FROM exChristian.net

My Post 5

From the article:

The weekly class will focus on the Bible's historical and cultural context. Organizers have drawn up a set of ground rules designed to keep participants from proselytizing, but that doesn't mean that they want to discourage disagreement. Just the opposite.

"We've discerned that people have lost or lack the skills to engage in constructive and respectful dialogue in the context of profound disagreement," O'Gorman said. "An emphasis will be placed on dialogue among the group of small groups."

This, and A-man's posts, sound a lot like what happened at the seminary where I did my Masters in theology. While there was a majority of Lutheran students (maybe 50%) because it was a Lutheran seminary, there were a lot of other denominations, too. I understand I was not their first atheist. Though I deconverted while there, I was by no means a traditional or orthodox Christian when I started; I just needed to do a degree in something and that program was available and interesting. I loved it.

Like these meetings in Minnesota, the emphasis was on things like the cultural and historical context in which the biblical text was written--in which the characters of the Bible lived, moved, and had their being. There was no proselytizing and there was discussion in small groups for some classes. Class discussion happened in all the courses. From that article and A-man's posts here, it appears to me like the biggest difference between my seminary courses and this secular Bible Study in Minnesota is that the seminary was formal courses that could be graded and evaluated formally, while the Bible Study is more casual and conducted on whatever level the interest of participants takes it.

On William Lane Craig's forums Christians often ask why atheists are so interested in what other people believe. We point out that when wars are fought and laws are made impacting the education of our children and when health regulations are impeded because of a certain religion's beliefs, it interests us very much. They always fail to engage us on these issues. I get the feeling that this secular Bible Study has a strong and healthy atmosphere where serious issues like this can eventually be addressed, if not directly perhaps indirectly. If relationships can be improved and understanding nurtured, much has been accomplished.

I would guess the Christians involved are not fundamentalist or of a very conservative stripe. However, they seem to be interested in Bible study and serious conversation. That is encouraging--there IS dialog.