Over the course of this week I have had two moments to meet with officers from Campus Atheists, first at a cookout sponsored by my ministry, and second during my weekly time answering questions at the table.
Conversations at both events were quite cordial. Typically, discussion between religions will become emotionally involved, bitter arguments flare, etc. In the cookout case, however, both we and they kept to a level-headed discussion. In the process, I've found that for most discussion topics, talking with an atheist is quite odd because, since an atheist believes there is no God, a number of things one normally talks about with people of other religions are closed, as they have nothing to say. In those cases, the talk consisted of their asking a question about Christianity, and me or one of the other Christians answering the question. I also found out that night that the three officers also happened to be taking the same major as myself. Odds are I will see them again for that reason.
At the table, one of the officers from Campus Atheists came, and showed me a series of clips from the movie Jesus Camp. I'm a person who likes to find motivations behind actions, and in this case, I've been wondering about a number of his questions. Mainly, he asked again and again "Isn't this bad teaching/outrageous/etc.?" On one level, I had to agree with him; I did find a few examples of false teaching and potential extremism from what was shown. That being said, the claims he wanted to make, that the documentary was evidence that Christians are plotting to train an army of sorts, just didn't have a sufficient case built. Maybe that group was, but to apply the dynamics of a small group to a large population doesn't always work.
However, what I began to wonder in that second conversation was whether the movie was in fact the issue. To me, the question that had been forming in the mind of my mind (provoked by the Spirit? perhaps...), was whether the movie was a means of justification: "I can't believe something crazy like that," or "at least I'm not as bad as they are." This is a question I hope to tackle in similar situations, and perhaps with the same man in coming weeks.
1 comment:
I've found that atheists are more capable of discussion than the born again believers are. Sometimes I think we push them away by our obnoxiousness and trying to "win them for Jesus" like they are just a trophy.
Once the atheists know that they arent seen as just another feather in the ol' warbonnet, they open up.
I used to be the same way, until I realized that scripture says no one can come to the son unless the Father brings him. The greek, BTW for "brings" is to drag, as in "by force".
I like your blog, BTW
It's good to see a scientist that has an open mind, or is a Christian.
Kent
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