An Atheist, an Agnostic, and Six Baptists Walk into a Bar…
Here’s a new joke for you: An atheist, an agnostic, and six Baptists walk into a bar. Or, not a bar, really; it’s a living room. There’s tea and cookies. And then… well, and then, they have a civil conversation about life, God and the cosmos. They disagree, but they don’t fight. (Even amongst the disagreeing Baptists! :)). And then — big punchline — they walk out as friends.
I’ve had the privilege of being part of a group called Explore God, the sole purpose of which is conversation among people of different beliefs. We’re not there to debate or proselytize; we’re not there to show one another the error of each others’ ways; we are there to explore the concepts of God and meaning and Christianity through calm, friendly discussion. We are there, in short, to have a conversation.
Early on, there was a bit of worry among some of the Baptists. Is it enough simply to have a conversation? Shouldn’t we be actively evangelizing? But as we continue our discussions, it has become increasingly apparent that the conversation itself matters.
The conversation matters because in the conversation, we learn to see one another as people instead of stereotypes.
In the conversation, we can try on other perspectives for an evening, exploring and testing them for ourselves.
In the conversation, we learn to understand and even respect other positions on big issues.
In the conversation, we can ask questions without needing all the answers.
In the conversation, we can discover what unites rather than what divides.
In the conversation, we can join the great conversation that has been going on for millennia.
In the conversation,we can transcend political and religious labels.
In the conversation, we can start to build the framework for a productive pluralist society, in which people of different cultures and beliefs can work together for the common good.
And you, Thinking Through Christianity reader, are part of the conversation as well. I hope our time together on this little corner of the web is kind, productive, and respectful so that we can continue to explore the mysteries of life, God, and the cosmos without becoming the punchline of a joke. Here at TTC, we want to create a world in which people of differing beliefs really can go out for a drink together and walk away as friends. Thank you for joining us in the conversation.
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About The Author
Dr. Christine Hand Jones
Christine Hand Jones is a singer-songwriter, a college English professor, and the Director of Music Ministry at Highland Baptist Church. She has a PhD in Literary Studies from the University of Texas at Dallas, which she earned, in large measure, by listening to the collected works of Bob Dylan and writing about what she heard. When she's not playing music or fascinating her students with stunning lectures over comma splices, Christine can be found drinking coffee, playing devoted cat mom to Desmond and Molly, and roaming the shelves of Half-Price Books.
Propaganda. I see that the athiest and the antagonist wasn’t mentioned having fears of this working. Everyone expects the Christian to change and in the name of love accept everyone for who they are. God doesn’t change. His word doesn’t change. He loves all, after all, He created all. But that doesn’t mean we have to tolerate the sin and accept it if it goes against God’s word….that doesn’t change just because the times have. So this story looses validity when it singles out the Baptists as worried and that they should relax in conversation, because in conversation we can blah, blah, blah. This is no more the truth than any other attacks seen in blogs, news, and the like.
As it happens, I wouldn’t know if the atheists had any fears, going in, because I wasn’t friends with them beforehand. I really can only speak from my perspective. Talking to someone and trying to understand their point of view is in no way the same as “tolerating sin” or trying to change God’s word. And it’s just as important for Atheists to have a civil conversation with the Baptists as it is for the Baptists to have a civil conversation with the Atheists. All that stuff about the importance of conversation was meant for both sides, as I’ve seen people of many different religious beliefs (or lack thereof) behave badly in public discourse. If it sounded like it was aimed solely at Christians, I do apologize, although now that you mention it, it should be the duty of Christians to set a Christ-like example of love, civility, and kindness when having discussions with anyone.
I met my plumber Jim 10 years ago. He stated he believed in Startrek theology. That is aliens placed us here billions of years ago. Without getting into the particulars of that original conversation lets just say while not agreeing, we began a dialogue… A ten year dialogue. A couple of years ago jim came to fix my sink. While at working his phone rang… It was his domestic partner- she had just had a seizure. I asked if I could pray for her… He paused and said, sure! So I prayed. He thanked me. One week later he called and left a message: “Brad, I have a friend named Bob who just had a stroke… Can you do what you do and send a message to the guy upstairs for him please?” Jim didn’t even know how to use the word prayer. I called back and said I would and ask if I could get some of my friends praying for Bob as well. He said sure. Two weeks later I bumped into Jim at a local grocery store. I asked him how Bob was doing. He looked at me and said, “Brad, when I first met you I thought you were full of crap! But now I’m starting to believe this sh__! A year later Jim traveled with me to my cabin up in Washington state to replumb it. During a quick trip to the hardware store Jim pipes up out of the blue, “So Brad, What’s Easter all about?” 10 years later I invited Jim to one of our Christmas Eve services. He came. Last week I prayed with him again after he shared some real hard life issues with me. Then he paused and said, “Brad, when I first met you I believed in the Spock Vulcan sign” and showed me with a V hand gesture. The. He put that hand down folded in his other hand and said, “but now I believe in this!”
I love Jim and I believe he loves me. I kind of think the process is often more important than getting a profession. But often it just takes time!
Thanks for that story, Brad! It’s such a great example of how God can use ordinary interactions to bring change to people’s lives over time.