Clear Winter Nights: A Journey into Truth, Doubt, and What Comes After

by Trevin K. Wax

“If that’s what religion is all about—ethics. But that’s a pretty big ‘if,’ I think. My friend Tim, who doesn’t believe in God, would be offended.” “You have a friend who is an atheist?” Chris was surprised. “Several, actually,” Gil replied. “Although I’m not sure they’d all say they’re atheists. Some would rather say they’re agnostic about the existence of God. Truth be told, the only thing my atheist friends are sure about is that they don’t like the God they don’t believe in.” “But why would they be offended at what I said? That religion is about ethics?” Chris was genuinely curious. “Because they have no religion. But they still believe in ethics. You see, when you reduce religion to ethics, you insult the nonreligious, ethical people in the world,” Gil said. “People like Tim.” “I don’t mean to insult anyone, Gramps.” “But that’s what happens when you shrink Christianity down to mere religion. And then you shrink religion down to a system of morals. Are you sure that your ‘if’ doesn’t require a larger leap of faith than mine?”