In Good Faith
Chong Shao, Daniel Shih
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28: Everything In Its Right Place
In Good Faith
12/31/23 • 71 min
On today’s show, Chong and Dan look back on an eventful year. Along major dimensions - in technology, in geopolitics, in our socio-emotional lives, it feels like things are accelerating and spinning out of control. This leads to a discussion about peace - what is it, and how can we achieve it? Why does it seem like peace is only ever temporary? Where does chaos and disorder come from, that disturb the peace? Dan concludes with reflections on where ultimate peace is found - yes, Jesus - but goes to great lengths to explain this in the least-trite way possible.
Music by: Julian Wan
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Show notes
Big things have been happening (2:55)
- Social-technological - AI, medicine, Internet-mediated life...
- Geopolitical - Breakdown of Pax Americana
- Emotional-psychological - Awareness, acceptance and exploitation of disorders within the heart
- The external things affect us individually, and vice versa
The Nine Breakthroughs of the Year
How Anxiety Became Content
What do we mean by peace? (26:05)
- Absence of bad stuff; presence of good stuff
- Can we be at peace, even when things around us are bad?
- "Shalom" - the way things ought to be
What causes chaos and disorder? (37:50)
- Left-Right answer, circa early 2000s - individuals vs society
- Left-Right answer, circa 2020s - Common-Enemy politics
- The upshot - we are being affected both too little and too much by the outside world
Conclusion (53:20)
- Peace comes from an external intervention into the broken human world
- Peace requires a change in perspective - cosmic, eternal
- People are looking for peace; Christians can help them find it
4: Shut It Down
In Good Faith
06/23/20 • 56 min
On today's show Chong and Dan take stock of the current socio-political climate in the United States (and by extension, the rest of the West). In particular, we discuss the waves of cancellations and erasures that are occurring in newsrooms, campuses and media organisations, among other places. Why is this happening? And what are the problems that we see with this dynamic? We don’t have a satisfying answer for the way forward, but we agree that it must start with mercy and grace.
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References
James Bennet Resigns as New York Times Opinion Editor
Fawlty Towers: John Cleese attacks ‘cowardly’ BBC over episode’s removal
Netflix has quietly removed four of Chris Lilley’s shows, but it didn’t go unnoticed
UCLA professor: No racism in refusing to cancel final
List of monuments and memorials removed during the George Floyd protests
Margaret River’s Colonial beers ripped from shelves over name controversy
27: We Are Not Ready
In Good Faith
04/20/23 • 72 min
On today’s show, Chong and Dan plant their flag on the next transformational change facing society: Artificial Intelligence (AI). After a decades-long pursuit, pioneering researchers and organisations have been releasing AI products into the world, with amazing and unsettling results. We provide a primer on AI, focusing on ChatGPT and its Large Language Model relatives. Then Chong provides Dan with three near-future, AI-driven scenarios, to spark a discussion of what could come next. AI seems set to disrupt society, but we are still unsure by how much, given that so much of society still operates in the physical world. To be continued...
Music by: Julian Wan
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Show notes
Something big is happening (1:41)
- Human technology as (i) fire, (ii) sharp sticks and (ii) our brains
- The biggest upgrade to our brains is happening right now
- Planting the flag on AI - not exploring all the issues, but rather what it is and what it could mean for us
Existential risk, AI, and the inevitable turn in human history
AI primer (11:43)
- Neural networks, Large Language Models (LLM) and generative AI
- Intro to ChatGPT - how it works, what can be done
How to Become an Expert on A.I.
How Does ChatGPT Really Work?
What all this could mean (31:44)
- Scenario 1 - Disruption of “knowledge work”
- Scenario 2 - Teaching and learning overhauled
- Scenario 3 - “Her” will be real life
- How much does all this matter? Torn between “not as much” and “a whole lot”
Tinkering With ChatGPT, Workers Wonder: Will This Take My Job?
Don’t Ban ChatGPT in Schools. Teach With It.
Replika users fell in love with their AI chatbot companions. Then they lost them
You Can Have the Blue Pill or the Red Pill, and We’re Out of Blue Pills
Conclusion (1:07:09)
- We should be careful when wielding words...
