[Music] going up in Lincoln
going up in Lincoln
going up in Lincoln I was raised Chinese Christian that
I was raised Chinese Christian that
I was raised Chinese Christian that means I attended the Chinese Christian
means I attended the Chinese Christian
means I attended the Chinese Christian Church which is pretty normal we had
Church which is pretty normal we had
Church which is pretty normal we had church every Sunday but in this quaint
church every Sunday but in this quaint
church every Sunday but in this quaint little side auditorium branched off from
little side auditorium branched off from
little side auditorium branched off from a full-fledged Church here in Lincoln
a full-fledged Church here in Lincoln
a full-fledged Church here in Lincoln the entrance actually was set off by
the entrance actually was set off by
the entrance actually was set off by this rusty fire escape because was the
this rusty fire escape because was the
this rusty fire escape because was the main entrance to the building and so
main entrance to the building and so
main entrance to the building and so every Sunday we’d have to pass under
every Sunday we’d have to pass under
every Sunday we’d have to pass under that to go to service and it got to the
that to go to service and it got to the
that to go to service and it got to the point where when I was younger I thought
point where when I was younger I thought
point where when I was younger I thought church was something that was really
church was something that was really
church was something that was really sketchy and sort of not normal but
sketchy and sort of not normal but
sketchy and sort of not normal but really it was just mine that was a
really it was just mine that was a
really it was just mine that was a little odd here is a picture of me with
little odd here is a picture of me with
little odd here is a picture of me with Santa Claus who I thought was a God when
Santa Claus who I thought was a God when
Santa Claus who I thought was a God when I was younger then I learned about that
I was younger then I learned about that
I was younger then I learned about that story in Exodus where God tells Moses no
story in Exodus where God tells Moses no
story in Exodus where God tells Moses no one sees the face of God and lives and
one sees the face of God and lives and
one sees the face of God and lives and that wasn’t really the Christmas miracle
that wasn’t really the Christmas miracle
that wasn’t really the Christmas miracle I was looking forward to that year but
I was looking forward to that year but
I was looking forward to that year but anyway a more interesting result of my
anyway a more interesting result of my
anyway a more interesting result of my unconventional upbringing in the
unconventional upbringing in the
unconventional upbringing in the Christian faith is that I was absolutely
Christian faith is that I was absolutely
Christian faith is that I was absolutely ignorant of some of the etiquette namely
ignorant of some of the etiquette namely
ignorant of some of the etiquette namely that there is this sort of gag order on
that there is this sort of gag order on
that there is this sort of gag order on religion for example at a dinner with
religion for example at a dinner with
religion for example at a dinner with friends you always have to keep the
friends you always have to keep the
friends you always have to keep the conversation away from the so called
conversation away from the so called
conversation away from the so called controversies which inevitably means
controversies which inevitably means
controversies which inevitably means religious opinions now first I thought
religious opinions now first I thought
religious opinions now first I thought this was just my anecdotal experience
this was just my anecdotal experience
this was just my anecdotal experience but as it turns out it’s systemic
but as it turns out it’s systemic
but as it turns out it’s systemic about 49% of Americans rarely if ever
about 49% of Americans rarely if ever
about 49% of Americans rarely if ever discuss religion with people outside
discuss religion with people outside
discuss religion with people outside their family and later I learned the
their family and later I learned the
their family and later I learned the other half of this because this doesn’t
other half of this because this doesn’t
other half of this because this doesn’t affect just religion rather we proper
affect just religion rather we proper
affect just religion rather we proper Americans can’t talk about two things to
Americans can’t talk about two things to
Americans can’t talk about two things to polite company that’s religion and
polite company that’s religion and
polite company that’s religion and politics now first I didn’t get it
politics now first I didn’t get it
politics now first I didn’t get it especially the religion part now sure no
especially the religion part now sure no
especially the religion part now sure no two people will share the same
two people will share the same
two people will share the same perspective on religious issues and
perspective on religious issues and
perspective on religious issues and that’s partially why it’s such a taboo
that’s partially why it’s such a taboo
that’s partially why it’s such a taboo subject and so I had to grow to accept
subject and so I had to grow to accept
