This tale is about a man named Leon who was never interested in religion or religious activities. One day one of Leon's friends was walking by the church that was in the middle of the town and noticed that Leon was kneeling at the altar and praying. The friend knew that Leon had fallen on hard times and believed that Leon was probably praying about that particular situation. As he went in and got closer to Leon he recognized that he was praying a folk prayer that was thought to bring both health and wealth. He then interrupted Leon and asked him why he was praying such a prayer since he didn't believe in such things. Leon replied that he indeed did not believe in it, but that the priest had informed him that the prayer worked even if one didn't believe in it.
In his commentary on this tale, Rollins talks about how this kind of thinking is found in many areas of our lives. We may have things that we vehemently disagree with, but because they have become an acceptable part of our culture we participate in them. He emphasizes the importance of having practices and structures that inform our lives but that sometimes they take over the basis of our beliefs. So in effect to convince someone of the existence of God doesn't mean that we talk to them directly, but we must converse with their belief system.
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