17: Uncovering Culture
In Good Faith
03/20/21 • 68 min
On today’s show, Chong and Dan temporarily get into sports (American football). We use this as a launching point to talk about organisational culture. What is it, how is it created and sustained, and how can we affect it? Culture is a powerful and invisible force driving the behaviour of every collective human endeavour. We look at examples from the real world, including Dan’s personal and professional observations of how a culture of outward righteousness and inward spiritual emptiness can be perpetuated within the church 🔥🔥
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Show notes
A story about sports (2:14)
Super Bowl LI: A loss that made grown men cry
What is (organisational) culture? (9:22)
- Culture is to a group what personality is to an individual
- Guides behaviour; based on shared norms; below the surface; powerful impact
The Curse of Culture
How is culture created and sustained? (18:36)
- Repeated success in implementing group beliefs and values
- Examples: Australian Parliament and Apple Inc.
Inside the Toxic Sexist Culture of Australia’s Political Bubble
Bad church culture: the “dutiful Christian” (32:20)
- “As long as I show up to church and serve every now and then, then I’m OK with God”
- However, this does not help people know and enjoy God; it does the opposite
How do we affect culture? (43:48)
- Strategy; stories and symbols; habits; operating model; rewards and consequences; leadership
Conclusion (1:04:22)
- Culture is all around us; we can’t avoid it, but we can be aware of it and try to understand it
15: American Idols
In Good Faith
12/30/20 • 68 min
On today’s show, Chong and Dan give thanks for a challenging but fulfilling year. We then get into a juicy topic to finish the year: the relationship between religion and politics. Why is it “complicated”? And what are the dangers when Christians idolise politics? Using the Jericho March held in Washington DC on 12 December 2020 as a case study, we explore four kinds of faulty faith:
- Our personal experience and feeling are paramount (An individualistic faith)
- God’s purposes are for us (An optimistic faith)
- We are pure, they are evil (A Manichean faith)
- We can and must create a better world (A utopian faith)
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Show notes
Giving thanks for this year (02:17)
What is the relationship between religion and politics? (8:48)
- Spectrum between no distinction and hard distinction
- But practically - it’s complicated!
Background to the case study (16:57)
What I Saw at the Jericho March
What happened at the Jericho March (20:45)
- “The Jericho March was a worrying example of how Christianity can be twisted and drafted into the service of a political ideology” (Source: National Review)
Christianity as Ideology: The Cautionary Tale of the Jericho March
Problem 1: An individualistic faith (28:25)
- Jericho Marchers were told to trust their own hearts, that what they want is what God wants
- Lessons for us - Practice discernment; the heart is deceitful above all things (Jeremiah 17:9)
Problem 2: An optimistic faith (39:10)
- “Many of those people declared Trump to be ‘God’s anointed’... they believe that Trump had a special purpose and a special calling” (Source: The Dispatch)
- Lessons for us - God’s purposes are not necessarily man’s purposes; Christians are called to hope in what’s to come, not to be optimistic about the present
The Dangerous Idolatry of Christian Trumpism
Problem 3: A Manichean faith (46:41)
- Jericho Marchers were told that they are “children of light”, standing against the agents of darkness
- Lessons for us - The line between good and evil doesn’t run between Trump and Never-Trump, but through every human heart; the Bible teaches that we are no better than our enemies (Romans 3:22-23) and we are to love our enemies (Matthew 5:43-45)
Problem 4: A utopian faith (55:14)
- “[A speaker] likened the crowd to soldiers preparing for war to restore Eden. ‘We are here to save Earth and its inhabitants,’ he said.” (Source: The American Conservative)
- Lessons for us - Every political movement that has sought to “improve” society by seizing power and dictating thought/behaviour has led to disaster; at his trial, Jesus said that “my kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36)
Conclusion (1:04:38)
- God takes the long view; as Christians, live (and sacrifice) for His kingdom, not for any kingdom on earth
14: Let's Talk About Trump (Part II)
In Good Faith
11/19/20 • 83 min
On today's show, Chong and Dan continue their discussion on Donald Trump. In the previous episode, we tried in good faith to understand Trump and what he represents to his supporters. In this episode, we lay our cards on the table and explain why we think Trump is bad, and why we think it is a good thing that Trump lost his bid for re-election.
