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Purple State of Baylor/Waco
I had brought a copy of Reasons To Believe, John Marks’ riveting book about his loss of Christian faith and his recent exploration of the American evangelical world, to my church choir practice Wednesday, intending to show a friend. Sight of the book excited a couple of Baylor students, who 1) wondered where I got a copy (sent by the publisher) 2) let me know that Marks, a former “60 Minutes” producer, and his longtime Christian friend Craig Detweiler were at Baylor on Tuesday night and 3) told me, “You must see the movie!!!”
Turns out the two are in Texas this week to promote their “Purple State of Mind” project, whose 80-minute documentary was screened for Baylor’s Honors College, with a discussion afterward among Marks, Detweiler and Baylor students.
“Purple State of Mind” is their attempt to stimulate discussion on bridging the divide between Red and Blue America (and similar polarizing categorizations) by demonstrating ways people with strongly divergent views can still talk with and be friends.
I’m jealous: I’m deeply bothered with how confrontational and bipolar political and religious dialogue has become in our country of free speech, and would have loved to see the film. I’m sure I’ll get a chance, later.
Anyway, Marks blogs he enjoyed the talk at Baylor, even though his attempt at an April Fool’s joke (hinting his time at Baylor might be swaying him back into the faith) led to several attempts to evangelize him. He praised the vigorous dialogue and thanked the several Baylor alums that had gotten him involved in journalism in the first place. It’s an interesting post and he invites anyone in that screening/discussion to continue the dialogue on their Web site.
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