1. An important theme throughout the book is the importance of dialogue around matters of faith. Everyone seems hungry to talk but afraid of the risks involved. Have you had relationships that felt safe enough to talk about your struggles and doubts regarding your faith? What made them so?
2. As the book opens, Dan is isolated; his wife is the only person with whom he discusses his difficulties. As a pastor he does not feel safe in having such dialogues with other people and as a result, he seems to fight loneliness and anger. Would you agree that pastors are not, to quote Neo, "regular people"? Why or why not? Does this tension contribute to the difficulty Dan has with self-disclosure? What risks are involved when a person cannot be honest?
3. Neo says to Dan, "Well, Reverend, it sounds like you could use a friend." In response to this simple invitation Dan is overwhelmed emotionally. How does the invitation to friendship change the nature of conversation? What kind of "posture" do friends take toward one another? What postures do we normally assume when we talk about matters of faith? What do you think it means to use a term like "posture" when talking about how people engage each other relationally.
4. One of the hallmarks of Christianity in the modern era is a focusing on the idea of truth. At the same time there seems to be a corresponding absence of honesty, especially when facing what we don't know or understand. Do you agree with this assessment? Why or why not?
5. Neo defies easy stereotyping: he's a scientist who believes firmly in evolution, and at the same time he is a committed Christian who firmly believes in God's direct involvement in creation. This position causes him to get flack from all sides. Without engaging in all the technical arguments of the debate over creation vs. evolution, do you believe it is possible for a person to hold these beliefs and still be considered a Christian? What other issues have become litmus tests or dividing lines for Christians?
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