Why not

'I often wonder if religion is the enemy of God' Bono (as quoted by John Pritchard). I was forcefully presented with this view at a party last night. I did wonder if it was a genuine objection or a form of avoidance strategy, but felt it deserved an answer. I did not have long to come up with one, of course, but mine was this. At first to sympathise, by telling the story of a student who asked if I was religious as my answer before I had time to think was 'I hope not'. But then to point to Jesus, who seemed to be anything but religious, who when presented with a religious building did not offer sacrifices but instead chucked all the tables on the floor. As an aside I noted that people found endless reasons to fight so why not religion as well. This had it's weaknesses as an answer of course. I am in many ways clearly 'religious' though I'm still not sure what that means. But I hope it was part of a next step for him, not so much by removing the ease with which he could raise this objection but more by pointing to Jesus who overcomes all objections. I left him with a challenge to read Mark's Gospel, and see what he made of the real thing. Pray for him.