The God-Talk Club Series

Note (November 29, 2014): I’m reviving it, and I’m keeping the chronology real. The group has broken up and is getting back together a bit over three years later. (Expect a link to the first revival story here shortly! And here it is, the first revival story. It’s a two parter. Here’s the link to part 1: The God-Talk Club and the Gay Guitarist – I.)

This is some basic information on this series of stories. I want to warn you that this will be almost entirely dialog on religious topics with some wandering into politics. I want to practice writing some dialog and presenting it as well as expressing various viewpoints in a sympathetic way. The first entry in the series, The God-Talk Club is Born simply introduces some characters and gives hints as to their beliefs.

I will introduce at least two more characters in the next couple of stories (I already have them outlined, and will also provide more information as we go.) I will put entries here on the characters, but will only include information on them that has come up in the stories thus far.

Important Note: None of the characters represent my views. In the long run I intend to give them all sympathetic moments in the discussion and have all of them have some bad days. If you think I’ve slanted a story to a particular point of view, I’d love to hear about it. I’m sure I will fail of balance in many stories, but I hope that overall it will look pretty fair.

Mark Morton – Seminary student of uncertain convictions. He’s not even sure he wants to be a minister, but he’s going to work on it. Age, 20s.

Jerry Simonson – Identifies himself as evangelical Presbyterian, and is a Sunday School teacher and elder in his church. He is a conservative evangelical. Middle age to late middle age.

McKenzie “Mac” Strong – non-Christian skeptic. Very little more has been revealed about her yet. Age: 30s.

Mandy Kelly – Homeschooling housewife of moderately liberal persuasion (4 children). [Update] Girl 15, working on 12th grade, Son 12, already on 9th grade material, 10 year old boy in 5th grade and a seven year old in 3rd grade. Age: 40s.

Rev. Justine Reeder – charismatic preacher who is working on a Master of Divinity at “the seminary.”

Bob Norman – high school biology teacher, single.

Ellen – waitress. Despite good intentions on some people’s part, the group still doesn’t know her last name or treat her with respect.

The Seminary – shall remain nameless. It’s a moderately liberal seminary associated with a mainline denomination.

The Roadside Cafe – originally a cafe associated with a service station, which has slowly transformed itself into a gathering place for students, some faculty and folks from the community who eat, talk, and very occasionally work.

Series category: The God-Talk Club Series.

Note: The theme image for The God-Talk Club series is adapted from two images from Openclipart.org, Forest Scene, from which the background is cropped and mangled, and Little Store Front. The combination and the mangling are my own work.