Even as we take a more critical view, we try to do this as fairly as possible - first, by laying out the facts of what happened during Trump’s presidency and his observable behaviours; and second, by giving our interpretation and opinion of the facts.
(This is Part II of a longer discussion. See Episode 13 for Part I. Recorded on 14/15 November 2020.)
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Show notes
Preface and caveat (02:59)
- We recognise the diversity of opinion on Trump
- Let's dispense with "what-aboutism" and have an honest reckoning
Corruption (06:36)
- Trump the grifter - before and during office
- Trump the norm-destroyer
- Takeaway: Trump's self-dealing is deeply corrosive to the ideals of public service and proper governance
A quick review of 40 years of investigations into Donald Trump and his businesses
The definitive list of the 20 presidential norms Trump broke
Competence (28:46)
- Trump lacks the temperament and ability to do the job
- Preference for image over reality shattered by COVID-19 pandemic
- Takeaway: Trump is not capable of managing, nor hiring the right people to manage, the massive and important machinery of the US Government
Breaking with tradition, Trump skips president’s written intelligence report and relies on oral briefings
The Trump Era Sucks and Needs to Be Over
Character (53:12)
- Trump not only fails to embody positive traits, but actively embodies the negative traits
- Trump has made his country more angry, anxious and divided, and has brought out the worst in everyone
- Takeaway: Trump's character is completely defective, and it has a toxic effect on the entire society (and tarnishes the reputation of Christians who champion him)
1 Corinthians 13
What happens when Trump gets out of our brains?
Conclusion (1:18:20)
- What is more important for Christians - our witness or our freedom?
23: You Belong With Me
In Good Faith
12/23/21 • 63 min
On today’s show, Chong and Dan commemorate an important milestone - after 10 years, Dan has completed bible college! The main topic of our show is “belonging”. We reflect on what is special about this word - it is passive (we don’t “do” it), and it is always in relation to something or someone else. Belonging is also a core part of our identity. Therefore it is no surprise that in our individualistic culture, there is a “crisis” of both belonging and identity. What is the “solution”? Dan boldly claims that true belonging cannot be fulfilled by this world, but rather granted by God.
Music by: Julian Wan
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Show notes
Dan finished bible college! (1:54)
- Reflections and quick-fire questions
- Huge personal lesson: everyone is walking their own path, you cannot plan for life
Meditations on belonging (7:11)
- You can’t “do” belonging
- You belong only in relation to other things - family, place, nation, etc.
- To belong is a fundamental aspect of human identity
- To belong is to have an obligation to others
The modern crisis of belonging (26:00)
- (Young) people who are lost - we all feel it
- Self-sabotage - showing up is hard, so we don’t do it, therefore sacrificing our long-term identity
- External obstacles in modern life
What is the solution? (45:46)
- We can’t get belonging just by trying harder
- Dan gets preachy - only Christianity offers true belonging through a God who sent his son into the world to find us
Conclusion (56:06)
- Parable of the Prodigal Son - belonging that is lost and found again, by grace
- Merry Christmas - please tell a friend about our show and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts :)
22: Know Yourself
In Good Faith
09/29/21 • 69 min
On today’s show, Chong and Dan begin with some special news (which explains why we're a bit late with this one). We then reflect a little bit more on the topic of slack, which really resonated with our listeners. From there, we delve into the practical matter of "knowing yourself" - how do you know how you are going? Dan and Chong discuss four sources of information:
- What your body tells you
- What your mind tells you
- What your conscience tells you
- What others tell you
NOTE: We are conducting a short survey to better understand and serve our listeners. Please access the survey here: http://tinyurl.com/IGFsurvey2021 Thanks very much for your help!
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Show notes
We’re back! (3:19)
- Follow-up: thank you to our listeners for the Slack episode reception
- Chong’s reflections on slack in the era of three kids
Knowing yourself (11:22)
- General vibe in listener feedback and culture that we’re not going so well
- How do you know how you are going?
