Doubters All
Drama
Lectionary Scenes
56 Vignettes For Cycle C
Theme
Believe in Jesus.
Summary
Two professors, friends and roommates, walk to their classes together and discuss religion. One is a believer and one is not. They both have good arguments on their side. How will it turn out? The congregation will have to wait four Sundays to find out. This is the first of a four-part series.
Playing Time
3 minutes
Setting
A college campus
Props
Gerrie -- books and a rose
Tommie -- books and a recent newspaper
Costumes
Dress appropriate for professors
Time
The present
Cast
GERRIE
TOMMIE
(TWO FEMALE PROFESSORS WALKING TO A CLASS)
GERRIE: (CARRYING BOOKS AND A ROSE) How can you believe that ignorant drivel? You're a rational human being.
TOMMIE: That's just why I believe it, because I am a thinking individual.
GERRIE: But, wait a minute. What has God done? I just can't believe in God until I see something He's done. (SMELLING ROSE) I'm telling you, the human being is the only hope of this world. Look what the human race has done -- great scientific achievements -- great knowledge -- human relations have improved. And look deep inside yourself -- see the good that is there. There's the salvation of the human race, our own souls. We can do something. We are doing something to improve ourselves and the human race. You're in research and I'm teaching. If everyone would reach out of herself and help humankind as we are, then our world would improve. It has been done by people like you and me. Accomplishments of humans -- that's all history is about. We are the salvation of the world. And where is your God? Outdated, outmoded, and certainly not needed. That's where he is. If I ever need God I'll look in my mirror.
TOMMIE: We've been over this same discussion I don't know how many times. I believe in God and you don't. It doesn't look like either one of us will ever convince the other.
GERRIE: You don't believe. Not fully, you don't. You said so.
TOMMIE: I do believe in God.
GERRIE: But you have some doubts.
TOMMIE: Well, yes, some doubts.
GERRIE: Some doubts. Hmm.
TOMMIE: At least I believe in God. I know there's a definite right and wrong, and I know where to find out about right and where to be forgiven if I'm wrong.
GERRIE: Society sets our norms for what's right and wrong.
TOMMIE: Of course, but those change. Think about how our ethics have changed in the past ten years, since we graduated. Compare television now and ten years ago.
GERRIE: So the ethical norms are in flux. So what does that mean?
TOMMIE: It means you can't base right and wrong on society's norms; those change.
GERRIE: And you say we should base right and wrong on God?
TOMMIE: Exactly correct. God is truth.
GERRIE: According to you and your friends.
TOMMIE: And according to twenty centuries of Christianity.
GERRIE: Who could also have been wrong along with you. Look, we've had this same argument as long as I've known you. I'm not a bad person. You know that. I don't beat my aging mother. I pay my taxes.
TOMMIE: You're a great person. You're my best friend, aren't you? Would I choose a friend that was a bad person?
GERRIE: You have great perceptive abilities ... in choosing friends. But in choosing religion ...
TOMMIE: You know there's nothing wrong with my way of life.
GERRIE: Come to think of it, you're right. You have just as much fun in life as I do. You are a perfect roommate.
TOMMIE: But it's my reasoning that bothers you.
GERRIE: There you have it -- your reasoning. It is faulty.
TOMMIE: I don't think so. Where is my reasoning faulty?
GERRIE: Well, you said the other day that God is good and today you say He is right. If that is so, where does all the suffering in the world come from?
TOMMIE: Gerrie, look at this. (PRODUCING NEWSPAPER) Humans can find their own way of hurting each other.
GERRIE: You said this before. But original sin? You blame it on original sin. Is that a God who's fair -- to start us out in life with a load of original sin for which we are not responsible?
TOMMIE: Look at it this way. Did the slaves in early America have a choice being born a slave?
GERRIE: No, of course not.
TOMMIE: Well, it's the same with all humans. We cannot choose to be born or not to be. And we are born into slavery -- the slavery of a sinful system. We are slaves to sin. You don't have to teach a child to misbehave, do you?
GERRIE: No, I admit that tendency is born in us. But it isn't fair.
TOMMIE: I admit it isn't fair to be born a slave. But God had a plan to buy us out of slavery. That part is fair, more than fair.
GERRIE: Jesus, right?
TOMMIE: Right.
GERRIE: I've heard this much before. We'll talk after class. I've got more arguments for you. See ya.
