Dragon Slaying podcast Ep#70: God, Free Will & Truth – Dr. Tom Bittker with Michael Dallen

How do you make sense of a senseless loss?In this deeply personal episode of the Dragon Slaying podcast, Dr. Thomas E. Bittker shares the sudden death of a beloved colleague—killed by a drunk driver—and sits down with Michael Dallen, attorney and biblical scholar, to wrestle with the timeless question:“Why do bad things happen to good people?”From there, they move into a rich, honest conversation about grief, free will, justice, and God’s presence in a broken world.Together, they explore:The Jewish understanding of the soul, immortality, and what happens after deathHow free will and God’s laws coexist – and why tragedy doesn’t mean God is absentTurning pain into purpose: changing laws, protecting others, and “perfecting the world”America’s moral journey, from injustice to greater justice, and the role of biblical valuesHow people of different faiths – Jews, Christians, and Muslims – can all act righteouslyThe meaning of Hanukkah, Christmas, and the call to “do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God”This episode is part theology, part history, part raw processing of grief – and ultimately, an invitation to live more compassionately, consciously, and humbly in the time we’re given.If you’re grieving, questioning, or just searching for deeper meaning in this season, this conversation is for you.Books referenced:Dragon Slaying: A Primer for Heroic Self-Transformation – Dr. Thomas E. BittkerThe Rainbow Covenant – Michael Dallen#Grief #Faith #Judaism #FreeWill #Spirituality #DragonSlaying #Podcast