UPDATE – June 19, 2014: ***(Spoke with a co-worker of mine yesterday, and immediately thought of this old post…)***

Had a conversation recently with a dear friend of mine about the existence of God.

To make it simple: I believe, he doesn’t.

We’ve had several (okay, more than several) conversations about God, religion, creation, etc., over the years, and we’ve thus far continued to agree to disagree. These conversations are always couched with respect, in part because we’re good friends. As an interesting side note, you should also know that we’re relatively in-sync with many of our ‘big’ beliefs, …save this one.

So when I saw the video (at the bottom of this post) a couple years back, I shared it with him. He says he tried its suggestion for 2 days, didn’t “feel” anything, and gave up. And that’s that, …so far.

Now before you get the idea that I’m trying to actively Evangelize my buddy, well, …sorta, I guess. As I see it, I’m merely questioning his beliefs and allowing him to question mine. Heck, I do this with ANY topic where we disagree. Discussion makes you sharper, and I can certainly use all the help there that I can get.

Plus, I know I’m right.

And don’t we OWE it to ourselves (AND to our friends, AND to God) to have the discussion? I certainly think so. What’s more, you may be surprised by just how many others feel the same way, …and why:

“….Penn Gillette, an avowed atheist, said much the same thing about a man who gave him a Bible after one of Penn & Teller’s performances:

“I’ve always said that I don’t respect people who don’t proselytize. I don’t respect that at all. If you believe that there is a heaven and hell and that people could be going to hell or not getting eternal life or whatever, and you think that, well, it’s not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward…

How much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?

I mean, if I believed beyond a shadow of a doubt that a truck was coming at you and you didn’t believe it, but that truck was bearing down on you, there’s a certain point where I tackle you.

And this is more important than that.”…”

My ultimate point is, as a reminder to me and for everyone else, too: relax. Chill out when someone asks you a question about one of your deeply held beliefs. It could be religious, or political, or governmental, but whatever it is, ….don’t be defensive.

Relax…., and talk about it. I’ll betcha’ everyone will learn something.

Some folks do like to insult, chide, and snipe in an effort to tear down your belief on subject “X”. I like to refer to such people as ‘creeps’.

But if it’s a friend, that’s probably not the case. And if it’s me, or someone like me, then they believe with all their heart that they’re right, and they don’t want to see you “run over by a truck”.

Enjoy the video. And if you aren’t a follower, wadda’ ya’ have to lose? C’mon, give it a shot.

Don’t make me tackle you.