We met in Billings, Montana. Hitch had once told me that Montana was the only state he had never been in. I decided to complete his tour of the contiguous United States and arranged for the two of us to meet there. Before the debate, a local television station sent a camera crew over to interview us.
When he was asked what he thought of me, a Christian, and an evangelical at that, Hitch replied: “If everyone in the United States had the same qualities of loyalty and care and concern for others that Larry Taunton had, we’d be living in a much better society than we do.”
I was moved. Stunned, really. As we left, I told him that I really appreciated the gracious remark.
“I meant it and have been waiting for an opportunity to say it.”
I was sent this by an evangelical friend of mine who said that the article reminded him of us. I am deeply touched by this, and it has spawned me to reflect, very close to Christmas no less, upon how much I cherish my many religious friends. Both personally and over the Internet I have been gifted with the friendships and acquaintances of many devout believers.
We disagree on the most important thing there is to disagree on, perhaps, but only on one level. On another level I agree with them so completely it’s as if we are brothers in the same cult. Namely, we’re fully committed to our attempts to try and help others learn the truth so that they will be happier. We share this. It binds us together. And we don’t compromise or expect the other to. We respect each other for this reason, and due to our conviction we remain one small belief away from adopting the other person’s perspective.
Rick, David, Evan, Naum, Jonathan — just to name a few, are all people I respect in this way and feel, um, blessed to have met in my life. As I write this I realize I am staying with another such friend who happens to be Muslim.
To have one such person send me this article (Jonathan) casts a warm light on this Christmas for me, and I want to simply say that I’m truly grateful to know you all. So to all my Religious friends and readers, Jewish, Christian, Muslim, whatever — thank you so much for your friendship and your dialog. Seriously.
(damn onions)