad Guys"?
52:52 - 56:33
"Colin from Vancouver
My five-year-old daughter loves dragons. Some of her favorite movies are How to Train Your Dragon and Raya and the Last Dragon. How do I break it to her that the Bible's perspective on dragons is that they are chaos monsters? What is your response to more positive receptions of dragons in other cultures around the world?"
0:00 - 2:24
Show Credits
56:34 - 58:52
Referenced Resources Interested in learning more? Check out Tim's library for a list of recommended books and other resources.
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Show Credits
“Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTS
Show produced by Cooper Peltz with Associate Producer Lindsey Ponder, Lead Editor Dan Gummel, and Editors Tyler Bailey and Frank Garza. Mixed by Tyler Bailey. Podcast annotations for the BibleProject app by Hannah Woo. Audience questions compiled by Christopher Maier.
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