The play’s popularity at regional theatres is understandable. Set somewhere in America, it’s the story of a blossoming mega-church that has just paid off its debts, thanks to its expanding congregation’s dedicated tithing. To mark this new era, the pastor, Paul, announces he believes God has told him there is no hell. When his associate pastor, Joshua, challenges him in front of the congregation, a schism begins—people who initially side with Paul leave as weeks pass. Doctrinal difficulties, suspicions that Paul manipulated them for money, and broken friendships drive many church members away. Paul loses nearly everything.
1 comment:
I found this article to be very interesting, I hardly see stories of religion having quarrel and tension with itself, it is usually very outsiders vs religious community type thing. I also find myself to be very emotional while reading. I am Christian myself, and for personal reason, I have beliefs that differ vary much from people of my previous Church community. And I remember struggling with my own identity and the identity that others in the community saw me, and how frustrated and scared I was to not be able to voice my opinion of beliefs, knowing that the minute I do, I would be persecuted, and seeing the people that I loved turn against me. During the struggle, I don’t really think I questioned in the existence in “God”, but rather what he stood for me and the rest of the world. Reading this line: “ Paul trails off because he has come to an unnerving loop: “God gave me the feeling that tells me God is there” resonated with the most,, because that is ultimately the conclusion I came to: God is everyone, in everything, is everything, but most of all, God is love, and so as I see it, since God is everywhere, love, or at least the potential of it, is there as well.
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