So I was out with two of my oldest friends last night. Though I chat with Greg on the net regularly, I hadn’t seen him “in the flesh” in a good 9 years. Trevor I haven’t actually spoken to in probably 6 or 7 years - since Cal’s wedding.

It was great seeing them and reminiscing, without making it too boring for their wife/girlfriend (respectively). I was about to explain the qualitative difference between BC NDP and Alberta NDP (political parties in case you’re not from Canada), when one of my friends blew this whistle - “Hey hey hey. No politics, no religion, no sex.”

Of course, they went on to break the sex rule of conversations themselves a few times over the rest of the night, but I let that slide. I found it strangely constraining - I haven’t lived with rules for my conversation in a long time. I just find it more honest to be able to talk about anything with anyone. Even at work, where my desk neighbours two staunch atheist liberals, we never draw boundaries in our conversation, which is actually freeing. I have been able to talk about various aspects of my faith with them over time and have it received civilly. I didn’t know what to do about this rule, that I had heard and been familiar with, but let fall into disuse years ago.

Perhaps it was an illustration about how far our paths have diverged since I moved away from Edmonton 10 years ago.

Or it could be an early flag that I need to know a way around this roadblock, if I hope to start a church in Alberta.

What do you think? How would you have gotten around such a conversation killer?