Viator: My dear Carnalis, it is a surprise to meet you here in the vestibule of this Cathedral!
Carnalis: Ah Viator! You are too concerned with the appearance of things! A building is a building. This place looks like the lobby of any building. Well, except for the fact that this place is dedicated to your religion. Now, don't be offended by that statement! I do not have an objection to your religion. I only object to your insistence that what is true here is true for me.
Viator: I might have expected you to cut right to the point! I know that a building such as this has no meaning for you. That being the case, what brings you here?
Carnalis: I thought I might come in and have a look around. I find it all a bit bizarre actually. This seems to be the only building in this city that has such a connection with the past. What is it about you Catholics – why do you have such a fondness for the past, for customs, for your traditions? Why do you build such buildings? It looks expensive and wasteful. It certainly is not efficient!
Viator: My friend, you have made numerous accusations against the ideas represented here! Where shall I begin?
Carnalis: No, no! Not accusations, just observations! As I said, I don't object. Well, I do object in the sense that you will not find me entering any further than this! Nonetheless, I do find it fascinating. Tell me, what do you see here that is so important to you?
Viator: That is exactly the critical thing isn't it? You say you would enter no further than this vestibule but you find the whole thing fascinating. Your thoughts are a bit of a jumble. On the one hand, you say you see nothing in this building that is unusual and yet you object to its inefficiency and difference with the modern world. You don't object to the religion it represents but you object to the permanence of the place and how it seems to insist that the ideas it represents are true – even for you! You don't understand our customs and traditions much less the fact that we have customs and traditions. Nonetheless, I will tell you what I see that is so important here.
Carnalis: Amazing! Did I say all of that?
Viator: Yes, you did! And I would enjoy talking with you about all of these things and more!
Carnalis: All right, all right – don't get any idea that you are going to convince me of anything! I just can't make out what it is that is so important to you! This all looks so ancient, so alien, and it certainly doesn't seem to fit into the way things are now. The world has moved on from here! I won't say it is all superstition because you are very serious about it. But, I find it hard to separate from a superstitious past! So, what do you propose – are you going to try to convince me to become a Catholic?
Viator: No, but I do want to show you how this Cathedral and the faith it represents is reasonable. At the minimum, I want to demonstrate that much. Are you willing to meet me here from time to time to discuss these points?
Carnalis: I am a bit hesitant. I don't see the point in a sense because I have made up my mind and so have you. However, I guess it can't hurt to talk. And besides, perhaps I will convince you to come down out of the clouds and pay more attention to the realities of life here on the ground!
Viator: We're on! I will see you here tomorrow then.
Carnalis: I agree. Tomorrow in this same place again.
Viator: Very good! You know, the vestibule of this Church is the place where one leaves the world and enters into the Kingdom!
Carnalis: This isn't going to be easy, is it!
Viator: No, it isn't. But I do think that we agree that there are important questions to be answered at this threshold!
Carnalis: So bit it! We'll talk again tomorrow.
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