I was on the Irish retreat with Diana and her summary of the week was perfect. Like her, I thought the most powerful part was seeing and hearing from people who worked hard to lay the groundwork for the Good Friday accords. Our whole group was concerned about what’s happening in America and we all saw parallels with the Troubles. One of the presenters explained that there are 4 levels of change: personal, interpersonal, societal, and cultural. And the only levels we can impact are the first two. His comments made me realize where my focus should be.
When Christians, when people of any faith, vote on the principles of their faith, they have a direct and critical impact on the society and culture. We know that Jesus and his followers paid dearly for refusing to bow to the societal and cultural norms of the day. God grant us the strength and clarity to do the same in our time.
What would happen if the faithful Christian in the pews could be educated in what the Christian Nationalist beliefs and practices are encouraging really. If the word Christian is mentioned in the public forum, it’s usually about actively pursuing the Rapture or feeding an addiction to power. The persistent withholding of aid, subsidies and grants for the very things Christ’s teaching clearly call for, are relegated
Because one of the reasons we are here, with White Christian Nationalism ascending to dominance, is our natural and in most times commendable insistence that the problem is we just see things in different ways — we’re just polarized, we’ve just stopped listening to “the other side.”
This is NOT the case.
It is dangerous and naive.
We (mostly-silent) Christians “of good faith” need to step up and face the nature of the hatred, bigotry, and unbridled vengefulness we are facing — before trying to talk to it.
And by “it” I mean the ideology folks are infected with. Not the humans, each of whom, yes, have a unique and sacred story.
For me, there are not “two sides”. There is only God, only Jesus’ side, the side of love and compassion.
Let us educate ourselves, learn, and arm ourselves with the Word as best we can, knowing that Light has not been overcome by darkness.
Let us practice maintaining a compassionate and loving heart in the face of racism, xenophobia and other bigotry masquerading as “a different point of view”.
Where there is truly common ground to be found, amen!
But let’s not give darkness a chance to make an argument for itself by thinking all we need to do is start listening to its age-old story of grievance, hate and fear of the other.
Thank you, Wendy for your response. I, too have lit “this little light of mine.” I’m praying that all our lights together can help us pray as Jesus taught us: “…Thy Kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven”. And light the pathway of each follower of the Christ who became the incarnate example of God.
Thank you. One of the struggles of the times is staying connected with others who see the world very differently. Especially when they are Christians and follow &/or share inaccurate and sometimes inflammatory information.
I think of one the panelists Kristin hosted at Notre Dame after the election. She was from Texas and spoke on radicalization, that it often happens in groups while de-radicalization almost often occurs individually. I suspect part of that is seeing what is in common with another and extending it more broadly. It is hard and necessary if we are to move forward in positive ways.
Finished the podcast this morning, and then came across this video in one of my favorite YouTubers feeds (Link Below). The second half really gets into how ideas like cooperation can grow exponentially inside of networks - and how both the network plays on the person, but also how even just 1 person can play back on the network's ideology. After Diana's encouraging remarks, it was really cool and uplifting to see it play out mathematically (says a math teacher who loves theoretical math). Hope it's something that encourages you all about the work and words you are putting out into the world.
Much appreciation for this episode! I tend to stand between believing the edges will influence quickly and the wondering if authentic conversation can be achieved, but it helps to see more clearly the different visions of potential.
I have realized the solutions/return to a democracy based in reality of strengths and weaknesses will not come quickly. Therefore, I take hope from conversations like this one.
Today was really really great. I was a little worried at the beginning about going down that endless road this side of the Atlantic and Diana really took off with this wonderful history about Northern Ireland and that was so fascinating. Educational and even your comments Robbie about George Washington I had forgotten long ago, adding in Kristen's comments and it was spectacular! I haven't felt this good in.... can't remember. Thank you all so much for today.
What came to my awareness when Diana was speaking about the unexpected, the surprises coming from the edges, was but that's the place where we can expect the Holy Spirit to meet us and make new possibilities emerge. I tend to forget that. Walter Wink in his great work Engaging the Powers said that we can expect small miracles when we are saying yes to what God is asking us to do and I want to practice that expectation. Too often I get bogged down in thinking only of the worst outcomes. I really appreciate the work the four of you do, and I invite you to consider drawing on the resources of our faith in your conversations more overtly. It would be a real help to me and I think to many of us
Great discussion folks. The insights from Irish history really imparted some valuable color here.
