How do I discuss the problems of our Taker culture with bible-beaters? They seem threatened by Ishmael and B’s point of view, and accuse me of questioning God. They say the future is in God’s hands and we don’t have to worry about it.

People who are satisfied with the answers they have are not open to new ones—and the more satisfied they are, the less open they are. The bible-beaters you speak of are as close to being absolutely satisfied as anyone in our culture (and therefore the least open).

To put it bluntly, you’re wasting your time trying to make converts of them. (Statistically speaking, they’re more likely to make a convert of you!) All my success (all of it) has been with people who are less than completely satisfied with the answers they have. Never once have I “converted” (or heard of anyone else converting) the sort of person you’re talking about—and I wouldn’t devote even one minute to the task. There are plenty of others out there who are ready to listen to something new. Why spend time on the relatively few who aren’t?

ID: 422
posted: 08 Jul 1999
updated: 08 Jul 1999