Posted by Hemant Mehta on: 03.13.2006 /
People have been asking about my church visits, and no, I did not go this past weekend. However, I will be going back to a church very shortly! We’ve been a bit swamped with media (which is wonderful news), and we’d like to get the message out about what we’re doing while we can. But I will be making a post soon, and I hope you will all be here to offer your thoughts right back :)
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Comment by: Lynn I.
1 03/13/06 10:25 PM | Comment Link |I figured it was something like that. You and Jim both are doing a great job in the little sound bites they allow for you guys. We’ll keep posting until you make it back.
Comment by: Tom in Sacramento
2 03/13/06 10:33 PM | Comment Link |Speaking as a fascinated observer, the media attention has been amazing. But it has gotten me to wondering, Hemant. What, exactly, was it that you originally intended with this? (Rhetorical question. I don’t doubt what you’ve already written.) But my sense in reading has been that the original motivation was sort of to check out what The Church, as opposed to the churches, might have to offer that you had not yet encountered. Do you still feel like you are able to persue the original intention that began this crazy whirlwind?
And Jim, what, exactly, did you seek to accomplish with this? Are you still on track?
While the media hype is fun and exhilarating, I can’t help wondering if it has damaged the integrity of Hemant’s and Jim’s original intention. I don’t know how you unscramble the egg, but ISTM it is an important question to contemplate. Any thoughts from you who are in the center of the maelstrom?
Tom in Sacramento
Comment by: Albert
3 03/14/06 6:46 AM | Comment Link |I know the emphasis here is on Christianity, but I think it would be interesting to have Hemant visit a synagogue, a mosque etc.
Comment by: Jim Henderson
4 03/14/06 8:09 AM | Comment Link |Tom
We anticipated media response - just not this level
We are fine - although for those colleagues who do practice prayer I would welcome some.
Of course it is challenging but also an opportunity to model for the larger culture what dialog looks like.
It is my conviction that as a follower of Jesus it is my task to attempt to make the story of what love might look like public and open.
I realize that I am limited but this is all I’ve got.
One other thing - being 58 really helps one keep perspective on the media/exposure/glam thing.
If anything this experience has lowered my estimation of the media (except for the WSJ article and a couple of radio interviews we’ve done)
Hemant - what do you think about Toms question
Comment by: Ir
5 03/14/06 11:09 AM | Comment Link |[FYI - I can't post under "Atheist comforted by non-belief".]
Jim, what have the media done that has lowered your estimation of them? Have they got their facts wrong more than you expected? Have they not treated you and Hemant well?
Comment by: Jim Henderson
6 03/14/06 1:52 PM | Comment Link |They are not creative. They are not original
For the most part they are simply a communication machine.
Nothing personal - I just expected more thoughtfulness and curiosity that wasn;t solely attached to sensationalism
No big deal - just more brokeness
Comment by: Jim Henderson
7 03/14/06 1:52 PM | Comment Link |We’re working to get comments working on the new post
Comment by: Hemant
8 03/14/06 4:32 PM | Comment Link |Tom– The original intention was to explore churches and see if they could teach me something I didn’t know; ideally, they could show me that god exists. So far, the former has happened quite a bit. Not so much the latter.
I do think this journey can continue without problem, though. While we’ve gotten a lot of attention, I don’t anticipate that people are going to be stopping me in the pews saying “Are you Hemant?” :) But we’ll continue this weekend and see what happens. If anything, I do hope that we can get more people to reply to comments I make about my visits. The more people who are involved with this wonderful, positive dialogue, the more this “meme” can spread out.