An Interesting Idea From The Caleb Group In Greenville, SC—Skeptical Luncheons

How can I start one where I live?

Hey Rick—do you mean, start a Caleb Group?

If so, I need to put you in touch with the founder.

I’ll be honest.  One would have to have someone with all the genius, social skills, faith, networking skills, apologetics, and articulateness of Johnny.  Not an easy person to find.

I would say the person you describe probably could NOT be found.  But, well, you did mention that there needs to be a Caleb group in every town.  And, as far as that goes, how are men to call upon him in whom they have not believed, how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard, how are they to hear without a preacher, etc., etc. 

Besides, it sounds like great fun.

Yeah, Johhn must be quite a guy to fit Sarah’s glowing description.  I wonder if even C. S. Lewis would meet the rigorous qualifications listed in #2.
Genius?  Yep.
Faith?  Plenty of it.
Apologetic skills?  Unmatched.
Articulateness?  Unsurpassed.
But social and networking skills?  Not so good.

Still, Lewis was the star who regularly participated in the virtually weekly meetings of Oxford’s “Socratic Club,” where for years he defended the reasonableness of the Christian faith against all comers and demolished common arguments against it.  In the process he helped countless Oxford undergrads find their way toward faith in Christ.

I guess I’m encouraging you to go for it, Rick.  And the same applies to any other folks out there who might be inspired to go and do something similar to the Caleb Group. 

I agree with Sarah.  Every town and city should have something like it.

David Handy+

It’s weird, but movie theatres and coffee houses may well be the Mars Hill type venues of the modern era. 

Several years ago, I went to see Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragen with some friends.  For me, it was one of those long movies I couldn’t break away from, and when it was over, I didn’t know what to think about it.  My friends and I were talking about this in the theatre after the movie, in that high-traffic area between concessions and the theatres.  Out of the blue, he turned and struck up a conversation with a group of strangers who felt the same way.  We formed a semi-circle about a dozen feet in diameter, and had a good quick forum. 

Granted, he didn’t find a way to make a plug for the Christian worldview (Then again, CTHD was, and still is, kind of a wierd movie);  but it does always make me think, every now and then.

NRA—I agree with your assessment of CS Lewis. 

I think we’re in a different—postmodern—world now, though.  Lewis was excellent, I think, at modernist apologetics based on reason.  I think for many postmodernist skeptics, however, their concerns are not so much on “the rational” but the pragmatic and the experiential and the relational.

Further, we’re not in a predominantly Christian world any more, as Lewis was.  We’re having to lure and attract more than he did, I think.  We simply don’t have the ready-made audience that we once had.

Hence the need for more . . . social and networking skills.  ; > )

Just to somewhat support my list of attributes above . . .

It does no good to have great social and networking skills but be unable to debate or marshall the necessary arguments against other smart people who happen to be skeptics.  And if you have lots of great rational responses to skeptics but have no ability to articulate those arguments in a winsome fashion, then it’s “useless communication.”  I’m coupling the age-old duo—substance and style.  I’d far rather work with someone of substance, but no style in communication.  But I’d rather have both.

And then, of course, one may be rational, clear-headed, communicative, and socially skilled, but if one is not convinced of the Christian faith and in a warm and fruit-producing relationship with Jesus Christ, than it’s all moot anyway.

Sarah (#6 & 7),

I’m happy to return the favor.  I completely agree with you.

Especially about how the change from a rationalistic “modern” era to an experientially-oriented postmodern one drastically changes the challenges we face in presenting the gospel convincingly.  As does the equally important change from a fading Christendom era (such as in Lewis’ time) to a post-Christendom era, such as we now face.

David Handy+