subject and so I had to grow to accept this explanation but it’s really not the
this explanation but it’s really not the
this explanation but it’s really not the whole story because Christianity is
whole story because Christianity is
whole story because Christianity is important to American politics in unique
important to American politics in unique
important to American politics in unique ways it’s enshrined in our money in the
ways it’s enshrined in our money in the
ways it’s enshrined in our money in the Declaration of Independence and the
Declaration of Independence and the
Declaration of Independence and the original pilgrim communities that found
original pilgrim communities that found
original pilgrim communities that found in our society in other words
in our society in other words
in our society in other words American politics is rooted in
American politics is rooted in
American politics is rooted in Christianity and curiously nowadays
Christianity and curiously nowadays
Christianity and curiously nowadays there’s been a huge backlash to that a
there’s been a huge backlash to that a
there’s been a huge backlash to that a barn our group survey found that from
barn our group survey found that from
barn our group survey found that from 1996 to 2004 the percentage of
1996 to 2004 the percentage of
1996 to 2004 the percentage of non-christians who had a quote/unquote
non-christians who had a quote/unquote
non-christians who had a quote/unquote bad impression of Christianity nearly
bad impression of Christianity nearly
bad impression of Christianity nearly doubled and the surveyors also found
doubled and the surveyors also found
doubled and the surveyors also found some of the problem around three out of
some of the problem around three out of
some of the problem around three out of four of all surveyed called Christianity
four of all surveyed called Christianity
four of all surveyed called Christianity too involved in politics and nearly nine
too involved in politics and nearly nine
too involved in politics and nearly nine out of ten called Christianity
out of ten called Christianity
out of ten called Christianity hypocritical or judgmental clearly least
hypocritical or judgmental clearly least
hypocritical or judgmental clearly least historic ties between Christianity and
historic ties between Christianity and
historic ties between Christianity and American politics have had a rather
American politics have had a rather
American politics have had a rather negative effect on its public image in
negative effect on its public image in
negative effect on its public image in the modern day but now I don’t think
the modern day but now I don’t think
the modern day but now I don’t think it’s right to just blame Americans being
it’s right to just blame Americans being
it’s right to just blame Americans being ideologically opposed to Christian
ideologically opposed to Christian
ideologically opposed to Christian politics because I don’t think that’s
politics because I don’t think that’s
politics because I don’t think that’s necessarily true but rather Christianity
necessarily true but rather Christianity
necessarily true but rather Christianity also has this internal image problem
also has this internal image problem
also has this internal image problem simply put when it comes to our beliefs
simply put when it comes to our beliefs
simply put when it comes to our beliefs we believers don’t know how to express
we believers don’t know how to express
we believers don’t know how to express them and so often we just won’t and
them and so often we just won’t and
them and so often we just won’t and those who do speak out and bring up
those who do speak out and bring up
those who do speak out and bring up religion only do so in relation to
religion only do so in relation to
religion only do so in relation to political issues now of course in many
political issues now of course in many
political issues now of course in many ways politics and religion are similar
ways politics and religion are similar
ways politics and religion are similar they’re both places where people find
they’re both places where people find
they’re both places where people find their values their sense of right and
their values their sense of right and
their values their sense of right and wrong and they’re both communities for
wrong and they’re both communities for
wrong and they’re both communities for something bigger than ourselves as
something bigger than ourselves as
something bigger than ourselves as individuals and so it’s understandable
individuals and so it’s understandable
individuals and so it’s understandable that their goals overlap sometimes but
that their goals overlap sometimes but
that their goals overlap sometimes but the mistake comes when we treat them the
the mistake comes when we treat them the
the mistake comes when we treat them the same way because they’re still not the
same way because they’re still not the
same way because they’re still not the same thing and so we often treat them
same thing and so we often treat them
same thing and so we often treat them the same way not people will go to us
the same way not people will go to us
the same way not people will go to us into these two long political type
into these two long political type
into these two long political type arguments I saw a study recently that
