How, if at all, did that shape the Christian faith he now professes?
I think he began his journey into his Christian faith very cautiously. He wanted to investigate what the people he was tending in Chicago had that he did not have. In [his book] “Audacity of Hope,” he describes what is often taken as his conversion experience at Trinity Church in Chicago in tentative terms. He says he doesn’t have all his questions answered, but he at least agreed to start the journey. I think we see that earlier skepticism, that earlier detachment, sort of flowing through his first days of Christianity. He’s not making that full-throated evangelical commitment. Instead he’s saying, “OK, I see some truth in this, but I’m not sure I buy it all, so let’s start slowly.” I think that’s very much representative of the detachment we talked about. Given his skepticism, what would you say ultimately brought him to God? I think it’s the need we all have. It’s “Lord, you formed us for yourself and our hearts are restless till we find our rest in thee.” I also think this is where
