HOLY HURRAH, STEPHEN COLBERT!

Dr. Philip Zimbardo, professor at Stamford University, author of The Lucifer Effect
was a guest on The Colbert Report on Monday, 11 February 2008.

In his book, The Lucifer Effect, Professor Zimbardo suggests that we have a tendency to conform, and we shouldn't conform mindlessly. We shouldn't obey authority unjustifiably. We need to use critical thinking.
Zimbardo: "We underestimate the power of social situations. We think everything comes from within us, that we are born with good or bad genes, we have good or bad personality characteristics."

Colbert: "The Garden of Eden. That's where good and evil started."

Zimbardo: Well, why did the Devil make Adam and Eve eat the apple? What was he thinking of?

Colbert (emphatically): Because he disobeyed the authority of God! He was 'non-conformist,' doing his own thing, letting it all hang out, did not want to serve the ultimate authority like you say he shouldn't, and I'm sorry the title of the book turns the argument [that ordinary people given roles of authority will act cruelly] on its head.

Zimbardo: "Lucifer is God's favorite angel."

Colbert interjects: "Until he disobeys. Go ahead-"

Zimbardo: "But why does he disobey? It's because God says, 'I have created this perfect creature, Adam; and everybody has to obey him.' Lucifer says, 'Wait a minute, he's a mortal. Mortals are corruptible; we're angels. I refuse.' And that's disobedience of authority. So the reason Lucifer, as the devil, seduced Adam is to say, 'God, I'm right and you're wrong. This guy is corruptible; he's not someone we should respect. He is an ordinary mortal.'"

Colbert: "But in that case Lucifer was right."

Zimbardo: "Lucifer was right, and God was wrong..."

Colbert: "Heyyy."

Zimbardo: "If God was into reconciliation, he would say, 'I made a mistake.' Okay?
God created hell. Paradoxically it was God who created hell as a place to put Lucifer and the fallen angels. If he had not created hell then evil would not exist. So you would not have had this..."

Colbert interrupts: "Evil exists because of the disobedience of Satan! God gave Lucifer and the angels and men free will. Satan used his free will and abused it by not obeying authority. Hell was created by Satan's disobedience to God and his purposeful removal from God's love. Which is what hell is: removing yourself from God's love. You send yourself to hell; God does not send you there."

Zimbardo: Obviously, you learned well in Sunday School.

Colbert: I teach Sunday School, you *bleep*!

~~~~~

HOLY HURRAH, Stephen Colbert!!
As a person who meets with people seeking spiritual guidance, both clergy and lay people, I stand in joyful ovation at hearing such a theologically sound and succinct explanation of evil and hell. I am greatly encouraged to know that someone out there is teaching this to children today, and (imagine!) in church! Seminarians would do well to take notes.
God must be grinning tonight.

Gratefully, listener

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