Ignorance?

My husband attends a prayer/study group on Wednesday mornings called Andrew's Brothers. They have been reading and discussing the book The Shack.

At one point, Papa (God) (in the book) says that he doesn't want to make everybody Christian. The group spent much time discussing this idea. Is there only one way to God?

A recent survey found that 70% of Americans believe that religions other than there own could lead to eternal life. The survey is discussed in an article in the New York Times. You can read it here.

Check out this last paragraph:

Now, there remains the possibility that some of those polled may not have understood the implications of their answers. As John Green, a senior fellow at the Pew Forum, said, “The capacity of ignorance to influence survey outcomes should never be underestimated.” But I don’t think that they are ignorant about this most basic tenet of their faith. I think that they are choosing to ignore it ... for goodness sake.

I do have an opinion on this matter, but that's not what I want to write about tonight. What really bothered me about this article is that John Green, a senior fellow at the Pew Forum, explains the results of the survey by saying that the respondents were ignorant.

Why do we do that? Why do we respond to ideas with which we do not agree by calling those who espouse them "ignorant."

If a group of men in a Bible Belt state, in the City of Churches can spend more than one week discussing this idea, then obviously there is more than one realistic opinion. It bothers me that there are those who would imply that an opinion other than there own is ignorant.

Rather small minded.