Ep 2. Apocalypse

In season 1 episode 2 of The Story of God with Morgan Freeman, titled "Apocalypse," Freeman embarks on a journey to explore the various meanings and interpretations of the end of the world across different cultures and religions.

The episode begins with Freeman visiting the ancient city of Petra in Jordan, where he encounters a group of Bedouins who have been living in the desert for decades. Through his conversations with them, Freeman gains insight into the Bedouin belief that the end of the world will be preceded by a great catastrophe, which they refer to as the "hour." The Bedouins believe that the hour will be signaled by a trumpet blow, and that it will be followed by a day of judgment, where people will be separated into two groups: those who are good, and those who are not.

Freeman then travels to the city of Jerusalem, where he speaks with Rabbi Rami Levy, who explains the Jewish concept of the apocalypse. In Jewish tradition, the end of the world is seen as a time when God will intervene in human affairs and bring about justice. The apocalypse is not seen as a one-time event, but rather as an ongoing process that is happening all around us. Levy notes that the Jewish word for apocalypse, "geulah," is often translated as "redemption," suggesting that the end of the world is not something to be feared, but rather something to be looked forward to as a time of healing and renewal.

Next, Freeman travels to India to explore the Hindu concept of the apocalypse. He meets with Nandini Bhowmick, a scholar of Hinduism, who explains that in Hinduism, the end of the world is seen as a cyclical event that happens once every few billion years. This time of destruction is followed by a time of rebirth and renewal, which is seen as a natural part of the cosmic cycle of creation and destruction. Bhowmick notes that while the apocalypse is often portrayed as a destructive event in popular culture, in Hinduism, it is seen as a time of transformation, where old structures are destroyed to make way for new ones.

Finally, Freeman travels to Rome to explore the Christian concept of the apocalypse. He visits the Vatican, where he speaks with Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, who is responsible for promoting dialogue between the Catholic Church and non-believers. Ravasi explains that the Christian concept of the apocalypse is rooted in the idea of the second coming of Christ, which is a time when Jesus will return to earth to judge the living and the dead. Ravasi notes that while the apocalypse is often seen as a time of great destruction and upheaval, it is also seen as a time of hope, where evil is defeated and justice is served.

Throughout the episode, Freeman weaves together these different perspectives on the apocalypse, highlighting the similarities and differences between different cultures and religions. He emphasizes the importance of understanding different perspectives, even if we don't share them, in order to foster greater tolerance and understanding between people of different backgrounds and beliefs.