Saving Casper: A
Christian and an Atheist Talk about Why We Need to Change the Conversion
Conversation by Jim Henderson and Matt Casper
Many readers will quickly know the authors of this book from
their previous release Jim and Casper Go
to Church. Jim and Matt’s new book
entitled Saving Casper focuses on the way we talk about conversion in the
church and the devastating ways we have pushed away atheists and other
non-believers by our posture. Both Jim
and Matt traversed the national landscape, meeting in churches and asking hard
questions about faith, conversion, and life. The basic premise of the book and
travel is laid out here in their words, “Part of what Casper and I are trying
to achieve when we speak to a group of Christians is to help people move a
little bit on their “judgment meter.”
This capacity, while intellectually and often theologically
uncomfortable, provides a way to stay connected with people who are supposedly
our ideological enemies.” (92-93) One
lady even asked Casper how to save a church after she grew to like him in many
ways. This book is a real eye-opener in
many ways because it brings out the worst in many believers’ attitudes towards
atheists but also posits that there is a huge amount of room for connection.
Matt says at one point, “In my opinion, the church needs to
go out to the people honesty and sincerely, saying, “What can we do for you?”
What’s so hard about that? It gives the
church what they want too: an audience with the unchurched and anyone outside
their own church walls.” (119) The
aggressive, domineering, you’re going to hell attitude does not bring about
long term relationships and foster communication. I would also add that providing cultural
goods (rock band, stage lights, showy stage presence) because that’s what the
church thinks will bring people in often misses the boat too. Serving others, showing compassion are two of
the twin pillars that Matt deems high on the list of connecting believers to
atheists and furthering the conversation.
What I enjoyed also about the book is the way that Matt
talked about the relationship between the extreme anti-theists (Dawkins, etc.)
and the aggressive believers who taunted and baited Matt in his travels with
Jim. Both sets of groups use anger,
vitriol, and pejorative language to belittle the opposite side in an argument
or conversation. Matt boils it down to
certainty saying, “The problem I have with some atheists is the same problem I
have with some Christians: certainty.
You can’t unequivocally prove your beliefs, so c’mon, take it easy.”
(101) Claiming that the other side of
the debate is fully without merit or truth is a recipe for no conversation at
all to take place. Instead, realizing
that both belief systems require a certain set of assumptions and then building
conversation based upon a shared understanding is more important than
ramrodding a person. Matt is quick to
point out that making the connection with people, seeking to listen more than
fill the void, is a powerful way to gro
I would add that Matt and Jim’s understanding of how to
relate to people of different belief systems is consistent with an
understanding that people are made in God’s image. This image includes rationality, emotion, and
wisdom. Effective communication and
growth between two people naturally takes place in the respect and compassion
they yield to one another. Compassion
for others of differing views comes into being as we see people for their
special status in the way that they were made.
Thanks to Tyndale Momentum/Publishers for the copy of this
book in exchange for review.
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