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A conversation in religion

So, a classical evangelical pastor and a yogi walk into Bob Evans.

No, really. They did. This is not the start of a bad joke.

Pastor Mel McGinnis, of the Kiantone Congregational Church, and Sherry Albrecht, of Warren, sat down to discuss a program they’re hoping will be as fascinating and exciting for those who come as it is for them.

Albrecht said she met McGinnis at an event when he simply asked her the question, “Where are you at spiritually?”

“It was always on my mind,” Albrecht said, “but no one had ever asked me about it before.”

In fact, one of the things that both Albrecht and McGinnis share is a fascination over the subject of religion, and the continued taboo around discussing it.

“Never discuss religion or politics” is a well-known rule of social etiquette. Because people tend to feel so passionately about the subjects, they are two of the few that can divide even the closest friends and family members. Yet, Albrecht and McGinnis, though they both feel passionately about their beliefs, seem to be able to meet regularly, discuss the topic of religion exclusively, and leave feeling even stronger in their own respective faiths than when they came.

“Wouldn’t it be great,” asked McGinnis, if more people were interested and open to discussing the topic that feels so off-limits, yet engaging to he and Albrecht.

“What is your faith? Are you spiritual? Why or why not? What do you believe in? What do you not believe in?”

These are questions McGinnis said serve to test one’s beliefs, which he feels is integral to being comfortable spiritually.

And it doesn’t matter what definition a person applies to the term “spiritually,” McGinnis said. As a “classic evangelical pastor,” McGinnis said, he’s pretty secure in the fact that he’s on the right path to God. But he doesn’t deny anyone else their own belief, even if they’ve reached it from another path.

The conversations Albrecht and McGinnis are interested in having seem to transcend religion itself and explore basic philosophical questions. Do you believe in a God? How do you define that God? Is it personal or impersonal? Why do you believe in a God, or why do you not? How do you worship or not worship? Why?

And they’ve decided to invite others to their conversation.

“It’s intellectually stimulating,” said McGinnis. “I like to think. I like to make other people think.”

It’s not about changing anyone’s mind, said Albrecht. It’s not about evangelism, coming to the table with an agenda to lobby for one God over the rest. The idea, she said, is simply to create a neutral “safe” zone in which anyone, of any belief, or without a belief at all, can come and listen or share as they please. The hope, they said, is ultimately to have fun. But also to learn from one another.

“There are so many truths in each religion,” said Albrecht.

“In one sense,” said McGinnis, “I think we’ve become so earthly minded we’re no heavenly good,” rather than the other way around. Big issues like religion are often too much for people stuck in a consumer’s paradise where instant gratification is often heavily reinforced and preferred. Wrestling with questions of faith may be a luxury of mind and time that we don’t have or we may feel intimidated in our own faith when it’s questioned.

But that questioning, agree McGinnis and Albrecht, can leave the person answering for or exploring his or her belief exhilarated and even recharged, spiritually. When you’re on your own right path, they agree, that’s how conversations should leave you feeling.

“It needs to be less scary and more fun,” said Albrecht, adding that anyone interested in joining the conversation need only be open-minded, not defensive, and interested in learning about other beliefs while exploring their own. Instead of following the taboo, Albrecht and McGinnis think there may be a lot of people out there looking to join a community built around such conversations.

The “conversation” will start at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19, at the Slater Room in the Warren Public Library.

“All are welcome regardless of their religious affiliation,” the program flyer reads. “It doesn’t matter if you are confident in your beliefs or still questioning. Are you Agnostic, Atheist, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Humanist, Jewish, Muslim, New Age, a student of A Course in Miracles, Wiccan, or an ex of this or that, or just trying to figure it all out? Please come and share your thoughts (or just listen) in a relaxed atmosphere.”

For more information about the program, call Mel McGinnis at (716) 596-6610 or Sherry Albrecht at (814) 723-5872.

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