It’s not easy navigating spiritual conversations these days. I get it. Virtually every aspect of the Christian worldview is on the cultural chopping block. Speak up for God’s truth, and you’re a target.
That’s why we encourage a tactical approach at STR. The safest way to navigate tough situations is to maneuver with questions. When you begin as a student of others’ beliefs, you’re not preaching yours. It makes for friendlier conversations. Plus, you don’t have to defend your own view; it’s not on the table.
But how do you get experience interacting with others in a relatively safe way? And which questions will help you get started? I frequently encounter this concern when giving Tactics seminars, so I’ve assembled a series of questions you can use as a survey as part of a group exercise to “practice” yet still be actively engaging others. It can also be adapted for individual conversations.
If you’re going out in pairs as part of a group, introduce yourself and say, “We’re taking a survey for a class, trying to learn more about people’s spiritual views. Do you have a few minutes to answer some questions for us?”
The hinge pin to this exercise is a person’s answer to the one question that governs the answer to almost every other important question in life: Does God exist? Here is the list of questions, keyed to their response to the God question:
- Do you believe in God?
Yes
- What kind of God do you believe in?
- Why do you believe in God?
- Do you identify with any organized religious group?
- Do you think your religious beliefs are true—i.e., factually accurate such that if others disagree, then they’re mistaken?
- Do you think that morality—what’s good and bad—is fixed and objective, or is it just a matter of opinion, and people with completely different moral views can be equally right at the same time?
- Do you think it’s possible to know the truth about God or religion, or is that just a guess or a leap of faith?
- What do you think happens when you die? Why do you think that?
No
- Why don’t you believe in God?
- Who do you think Jesus is? What are your reasons for that?
- Do you think that the material, physical world is all there is, or do you believe in immaterial, non-physical things? Why, in either case?
- Do you think that morality—what’s good and bad—is fixed and objective, or is it just a matter of opinion, and people with completely different moral views can be equally right at the same time?
- Do you think it’s possible to actually know the truth about God or religion, or is that just a guess or a leap of faith?
- What do you think happens when you die? Why do you think that?
Remember, even though you’re actively engaging with questions, approach this effort as a learning exercise. Don’t worry about “witnessing.” You’re just gathering information in a safe, amicable way. You’re not in harvest mode. You’re gardening.
Can you still make a difference just using questions? Absolutely. It happens all the time. Here’s why. When you ask others specific questions about their own convictions, they’re forced to think carefully about what they believe—maybe for the first time. Often, the self-reflection your friendly queries kindle is the first step to a changed mind.
If you’re talking with a stranger, be sure to get their name, then use it frequently in a friendly way throughout your chat with them. Also, make your questions conversational. This isn’t an inquisition. You genuinely want to understand their views and their reasons for them.
Here’s my prediction. If you begin engaging people with questions like these, alone or as part of a group exercise, you’re going to discover that navigating spiritual conversations—even with hostile people—is not as difficult as you thought.