Archive for August, 2013
Involuntary Conversion
The below item is part of my "Conversations" series. An atheist and a Christian on the telephone. Katelyn: Hi, Leah? This is Katelyn: Leah: Hi. How are you? Katelyn: I’m fine. I have something I need to talk to you about, though. Mallory tells me that during the sleepover last night you baptized all the […]
Animal Sacrifices
The below item is part of my "Conversations" series. A Christian and an atheist in a pet store. Gabriel: Did you hear that? One of the doves cooed! Hannah: That’s definitely adorable. Gabriel: Do you think they sell these to magicians? Hannah: I don’t know if you have to have special trained ones for that. […]
Worthless Good
The below item is part of my "Conversations" series. A Catholic and a Protestant in a workplace cafeteria. Cameron: Did you hear that Manning got hit by a drunk driver over the weekend? Dana: Yeah — that was tragic. He wasn’t even 25, was he? Cameron: I think he was 23. It doesn’t seem right, […]
Judgement Day
The below item is part of my "Conversations" series. Two young Christians after a youth-ministry sermon. Timothy: Well, that was a downer. Victoria: What do you mean a downer? That was one of her best sermons ever! Timothy: I’m not saying it was bad; I’m saying it bummed me out. Victoria: The end times is […]
Punishment Before Salvation
The below item is part of my "Conversations" series. Two Christians fishing from a quiet pier Nathan: Can I ask you something? Patrick: We’re never going to catch anything if you keep talking. Nathan: This will just take a second. Patrick: Okay, what? Nathan: I was just thinking — you read a lot more about […]
Who Are the Christians
The below item is part of my "Conversations" series. Two Christians gardening Owen: I’m getting worn out here. My knees are killing me. Patsy: How many more carrot seeds do we have? Owen: About two packets. Patsy: It won’t be much longer. Owen: After all this, I’m going to be really peeved if the rabbits […]
Ultimate Sacrifice
The below item is part of my "Conversations" series. An atheist and a Christian, at four in the morning in their college dormitory. Malik: The next one in the book is, "If you could choose to do something heroic, what would it be?" Lauren: Let’s see — if I wanted to be a hero, first […]
Eternal Bliss
The below item is part of my "Conversations" series. Two Christian teenagers up late, chatting, and doing each others’ nails. Haley: Do you want to go to Heaven? Isabella: What? Now? Haley: No — God! I’m not going to get all slumber-party-massacre on you. What I mean is, does Heaven sound good to you? Isabella: […]
Myers and ethics
Last week, blogger/scientist/atheist PZ Myers encountered a serious ethical problem. If I understand the situation correctly, a woman reported to him that she had been raped by a prominent man in the skeptical community, couldn’t get anyone to do anything about it at the time, has waited so long that the police wouldn’t be interested, […]
Mind and Soul
The below item is part of my "Conversations" series. Two Christians in a doctor’s waiting room. Daniel: I can’t even relax until we hear how Mom’s doing. Elizabeth: I know. It’s scary. She’s having so much trouble remembering things and her personality’s even changing. It’s like she’s turning into another person. Daniel: I don’t understand […]