arguments I saw a study recently that
arguments I saw a study recently that sums this up nicely now this is satire
sums this up nicely now this is satire
sums this up nicely now this is satire to the best of my knowledge but it makes
to the best of my knowledge but it makes
to the best of my knowledge but it makes an apt point which is that political
an apt point which is that political
an apt point which is that political discourse has a very particular tone to
discourse has a very particular tone to
discourse has a very particular tone to it away framing discussions that may be
it away framing discussions that may be
it away framing discussions that may be appropriate for the elections but
appropriate for the elections but
appropriate for the elections but clearly not through everything so we
clearly not through everything so we
clearly not through everything so we should aim to change the terms of this
should aim to change the terms of this
should aim to change the terms of this discussion to change the forum in which
discussion to change the forum in which
discussion to change the forum in which we conduct it which doesn’t necessarily
we conduct it which doesn’t necessarily
we conduct it which doesn’t necessarily require changing its content now why do
require changing its content now why do
require changing its content now why do I say that because
I say that because
I say that because there are certain political facts about
there are certain political facts about
there are certain political facts about Christianity in the United States that
Christianity in the United States that
Christianity in the United States that we cannot change overnight
we cannot change overnight
we cannot change overnight for example that evangelicals generally
for example that evangelicals generally
for example that evangelicals generally vote in certain ways on certain issues
vote in certain ways on certain issues
vote in certain ways on certain issues and that has been the huge sticking
and that has been the huge sticking
and that has been the huge sticking point for a lot of people but these are
point for a lot of people but these are
point for a lot of people but these are all issues of content their doctrinal
all issues of content their doctrinal
all issues of content their doctrinal issues that pastors have debated and
issues that pastors have debated and
issues that pastors have debated and will continue to do so but what all of
will continue to do so but what all of
will continue to do so but what all of us here today us common people or us non
us here today us common people or us non
us here today us common people or us non pastors at least what we all can do is
pastors at least what we all can do is
pastors at least what we all can do is change the way we think about and the
change the way we think about and the
change the way we think about and the way we hold these everyday conversations
way we hold these everyday conversations
way we hold these everyday conversations about religion if we do at all and if we
about religion if we do at all and if we
about religion if we do at all and if we can divest ourselves from the political
can divest ourselves from the political
can divest ourselves from the political model of conflict we can open up these
model of conflict we can open up these
model of conflict we can open up these discussions to a diversity of viewpoints
discussions to a diversity of viewpoints
discussions to a diversity of viewpoints and then to a genuine understanding and
and then to a genuine understanding and
and then to a genuine understanding and connection between people because well
connection between people because well
connection between people because well politics almost by its nature is
politics almost by its nature is
politics almost by its nature is irreconcilable one side will win when it
irreconcilable one side will win when it
irreconcilable one side will win when it counts religion is not that same sort of
counts religion is not that same sort of
counts religion is not that same sort of ballgame and it doesn’t do us any good
ballgame and it doesn’t do us any good
ballgame and it doesn’t do us any good to treat them the same way what I
to treat them the same way what I
to treat them the same way what I imagine is a future in which we can
imagine is a future in which we can
imagine is a future in which we can freely open these discussions about
freely open these discussions about
freely open these discussions about faith about ethics and about community
faith about ethics and about community
faith about ethics and about community because whether we’re religious or
because whether we’re religious or
because whether we’re religious or non-religious whichever religion were
non-religious whichever religion were
non-religious whichever religion were part of we all have a stake in these
part of we all have a stake in these
part of we all have a stake in these issues and these topics all matter and
issues and these topics all matter and
issues and these topics all matter and they matter so much that we cannot
they matter so much that we cannot
they matter so much that we cannot afford to play it like the pundits now
afford to play it like the pundits now
afford to play it like the pundits now of course when you go to open these
