Voices in the Static: A Witch and a Christian Sit Down … Again.

Several days ago, I posted an article entitled, “Voices in the Static: When a Witch and a Christian Sit Down to Talk.”  Much to my pleasant surprise, many of you responded positively to the exchange, and even took the time to ask some really thoughtful, engaging questions.  Even more surprising, however, were the events of this morning.  When Kendra dropped me a note to ask me how I thought the conversation was progressing in the comments beneath the original post, a new, and even more penetrating conversation emerged.

So, once again, I am inviting you to sit in on a dialog between Kendra and myself.  But before I bring you into that exchange, I want to openly affirm my friend.  As you will see, the issues we discussed this morning had the potential to be even more inflammatory than subjects we discussed in the first post.  But true to form, she never once blinked; and instead, committed herself to an honest and open exploration of the similarities and differences in how we see the world.  And thus, regardless of whether you agree with her worldview or disagree with it, one cannot help but feel a sense of admiration for her integrity and personal strength of character.  Won’t you please join me in once again welcoming my friend, Kendra Williams.

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Hey Scott, so have you been pleased with the responses so far?

I have. How about you?

Yes.  I think it’s been a good thing. It’s refreshing that we can have this dialogue and not have it turn into the flame wars that can often happen online.

 

Voices in the Static: When a Witch and Christian Sit Down to Talk

In just a few minutes, you are going to have the opportunity to sit in on a fascinating conversation that is the first of the “Voices in the Static” series.  These are meant to be conversations that highlight often-muffled “voices” that, although quiet, are steadily shaping our culture in ways that we may not yet be fully aware.   But before I bring you into that dialog, I want to begin by offering you a brief introduction to my partner in this conversation.  Over twenty years ago, Kendra Williams and I knew each other as friends who worked together in our high school theater.  Following graduation, we lost touch with one another, as so many high school friends are prone to do.  But in recent months, we have reconnected through Facebook; and tonight, she has agreed to engage with me in a conversation about her beliefs as a Pagan/Wiccan and how these beliefs shape her interactions with the broader culture and with Christians, in particular.  Kendra holds a degree in the theater arts from the University of Illinois (Chicago) and later went on to study the Japanese language at the University of Maryland.  She presently works as an Office Manager in downtown Chicago and moonlights as an artist in the medium of henna.