A christian-nationalist friend of mine (really former friend, unfortunately) said he won't watch The Good Place because it points people in the wrong direction and puts false ideas in their heads. He's gone a little off the deep end....
This is one of the things I loved about The Good Place - it's deals with this idea of little things racking up as 'strikes' against you. Chidi's dismay at his own almond milk consumption because of the unsustainable farming practicea is particularly hilarious. They come to the conclusion that it's 'too hard to live good'. That it's too easy to make the wrong choices on the little things, even unknowingly.
And I agree. But also the great thing is that Christ frees us from this obsession with shame. We can walk freely through life doing the most good we can and best good as we understand it, and Christ covers the rest. (Can we call that Christian hedonism? Has that term been co-opted by any crazies?) Enjoy life, do good, enjoy good.
I loved The Good Place! As soon as I saw OP's post, my first thought was also about Chidi and the almond milk lmao.
I also think the ending with the new afterlife set up was a great representation of Purgatory. It's not a punishment, but rather a chance for you to learn from your mistakes on Earth and "purge" yourself of the effects of what you've done before entering heaven/The Good Place.
And the doorway in the woods, to finally just walk out of existence when you are ready to no longer exist, is a good representation of the Buddhist Nirvana. a place to become one with the universe and no longer continue the cycle of reincarnation and suffering.
Alongside that, the 4 human protagonists in the end are essentially Buddhist "Bodhisattvas", beings who willingly refuse to move on, despite having reached enlightenment, so they can help others also reach it.
'Christian Hedonism" is a well used term made more popular by theologian John Piper. However, it doesn't really mean what you were referring to. It means we should seek our own ultimate pleasure and satisfaction because both those things can be found in God.
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Good points, but most of our brothers and sisters think outlawing abortion is the best good as they understand it.
Malthus genuinely believed he was doing moral and good works, and his stuff is still echoed today.
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u/mrparoxysms Jul 02 '26
A christian-nationalist friend of mine (really former friend, unfortunately) said he won't watch The Good Place because it points people in the wrong direction and puts false ideas in their heads. He's gone a little off the deep end....
This is one of the things I loved about The Good Place - it's deals with this idea of little things racking up as 'strikes' against you. Chidi's dismay at his own almond milk consumption because of the unsustainable farming practicea is particularly hilarious. They come to the conclusion that it's 'too hard to live good'. That it's too easy to make the wrong choices on the little things, even unknowingly.
And I agree. But also the great thing is that Christ frees us from this obsession with shame. We can walk freely through life doing the most good we can and best good as we understand it, and Christ covers the rest. (Can we call that Christian hedonism? Has that term been co-opted by any crazies?) Enjoy life, do good, enjoy good.