I was on the Irish retreat with Diana and her summary of the week was perfect. Like her, I thought the most powerful part was seeing and hearing from people who worked hard to lay the groundwork for the Good Friday accords. Our whole group was concerned about what’s happening in America and we all saw parallels with the Troubles. One of the presenters explained that there are 4 levels of change: personal, interpersonal, societal, and cultural. And the only levels we can impact are the first two. His comments made me realize where my focus should be.
When Christians, when people of any faith, vote on the principles of their faith, they have a direct and critical impact on the society and culture. We know that Jesus and his followers paid dearly for refusing to bow to the societal and cultural norms of the day. God grant us the strength and clarity to do the same in our time.
What would happen if the faithful Christian in the pews could be educated in what the Christian Nationalist beliefs and practices are encouraging really. If the word Christian is mentioned in the public forum, it’s usually about actively pursuing the Rapture or feeding an addiction to power. The persistent withholding of aid, subsidies and grants for the very things Christ’s teaching clearly call for, are relegated
to the political category.
This.
Because one of the reasons we are here, with White Christian Nationalism ascending to dominance, is our natural and in most times commendable insistence that the problem is we just see things in different ways — we’re just polarized, we’ve just stopped listening to “the other side.”
This is NOT the case.
It is dangerous and naive.
We (mostly-silent) Christians “of good faith” need to step up and face the nature of the hatred, bigotry, and unbridled vengefulness we are facing — before trying to talk to it.
And by “it” I mean the ideology folks are infected with. Not the humans, each of whom, yes, have a unique and sacred story.
For me, there are not “two sides”. There is only God, only Jesus’ side, the side of love and compassion.
Let us educate ourselves, learn, and arm ourselves with the Word as best we can, knowing that Light has not been overcome by darkness.
Let us practice maintaining a compassionate and loving heart in the face of racism, xenophobia and other bigotry masquerading as “a different point of view”.
Where there is truly common ground to be found, amen!
But let’s not give darkness a chance to make an argument for itself by thinking all we need to do is start listening to its age-old story of grievance, hate and fear of the other.
Thank you, Wendy for your response. I, too have lit “this little light of mine.” I’m praying that all our lights together can help us pray as Jesus taught us: “…Thy Kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven”. And light the pathway of each follower of the Christ who became the incarnate example of God.
Thank you. One of the struggles of the times is staying connected with others who see the world very differently. Especially when they are Christians and follow &/or share inaccurate and sometimes inflammatory information.
I think of one the panelists Kristin hosted at Notre Dame after the election. She was from Texas and spoke on radicalization, that it often happens in groups while de-radicalization almost often occurs individually. I suspect part of that is seeing what is in common with another and extending it more broadly. It is hard and necessary if we are to move forward in positive ways.
Finished the podcast this morning, and then came across this video in one of my favorite YouTubers feeds (Link Below). The second half really gets into how ideas like cooperation can grow exponentially inside of networks - and how both the network plays on the person, but also how even just 1 person can play back on the network's ideology. After Diana's encouraging remarks, it was really cool and uplifting to see it play out mathematically (says a math teacher who loves theoretical math). Hope it's something that encourages you all about the work and words you are putting out into the world.
Video about Networks (second half gets into how cooperation and distrust can breed in mathematically traceable ways) https://youtu.be/CYlon2tvywA?si=1Pw7Fabq9Mn8F1AH
Much appreciation for this episode! I tend to stand between believing the edges will influence quickly and the wondering if authentic conversation can be achieved, but it helps to see more clearly the different visions of potential.
I have realized the solutions/return to a democracy based in reality of strengths and weaknesses will not come quickly. Therefore, I take hope from conversations like this one.
Today was really really great. I was a little worried at the beginning about going down that endless road this side of the Atlantic and Diana really took off with this wonderful history about Northern Ireland and that was so fascinating. Educational and even your comments Robbie about George Washington I had forgotten long ago, adding in Kristen's comments and it was spectacular! I haven't felt this good in.... can't remember. Thank you all so much for today.
What came to my awareness when Diana was speaking about the unexpected, the surprises coming from the edges, was but that's the place where we can expect the Holy Spirit to meet us and make new possibilities emerge. I tend to forget that. Walter Wink in his great work Engaging the Powers said that we can expect small miracles when we are saying yes to what God is asking us to do and I want to practice that expectation. Too often I get bogged down in thinking only of the worst outcomes. I really appreciate the work the four of you do, and I invite you to consider drawing on the resources of our faith in your conversations more overtly. It would be a real help to me and I think to many of us
Thank you Robby!