Corner
Conversations
Corner
Conversations
Engaging Dialogues About God and Life
Randy Newman
Corner Conversations: Engaging Dialogues About God and Life
2006, 2011 by Randy Newman
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This book is lovingly dedicated to Pam,
my lifelong conversation partner.
Contents
Wrestling with Evil and Suffering
Researching If the Good Book Is Any Better Than the Others
A Two-Way Discussion About One Way to Heaven
A Debate About the Age-Old TopicSex
An Unusual Chat Between Two Friends
Skepticism Because of Hypocrisy, Hatred, and Evil in the Church
Pertinent Questions About Life After Death
M OST PEOPLE SKIP THE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS PAGE , but I hope you wont. No one travels a spiritual journey alone, and Im no exception. It may be that hearing about my fellow travelers will encourage you as you take your next steps.
The idea for this book was developed on a long car ride with my son Jon during the summer of 2003. Jon and I drove from Virginia to Colorado and back, spent a summer in a bachelor apartment, and enjoyed many dinners of macaroni and cheese. Jons honest questions along with his forthright critiques of superficial answers challenged me to write this series of dialogues.
My desire has been to help people find answers for themselves. Good friends listened to my ideas, offered suggestions, or read portions of my manuscript. They helped make it a better work. For their honest critiques, I am indebted to Karen Alexander, Josiah Case, Dave Fossum, Greg Ganssle, Bruce and Cathy Graves, Lin Johnson, Derrick Lovick, Anders Lundegard, David McGaw, Janet Merritt, J. P. Moreland, Tim Muehlhoff, Josh Owens, Bob Ragan, Becky Slack, Mike Summers, and J. D. Weiman.
Im especially grateful to Don Carson for his insight and help, and to Jim Weaver and all the friends at Kregel for their wisdom and expertise.
During the writing of this book, some difficult times visited my family. As a result, the topics I was addressing in Corner Conversations God, suffering, meaning in life, and so forthtook on deeper significance and urgency. During those trying days, several close friends encouraged me to keep writing despite the setbacks. Without the lifelines from Spencer and Barbara Brand, Patrick and Karey Dennis, Frank and Judy Kifer, David Case, Don Knox, and Mark Petersburg, I might have quit. Pam and I also found great support from the listening ears and heartfelt prayers of our house-church friends Paul and Sue Cowan, Corky and Georgie Eddins, Charlie and Esther Powell, and Jeff and Vicki Thornhill.
Im grateful to my parents, Marty and Rhoda Newman, for staying committed to each other for more than fifty years. You dont know what strength that gives me!
To all my family, Pam, Dan, David, and Jonthank you for loving me enough to listen to me even when I repeat myself, to laugh at my jokes even when theyre not funny, and to let me know when Im taking myself too seriously.
Jon, I hope you like this product of that great summer we had together.
W ELCOME TO T URNERVILLE . I ONLY WISH THIS town existed someplace besides in my imagination. Everything moves slowly in Turnerville. People take time to think. They discuss issues that typically get rushed or ignored. Even the leaves seem to change colors more slowly there. When city planners drew up blueprints, they strategically placed benches all over town so people would stop and chat. The mayor boasts of a higher bench-per-capita ratio than any other locale.
Dont you long for that kind of community? Dont you hunger for relaxed conversations instead of anxious fly-by messages? I do. In a day when most conversations take place through e-mail, instant messaging, or on cell phones with intermittent reception (Can you hear me now?), taking time just to listen and interact seems luxurious.
It also sounds scary. Such a level of intimacy requires vulnerability, reflection, and humility. But I say its worth the risk.
I also long for conversations with people who disagree with meconversations, not arguments. Do these still exist anywhere? When I turn on the television and catch one of those so-called talk shows, I hear something other than talk. Im assaulted by people yelling at and interrupting each other. I cringe as participants make sarcastic cracks about points their opponents really arent making. I observe simultaneous monologues instead of respectful dialogues. Such noise makes me thankful for that great technological wonderthe remote control.
Dont you sometimes wish you could express doubts without someone jumping down your throat? Wouldnt it be helpful to have friends who correct you (gently!) when you say something foolish, but also let you formulate thoughts without condemning you? Wouldnt it be nice to speculate and then, once youve heard something come out of your mouth, have the freedom to say, Oh, wait a minute. I dont really believe that? And wouldnt it be great to have people listen to your uncertainty and just say, Oh, thats okay?
People in Turnerville give each other that kind of liberty. I dream that such conversations will become more the normfor real and not just in my imagination. And in what area do we need this kind of freedom and respect more than in religion and spirituality? We live in a more pluralistic and diverse age than ever but we sound more intolerant and fearful than ever.
In the midst of this tense atmosphere, Corner Conversations addresses difficult and complex topics:
Can we really know God?
Why does God allow evil and suffering?
Arent all religions basically the same?
Should we believe the Bible?
Whose morality is best?
Why are there so many hypocrites among believers?
Is there life after death?
How often are subjects like these addressed in healthy, robust exchanges? How common are the commodities of careful listening and reflection? Its my hope that we can change a disturbing pattern and promote respect without compromise, convictions without arrogance, and listening without patronizing.
Before you start eavesdropping on the residents of Turnerville, let me explain a few things.
