Once in a while, the topic of God comes up, at work. Usually, it's in the kitchen when people chat. I have learnt to keep quiet and listen to what they are saying about what they believe. And mainly, it's that they believe in "God" and it doesn't matter what version. This is where I get stumped. I can point out theological errors to a specific non-Orthodox "Christian" group or even Muslims, but I don't know what I can say to someone who has no theological knowledge. What can I say to get them thinking about Christian teachings?
Yesterday, the topic came up and I didn't want to get into preaching Jesus Christ as the Son of God, from the bat. I wanted to ease into a conversation about what is the truth about God. A Zoroastrian woman was telling a co-worker that she is praying for him. So, I asked, what God are you praying to? Her answer was it's all the same God. Then the man said that we are all gods to each other when we help each other. Then he told the story of the man who fell out of his boat and asked God to save him. God sent three boats which the man refused because he was waiting for God to save him and then he drowned. I let him tell the whole story and when he was done, I told him: You just told an Orthodox Christian story. He told it accurately. I didn't ask him where he heard it. But, I did add that all these other religions are more about philosophies. I was referring to non-Christian, like Hinduism and Buddhism. I don't know what he is, but his name is Vinoh, for short. I don't remember the full spelling. Probably Far Eastern. I also said that there is only one Person who is worshipped as God. He smiled and said that this would be a complicated discussion to get into. He knew who I was talking about. I dropped it at that and went back to work.
I'm looking for that bridge that can connect their disbelief with a true statement which might get them to start thinking about who God really is. And this applies also to people who came from a Christian background but generations later don't care and don't believe. They have the same vague concept of it's all the same.
