Original to me, for once:
Most people have the same religion (or lack of religion) as their parents. That something this large in the life of an individual should even appear to be so much up to chance invites the question: what would you be like if you changed that one variable? And how would you interact if you met?If I were a Christian:
- I would play Christian rock. (But possibly good Christian rock, if my church were liberal enough to give me my Joni Mitchell et al.)
- I would go on missions to third-world countries and donate generously to charity.
- I would play by the rules with a passion, and deplore the hypocrisy I see in others, also with a passion. (Probably to excess on both counts - I would still cross at the crosswalk were I the last person on earth.)
- I would debate theology for fun - possibly even go to seminary.
- The Man Who Was Thursday would still drive me nuts.
If real-me met Christian-me:
- We'd get in long arguments about the justifications of belief and foundations of morality.
- We'd exchange mixtape-CDs. I would be very nervous about putting anything anti-religion or anti-Christianity on them.
- He'd badger me to take up playing the piano again. I would promise, and then forget.
- He would be appalled that I could lose my Eagle Scout for being an atheist.
God bless, as he would say, and wind to thy wings, as I would reply.