TOMMIE: See ya. Have a good class.
Believe in Jesus.
Summary
Two professors, friends and roommates, walk to their classes together and discuss religion. One is a believer and one is not. They both have good arguments on their side. How will it turn out? The congregation will have to wait four Sundays to find out. This is the first of a four-part series.
Playing Time
3 minutes
Setting
A college campus
Props
Gerrie -- books and a rose
Tommie -- books and a recent newspaper
Costumes
Dress appropriate for professors
Time
The present
Cast
GERRIE
TOMMIE
(TWO FEMALE PROFESSORS WALKING TO A CLASS)
GERRIE: (CARRYING BOOKS AND A ROSE) How can you believe that ignorant drivel? You're a rational human being.
TOMMIE: That's just why I believe it, because I am a thinking individual.
GERRIE: But, wait a minute. What has God done? I just can't believe in God until I see something He's done. (SMELLING ROSE) I'm telling you, the human being is the only hope of this world. Look what the human race has done -- great scientific achievements -- great knowledge -- human relations have improved. And look deep inside yourself -- see the good that is there. There's the salvation of the human race, our own souls. We can do something. We are doing something to improve ourselves and the human race. You're in research and I'm teaching. If everyone would reach out of herself and help humankind as we are, then our world would improve. It has been done by people like you and me. Accomplishments of humans -- that's all history is about. We are the salvation of the world. And where is your God? Outdated, outmoded, and certainly not needed. That's where he is. If I ever need God I'll look in my mirror.
TOMMIE: We've been over this same discussion I don't know how many times. I believe in God and you don't. It doesn't look like either one of us will ever convince the other.
GERRIE: You don't believe. Not fully, you don't. You said so.
TOMMIE: I do believe in God.
GERRIE: But you have some doubts.
TOMMIE: Well, yes, some doubts.
GERRIE: Some doubts. Hmm.
TOMMIE: At least I believe in God. I know there's a definite right and wrong, and I know where to find out about right and where to be forgiven if I'm wrong.
GERRIE: Society sets our norms for what's right and wrong.
TOMMIE: Of course, but those change. Think about how our ethics have changed in the past ten years, since we graduated. Compare television now and ten years ago.
GERRIE: So the ethical norms are in flux. So what does that mean?
TOMMIE: It means you can't base right and wrong on society's norms; those change.
GERRIE: And you say we should base right and wrong on God?
TOMMIE: Exactly correct. God is truth.
GERRIE: According to you and your friends.
TOMMIE: And according to twenty centuries of Christianity.
GERRIE: Who could also have been wrong along with you. Look, we've had this same argument as long as I've known you. I'm not a bad person. You know that. I don't beat my aging mother. I pay my taxes.
TOMMIE: You're a great person. You're my best friend, aren't you? Would I choose a friend that was a bad person?
GERRIE: You have great perceptive abilities ... in choosing friends. But in choosing religion ...
TOMMIE: You know there's nothing wrong with my way of life.
GERRIE: Come to think of it, you're right. You have just as much fun in life as I do. You are a perfect roommate.
TOMMIE: But it's my reasoning that bothers you.
GERRIE: There you have it -- your reasoning. It is faulty.
TOMMIE: I don't think so. Where is my reasoning faulty?
GERRIE: Well, you said the other day that God is good and today you say He is right. If that is so, where does all the suffering in the world come from?
TOMMIE: Gerrie, look at this. (PRODUCING NEWSPAPER) Humans can find their own way of hurting each other.
GERRIE: You said this before. But original sin? You blame it on original sin. Is that a God who's fair -- to start us out in life with a load of original sin for which we are not responsible?
TOMMIE: Look at it this way. Did the slaves in early America have a choice being born a slave?
GERRIE: No, of course not.
TOMMIE: Well, it's the same with all humans. We cannot choose to be born or not to be. And we are born into slavery -- the slavery of a sinful system. We are slaves to sin. You don't have to teach a child to misbehave, do you?
GERRIE: No, I admit that tendency is born in us. But it isn't fair.
TOMMIE: I admit it isn't fair to be born a slave. But God had a plan to buy us out of slavery. That part is fair, more than fair.
GERRIE: Jesus, right?
TOMMIE: Right.
GERRIE: I've heard this much before. We'll talk after class. I've got more arguments for you. See ya.
TOMMIE: See ya. Have a good class.
