I had a pretty bizarre conversation with one of the fellow FSD interns here this past week. I was reading a book called Irresistible Revolution, which I have read once, but brought it with me to Uganda because I figured it’d be good to re-read it here in this context. (I would highly recommend this book to everyone … it will challenge you, but it’s legit.) A brief and insufficient summary of the book is that it challenges the typical evangelical Christian lifestyle in America that so easily finds comfort rather than finds Jesus. The author challenges us to read the Scriptures and actually follow them, to actually follow Jesus, rather than following the ways of the “Christian lifestyle,” whatever that means.
Anyways, so I was reading this book, and this intern asked me what I was reading. So I started to explain it to her, and since the book brings up issues of poverty, war, peace, and love, the conversation naturally went in that direction. I knew that she was not a Christian, so I approached the conversation carefully, and I was interested to know what her views were. But we came to a point in the conversation that really threw me off.
She had said – in not exactly these words – that there was no God. So I asked her if she was an atheist. She said no. I explained to her what my beliefs were about the world as it is today, the Creator behind all of it, the story of redemption through Jesus Christ, and what it looks like to live a life that follows the Savior. And then I asked her to tell me what she believes. And it’s not that she didn’t have an answer. It’s that her answer was so bizarre: “That question’s not relevant to me.” What?!? Tell me what you think about the world. Tell me what you think about our purpose in life. Tell me what you think about all these people – not just Christians – but the majority of the world’s population that believes in some form of a god. “No. I don’t accept the question. It’s not relevant to me.” Again … what?!?
This girl studied philosophy in college, so she started quoting different philosophers to me about the question of truth, which I brought up. There are truths in the world, but I believe there is the Truth, that reigns above all things. So she started arguing that there is no over-arching truth, and that truth for one person may not be true for someone else. So I asked if she was a post-modern thinker. “No, not really.” So I can’t really put her in a box, per se. If you can, good luck (and please tell me where she falls. Thanks).
I’ve met many people that had a range of beliefs (or not) about God. There are people that believe another religion, which makes sense. There are people that maybe believe in Christianity, but they’re not really living it out (I like to call these people “lukewarm Christians” … and yes, I used to be one). There are people that flat-out believe there is no God. And there are people that don’t really know what they believe. Maybe their parents weren’t “religious,” so they’re not “religious.” Or maybe they’re disgruntled towards the church for one reason or another. (And by no means is this list of people exhaustive. It’s just a brief summary of the types of people I know).
But to have someone say that the question of faith and whether there is a God or not is “not relevant” to them … I have not encountered that before. I realize not everyone reading this blog is a Christian, but I’m guessing those of you that are not would at least acknowledge that there is maybe a God, you just might not know much about Him, or you’re just not interested. But to have the whole conversation about “God” deemed “irrelevant” really threw me off.
Thoughts? Reactions? Wisdom or advice? Thanks.
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That's pretty crazy dude. Her response seems surprisingly complacent. What questions are relevant to her? Perhaps we are seeing in her a new trend. As more adults raise their children in overtly atheist settings, the question of G-d will become unnecessary to day-to-day life. Where will we find meaning after this? I do not know. Hopefully, the question will become relevant again. Very interesting discussion Scott. Peace!
ReplyDeleteScott,
ReplyDeleteMy best guess is that this is a defense mechanism. By claiming all truth as relative, she can ignore the whole conversation and not have to engage questions of God, morality, ultimate Truth, etc. I have seen this before. It's almost a neo-post-modernism. The refusal to label it is an intentional act of separation - a rejection of the conversation. It's an "easy out."
The flaw in this position, as I see it, is that many of the people who espouse it still live their lives as if there was truth or as if morality mattered. In this case, I would be inclined to ask this young woman why she thinks economic development in poor countries is important? What value system is she using to justify her actions and what is it based on? Science? Humanism? Something else? and if the work is not important, why is she there?
Just my $.02. Sounds like she really is trying hard to reject any notion of God. I'd say she is a likely candidate for conversion. The harder they resist, the harder they fall. :-)
Mark