Ever run into an angry athiest?

I did at a New Year’s party. Interesting lady: an artist, a thinker, and a host to what became for me an interesting party. We got talking about my soon-to-be-published book, The Monkey Bible, and I mentioned that I was trying through the book to build bridges between scientific and religious communities.

Suddenly, things got interesting.

She wanted to know why I was reaching out to religious people. She was angry. She rolled her eyes. She seemed ready to spit. She thought my strategy was patronizing.

I winced. Going public with The Monkey Bible project would surely attract heat from those not thrilled about the bedrock of modern biology—the theory of evolution through natural selection. But heat from athiests? I’m now wondering if they will be hotter than young earth creationists.

What to do?

That’s simple. Invite athiests and young earth creationists into our tent. If our foundation is strong, the tent will stand the heat. If we are sincere and respectful, if we are not patronizing, perhaps the energy in the heat and in the anger can be directed toward something positive.