The Inexplicable Hug
On Saturday I hugged a lady in the driveway. She was a complete stranger that had stopped to chat with me as I was working out in the yard. Well, okay…she had actually stopped to give me a pamphlet that she was evangelizing. But she was nice enough and I was fine to listen. As I have replayed the conversation in my mind, I still haven’t quite figured out why in the world I felt the urge to hug that woman. (I mean come on…the fact that I was gross/sweaty and she was nicely dressed didn’t even stop me!) Maybe a part of me saw myself in what she was doing and just instinctively assumed that she needed a hug (like I so often did!)? Maybe I got so jazzed up about the article in the pamphlet about Bulgaria that I was just wanted to hug someone because that brought back so many good memories? Maybe I’m just a freak? Seriously, who hugs the Mormon missionaries for no reason when they interrupt your life to give you something that you weren’t asking for (or at least that you don’t even yet know that you want)? No one!
But that’s not all. I actually took the pamphlet (the front page article was about abortion…an issue that I was interested in reading more about anyway) and then when she asked I said that she could come back if she really wanted. She knows I’m a Mormon so we’ll see if she actually does – but still! I’ve never been one to back down from a good discussion on religion – but then I also wonder if any good would come of this. When I was told “I’m Orthodox, go away” I always got so irritated that they didn’t even take the time to listen to know what they were bypassing. I would be upset because I couldn’t see why they didn’t get the fact that learning more about religions other that your own can only do one of two things: 1) convert you to theirs or 2) make you stronger in your own. But even if I do take the time to listen I’m sure that we’ll come to disagreements. And since at least one of the two parties will be in an evangelizing role, won’t those disagreements just bring defensiveness or awkwardness? Then what?
So here’s my question of the day: Is it even possible to have mutually beneficial inter-faith discussions? And further, if one or both of the parties involved are evangelizing, can it be done? And if so, how?
I guess that’s more than one question for the day! Good luck. I’ll expect your hand-written, 500-word responses by next Friday 
Good thing you and WE think about some important topics- I’ll just keeping posting pictures of food and flowers and scrapbook stuff
ok.. I wrote my answer, but since we already had this discussion, I want to see what everyone else has to say before I pollute the water.
OK. We’ll see if there’ll be any water to pollute =)
I say go for it. I’ve had a couple experiences having religious discussions with another person who was strongly in favor of their own Christian position. In the first one, the fellow was specifically trying to unconvert me from Mormonism and unbeknownest to him, I ended up teaching him most of the discussions through our regular discussions. We met occasionally for several months and had mostly enriching discussions. Some debates became a littled heated. In the end, it didn’t amount to anything, but I’m sure he felt the Spirit occasionally and he left me alone after a while. I think he was actually becoming converted to the LDS church, but didn’t want to admit it. He agreed to have the missionaries visit and formally take the missionary discussions, but then things dropped off. On another occasion, Carrie and I were working on sharing the gospel with a specific friend. Things were going well and she had come over for dinner and an FHE. Later she started inviting us to things at her church. Though I couldn’t confirm it, I’m pretty sure after our various interactions with her, she was trying just as hard to convert us as we were trying. Once this became apparent, we held back a little and focused more in building the friendship. Another gospel-sharing moment didn’t really come along.
To answer the question, I say go ahead and have a discussion. Let the Spirit guide, bear frequent heartfelt testimony, sharing faith-building experiences, and hope the person feels the Spirit. If so, you can likely have an enriching discussion. If things quickly lead to debate that’s most likely not going to help anyone – gracefully exit.
I think it’s possible, but haven’t tried it. Let me know how it goes… and I like what Mike said.