I overheard co-workers laughing –
exchanging quips over how ridiculous they felt it was for anyone to believe the
world could be created in seven days. I don’t know what prompted their
conversation. I just remember the exchanges of how they had once fallen into
the trap churches create for people, but now they based their beliefs on
science and reasonable evidence. At that time I was figuring
out what my own views were as I read books on religious and philosophical
perspectives so I wasn't enough of a hypocrite to criticize the fun they were
making.
“It is okay with me if you believe in God, if
it helps you make sense of the world,” one of them said to me as if the purpose
of belief was to make my life easier. God needs no defense, but I didn't like
them making fun of him. So I began a conversation that lasted over a period of
years.
We made an agreement. I would read books he suggested, if he would read
books I suggested. He gave me THE GOD DELUSION by Richard Dawkins, I gave him
THE CASE OF THE CREATOR by Lee Strobel.
