When we hear others talk about a worldview that is oppositional to ours, whether it be theism, non-theism, atheism, or something else it can be tempting to have a negative view of them as a person. Here I’m not talking about a valid criticism of their positions. That’s legitimate. Opposing worldviews can be existentially threatening and engender this disparaging attitude.

However, if we understand that they too are a finite manifestation of God – an incarnation, that changes things. It means that like us they are participating in the struggle to make sense of themselves, understand their place in reality, and its meaning. Also like us, they have their own particular make-up, dispositions, histories, and cultures in which they find themselves. If we view others this way we can also understand that we too are flawed and, to a large extent, the product of our own particular situation. Then, we can engage with others in a spirit of humility and solidarity in this grand narrative of what it means to live.