Today i met a chinese born in mexico at the language computing center. We started to chat about anime first, then on our respective background, then on Mexican idioms, then our conversation veered into religion. He saw me reading my BIAY of the day, and asked me if i were christian. Upon my affirmation, i caught his disdainful glare.
The next 20 mins or so I found myself half listening to his spiels about how fake, how unreal... how pointless was going to church. He described church as composed of two types of people: the hypocritical sunday christian and the self-righteous christian living in a bubble. He emphasized that life is about being happy, about finding out what you want to do by trying things. He also criticized that self-righteous people are rly hard to communicate for their narrowness. what about himself? I tried to hear him out without being too defensive, without interrupting him before he finishes his arguments. But he wouldn't let me finish or just shrug off whatever i said. Bah, perhaps i did the same thing. I just didn't notice.. I guess when two people have differences in their fundamental beliefs it will be difficult to talk.
Then, what's need in order to talk?
Is it really so hard to communicate?
5 comments:
Sofia, you should know that there are three taboo topics to talk about when you first meet someone: Sex, Politics, and Religion.
If you don't know the person that well, it would be better to not bring up any of the topics.
Keep talking, because people will hear and maybe become more open to it?
Word verification: balipsi
hmm...that's true. It makes me think of blind-spots...We all have blind-spots. Finding out what they are...is the hardest part.
LOL david that was your semi-awkward spiel when you came over for dinner a couple eons ago. and yes i completely agree.
it is hard to really connect with someone when there's differences in fundamental values. that's why it was maybe a good thing that you got it out in the open right away.
y'all are lame. why don't you just disable the word verification thingy, i really doubt you're going to get comments from spambots. btw, my word verification: lenersop
Awww poor Sophia you got attacked. You were right to be patient with him and try to hear him out. But after he finishes his rant you should try saying: "Well I agree that there are Christians like the ones you just described, but there are Christians who aren't like that. Would you like to see them?" And then invite them to our church. If he declines then retort: "Well, if you don't go and at least see, then wouldn't you be as ignorant and narrow-minded as the Christians you just described?" And you should say this with good humor. Its not your job to defend yourself or even God for that matter. But really pray that God would open his heart so that he would be at least open-minded. Hope you see him again some day.
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