Many seem to be atheists by distraction. They don't take a position of formal denial of God's existence; they just don't take time to think about God. They acknowledge nothing to be grateful for. They are distracted by technology, material possessions, rapid change, terrorist threats, and economic uncertainties.

Movies, increasingly violent, distract them. Music, louder by the bar, deafens them. Radio and television tallk, increasingly vulgar, upsets them. And loneliness encircles them even in the midst of population density and mobility. In an environment like this, confusion rises; conversations wane. Silence, often sullen, prevails.

It must be acknowledged, however, that there are genuine, coomitted atheists who do take a formal stand of denial before God. There are more of them today, perhaps; surely there are enough of them to attract attention. And attention must be paid.

Atheists deserve respect and a respectful hearing. But the acoustics necessary for such a hearing are not to be found in an arena of argument, only in a context of conversation. There are no winners or losers in conversatioins, just better informed participants. So what is there to talk about if both theists and atheists sit down to talk?

The mystery of life; the riddle of existence; the presence of evil in our world; the meaning of love, power, joy, hope, forgiveness; the question of human origins and human destiny. Try talking about these first with mind and ear open and then closed to the possility of the existence of God. Examine the questions that remain in the wake of an open or closed approach and let both theist and atheist give those questons the attention they deserve.

This kind of conversation can indeed be productive. It is unlikely to convert from one side to the other. It is quite likely to produce a deepening of faith in the theist and a deeper appreciation of intellect in the atheist. And the deepening on either side is likely to lead to new dimensions of gratitude, a development that cannot be anything but good for humanity.