Today a sweet older couple knocked on my door and wanted to engage in a conversation about the Bible.
My old approach would be to smile sweetly and say "my religion wants me to not talk about my religion but to live it", and then to politely shut the door.
Being so actively involved in campaigning for Obama this past election has changed all that.
Now that I have rung countless doorbells myself, I realize that there is a mindset out there that is unintentionally bringing ruin upon America in the name of God. These are basically decent people who think they live a life so exemplary that they want me to become like them.
Live and let live is not enough, since so many faith based Republicans and conservative Democrats gumming up the works in Washington.
My new approach when encountering evangelicals at my door is to welcome the challenge.
Can I bring a closed mind to a moment of realization that truth is not literal, authoritarian, and monolithic?
The change we seek in America will happen only when we have more people see more clearly. How will that ever happen if we close the door when a person with blinders is asking for the opportunity to exchange ideas?
The discussion was wide ranging...
They said the Bible was God's word. And God is the creator so I should only take guidance from the Bible.
I said if God created everything, then isn't God also inside me, so what happens if I get really quiet and listen within...
I said, the way churches treat my gay daughter's marriage makes me wonder about their God.
When I see churches acting with the love that they talk about I would be much more interested in becoming a Christian.
The lady said I was a sweet person, and although we would never agree on religion, she enjoyed the conversation very much, and the world would be a better place if more people could agree to disagree.
I listened and they listened.
We parted as friends.
This is my new approach to dealing with closed minds. I will try to open them with warmth, respect, and affection.