An Atheist Walks into a Christian Meeting about Atheism

[rug]

November 30, 2016
Kevin Davis

Last night I attended my first Lifetree Café gathering at a Lutheran church in my area. Lifetree Café is a casual café-type setting where a session leader directs discussion based on accompanying videos and pre-selected Christian topics. The topic of discussion last night was atheism — more specifically, Giving Up on God: The Rise of Atheism. I heard about the gathering when a friend forwarded a local newspaper clipping announcing the event. After doing some research on Lifetree, I decided I would attend and see what their perspective was as well as seize the opportunity to shed some light on any misconceptions that may be discussed.

Here’s my synopsis of the one-hour meeting:

I walked into a room of about 50 people (I’m guessing), a large handful of whom greeted me as soon as I walked in, offering me coffee and making me feel welcomed. I was told I could sit wherever I wanted and introduce myself. In front of me were several 4-person tables, a TV screen queued up with a video presentation, and a presenter area ready for the session leader to take the reigns. I poured my coffee and took a seat at one of the tables with 3 people already sitting at it. They graciously introduced themselves and provided me with a name tag and a pen.

Of course, the first question I was asked, as expected, was, “Do you go to this church?” I quickly said no, only to be presented with the follow-up, “What church do you go to?” I answered, “I don’t,” and could see I took my tablemates by surprise. The gentlemen who asked the question, Steven, apologized quickly, possibly not knowing how to react to that. I assured him it’s no problem. That’s not even close to offensive. I would expect that a room full of Christians would assume I’m also one and ask that very question. It’s just a request for information, not a judgment. Anyone who follows this blog knows I’ve had some really offensive things hurled my way. This was not such an occasion. I quickly told the table I was raised Catholic, was once a born-again Christian, and am now unaffiliated. (I didn’t say I was an atheist at first because I wanted to avoid having people get their defenses up right off the bat.)

On with the meeting.

http://www.peacock-panache.com/2016/11/lifetree-meeting-atheism-26370.html

[ReverendHeretic]

1. OK, you baited the hook. Now, reel us in . . . .

WHAT HAPPENED THERE? What did they discuss? What was their collective conclusion? Did Trump come up?

[rug]

2. Click the link for the whole article.

More than four paragraphs violates the copyright.

Welcome to DU!

[guillaumeb]

3. I thought at first that this was the first line of a joke.

Sorry.

But from another perspective, I like to write letters to the Editor to various local papers. On the basis of my letters, a local anti-Iraq War group contacted me and asked if I would like to attend their meetings. That was 13 years ago and we are still active.

But one day, a year or so into my belonging, the subject of faith and belief came up. One member, a declared atheist, started talking about (what he felt was) the incompatibility of progressive politics and belief. When I mentioned that I was a Christian who had also been active in the 1960's and 1970's anti-war movement some members were....surprised, to say the least.

So much for categorization on both sides.