An older man side-steps up to a middle-aged man and starts up a conversation. They’re both browsing the Religion shelf in the book area of a big charity thrift store.
“You know, of course, that Yahweh is the one true god.” His tone isn’t evangelical. He says this the way someone might say, “Tide is good for grass stains.”
The younger man nods his head once, indicating his agreement – Yes, Yahweh is the one true god. He’s a bit distracted. He has a stack of books and is holding his place in one of them with a finger pressed in between two pages. For the moment though, he’s giving this conversation his full attention.
“Well. What do you think of the trinity?” The older man doesn’t reveal his own stand on the trinity – pro or con. But he’s clearly testing the younger man.
The younger man responds with the same distracted nod. “Yes, the trinity.”
The older man raises his eyebrows, tilts his head, and the younger man clarifies, “But only one god. He’s three-in-one.”