Y: The Last Man (coming soon to a streaming device near you) is the fictional story of what happens after the men on Earth mysteriously drop dead all at the same moment. Chaos ensues. Planes fall from the sky. Vehicles careen out of control. Governments collapse all across the globe.
But, not every plane; some were piloted by women. Not every vehicle; many were being driven by women at that moment. In the United States, our succession plan quickly moves women into the leadership jobs no longer filled by men. For the first time, we have a woman President. In short order, the women take over … well, everything.
The book is a tour de force of “what if” storytelling. As author Brian K. Vaughn explores this brave new world, there are mysteries to solve. What caused all the men to die? How will life change? In what ways will life go on as before? And, what about that persistent rumor that one man survived?
Day to day living does go on, of course. Across the globe, governments form and reform. The U.S. Congress is still a contentious place filled with people of differing political views. Right wing extremist groups are taken over by right wing extremist women. Cultures and political views are not limited to people with Y chromosomes.
And therein lies the problem.
The author makes us readers stumble in Y: The Last Man when he addresses religion. His mistake? The Christian church just stops when all the men die.
It’s a jarring moment.
Clearly, he thinks women are only Christians because men force them. How anyone could see our world as it is and then reach that conclusion is a puzzle. Far more women are Christians than men. Many Christian churches have women in their leadership roles, including Pastors, Priests, Bishops, Elders, and Deacons.
This week’s passage from Esther has me thinking about the many women of God in the Bible: Ruth, Esther, Deborah, Mary, Mary Magdalene, Lydia, Priscilla, to list a few. These women led nations, established Christian congregations; we’re prophets, evangelists, apostles, and deacons. What connects them is this: each chose to cast her lot with God … and not because any man forced her to.
The women who love God have done, and continue to do, amazing things in this world. As long as humans walk the Earth, women will continue to worship God … whether men are there or not.
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GRAPHIC CREDIT (Before there was the new TV series, Y: The Last Man was a massive, award-winning, 60-issue graphic novel. Here is a brief article about the story.):
Often overlooked in apocalyptic stories as ideal transportation, bicycles are an ideal transport and are, literally, everywhere: https://smile.amazon.com/Zombie-Survival-Guide-Complete-Protection-ebook/dp/B000FBJAOG/ref=sr_1_1?crid=32PLCQBT1252U&dchild=1&keywords=the+zombie+survival+guide+by+max+brooks&qid=1632680888&sprefix=The+zombie+%2Caps%2C209&sr=8-1
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Join us at 8:00 Friday morning for DaySpring’s Lectionary Breakfast. We meet on Zoom** and in person at Our Breakfast Place. It’s a fun hour of scripture, discussion, and, of course, laughter.
Blessings,
Steve
Contact me for the Zoom link
NOTE: Zoom allows you to mute the camera if you don’t wish to be seen and to mute the microphone if you don’t wish to speak.
SCRIPTURES FOR SUNDAY & THE COMING WEEK
Find them here:
Print them here:
Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22
Psalm 124
Numbers 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29
Psalm 19:7-14
James 5:13-20
Mark 9:38-50
"The Last Man" is a novel by Mary Shelley, published in 1826. It is a post-apocalyptic story set in the late 21st century and deals with the themes of death, loss, and the end of civilization.
ReplyDeleteAs for the "end of Christianity," it is a complex and subjective topic, and different individuals and groups may have different interpretations and beliefs about it. Christianity has evolved over the centuries and has faced challenges throughout its history, but it continues to be a major world religion with millions of followers. Whether or not it will eventually come to an end is a matter of speculation and can only be determined by future events.
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Steve orr's reflection on 'the last man & the end of christianity' is a thought-provoking and timely analysis. His insights on the intersection of faith and societal trends are both convicting and enlightening. As someone who's passionate about spreading the gospel, I appreciate how steve's work challenges me to rethink evangelism in a post-modern world. On a tangential note, I've been impressed by the online platforms that facilitate discussions around faith-based topics - notably, a friend's ministry recently partnered with a team specializing in custom flutter app development services to create an intuitive online store for christian resources. It's heartening to see technology being leveraged to amplify the message of hope and redemption. Thank you, steve, for your thoughtful reflections!
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