of course when you go to open these
of course when you go to open these discussions you’ll never meet with
discussions you’ll never meet with
discussions you’ll never meet with perfect agreement and that’s just how it
perfect agreement and that’s just how it
perfect agreement and that’s just how it is but only through trying this more
is but only through trying this more
is but only through trying this more open form of communication can we
open form of communication can we
open form of communication can we actually gain something to improve our
actually gain something to improve our
actually gain something to improve our communities and improve ourselves as
communities and improve ourselves as
communities and improve ourselves as individuals and I think we should give
individuals and I think we should give
individuals and I think we should give that a chance but we won’t gain anything
that a chance but we won’t gain anything
that a chance but we won’t gain anything if we always set out with this singular
if we always set out with this singular
if we always set out with this singular goal to convert which is almost like an
goal to convert which is almost like an
goal to convert which is almost like an expectation nowadays now I don’t mean to
expectation nowadays now I don’t mean to
expectation nowadays now I don’t mean to say that you need to compromise on your
say that you need to compromise on your
say that you need to compromise on your beliefs and I don’t mean to say that you
beliefs and I don’t mean to say that you
beliefs and I don’t mean to say that you need to agree to disagree but rather our
need to agree to disagree but rather our
need to agree to disagree but rather our beliefs are inevitably colored by
beliefs are inevitably colored by
beliefs are inevitably colored by encountering other people’s opinions by
encountering other people’s opinions by
encountering other people’s opinions by building relationships with them and by
building relationships with them and by
building relationships with them and by maneuvering in these relationships so in
maneuvering in these relationships so in
maneuvering in these relationships so in other words these conversations they’re
other words these conversations they’re
other words these conversations they’re valuable in and of themselves and really
valuable in and of themselves and really
valuable in and of themselves and really it’s on us for intentionally falling
it’s on us for intentionally falling
it’s on us for intentionally falling into these patterns of device
into these patterns of device
into these patterns of device that have been so counterproductive and
that have been so counterproductive and
that have been so counterproductive and so detrimental to Christianity and to
so detrimental to Christianity and to
so detrimental to Christianity and to the public image of organized religion
the public image of organized religion
the public image of organized religion as a whole in this country just talk for
as a whole in this country just talk for
as a whole in this country just talk for talks sake then maybe it can be powerful
talks sake then maybe it can be powerful
talks sake then maybe it can be powerful i opening and maybe even fun so i
i opening and maybe even fun so i
i opening and maybe even fun so i challenge all of you to raise the
challenge all of you to raise the
challenge all of you to raise the religion subject to a friend and break
religion subject to a friend and break
religion subject to a friend and break that silence and i know it can be done
that silence and i know it can be done
that silence and i know it can be done because i used to do it all the time
because i used to do it all the time
because i used to do it all the time when i was younger and i didn’t know any
when i was younger and i didn’t know any
when i was younger and i didn’t know any better and i know it can be done because
better and i know it can be done because
better and i know it can be done because i’ve done it right here politics and
i’ve done it right here politics and
i’ve done it right here politics and religion are these two secret topics
religion are these two secret topics
religion are these two secret topics that we have to avoid at the dinner
that we have to avoid at the dinner
that we have to avoid at the dinner table but let’s de couple those two and
table but let’s de couple those two and
table but let’s de couple those two and let’s deal with them differently because
let’s deal with them differently because
let’s deal with them differently because they are different and we have the power
they are different and we have the power
they are different and we have the power to change the way we hold these
to change the way we hold these
to change the way we hold these discussions and the way we consider
discussions and the way we consider
discussions and the way we consider these issues so let’s leave the news
these issues so let’s leave the news
these issues so let’s leave the news media to deal with vicious political
media to deal with vicious political
media to deal with vicious political conflicts and as for the rest of us
conflicts and as for the rest of us
conflicts and as for the rest of us let’s proclaim the good news
let’s proclaim the good news
let’s proclaim the good news [Music]
”
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