There’s a Name for the Blah You’re Feeling: It’s Called Languishing
What your body tells you (17:05)
- We are embodied beings - signals include tiredness, pain and hunger
- Look after your own body, and show grace to the physical state of others
What your mind tells you (28:10)
- What does your mind dwell on
- Worry and anxiety - looking to the past (“if only”) and the future (“what if”)
- The inner voice / core beliefs
What your conscience tells you (44:08)
- Your moral sense of right or wrong
- Like pain - don’t ignore your conscience, it might be telling you something important!
What others tell you (55:16)
- Valuable because we can have our own blinders
- Requires giving people permission and willingness to be vulnerable
Conclusion (1:03:32)
- Stop hiding, stop running, stop covering up - be real with how you are going
- It’s OK to not be OK
- Honour your body
- Don’t neglect your relationships (A faithful friend, who can find?)
- Go deeper - what are your core beliefs?
21: Cut Some Slack
In Good Faith
08/07/21 • 62 min
On today’s show, Chong and Dan follow up on the topic of building by addressing one of the barriers to it - lack of capacity. We begin by surveying the cultural and economic landscape, where “efficiency” reigns. Dan gets real by sharing about how the pursuit of efficiency is impacting his personal life. We then dive into the antidote to efficiency: slack. What does it mean to have slack and what does the Bible have to say about it? Dan and Chong then ride their respective hobby horses - ministry and finances - in applying slack to our own lives.
NOTE: We are conducting a short survey to better understand and serve our listeners. Please access the survey here: http://tinyurl.com/IGFsurvey2021 Thanks very much for your help!
Connect with us
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Show notes
Efficiency, efficiency everywhere (5:11)
- Productivity in the Industrial Age and the Internet Age
- The dark side of pursuing efficiency and cutting costs - “costs” can be a good thing
- Dan’s personal lament
What is slack (18:44)
- Slack consists of excess resources that are not spent in the present, for future benefit
- Importance of slack - allows us to adapt and grow; enables us to handle the inevitable ups and downs of life; helps us to prioritise what is important and effective
Efficiency is the Enemy
Slack in the Bible (28:47)
- Rhythm of build and rest in the Creation account - efficiency as “build” gone awry - Genesis 2:1-3
- Gleaning - don’t gather up every single crop, but leave some for others - Leviticus 19:9-10
- Jesus took his time - to rest and pray (Luke 5:15-16), and to help the least of these (Mark 5:21-43)
- Fulfilling the greatest commandments requires slack - Matthew 22:36-39
Applying slack to our lives (41:46)
- Church and ministry - people are the most inefficient part of ministry, but they are the very substance of ministry
- Finances - major financial commitments can wipe away slack and cripple your spiritual life; be careful!
Conclusion (57:00)
- A good litmus test for whether you have slack in your life - do you have time for your family; do you have the capacity to love those from whom you stand to gain nothing
13: Let's Talk About Trump (Part I)
In Good Faith
11/19/20 • 102 min
On today's show, Chong and Dan are unleashed. Using the 2020 US election as a launching point, we finally get to the topic that has dominated political discussion and general consciousness over the past four years - Donald Trump.
We start by recapping what happened in the election and how to interpret the results. We then address the question that has been on everyone’s minds: “What’s the deal with Donald Trump?” Despite his apparent flaws, Trump is on track to win 10 million more votes in 2020 compared to 2016.
We think there is a simple, comforting lie and a complex, uncomfortable truth. With great trepidation and in good faith, we delve into the latter in order to better understand Trump and his supporters.
(This is Part I of a longer discussion. See Episode 14 for Part II. Recorded on 14/15 November 2020.)
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- Email - [email protected]
Show notes
The 2020 US election (09:22)
- What happened - the stakes, the process, the results
- Interpreting what happened
- A word on questioning the results and "voter fraud"
Exit Polls Point to the Power of White Patriarchy
How independents, Latino voters and Catholics shifted from 2016 and swung states for Biden and Trump
Trump’s Economy Really Was Better Than Obama’s
“Disruptor” of conventional politics (48:59)
- Trump as the ultimate outsider
- Even in power, he tried to maintain this status
“Fighter” for back-row America (52:41)
- People who are struggling and against the elites
- Psychological and stylistic attraction
Dignity by Chris Arnade
“Champion” of America-first interests (1:01:26)
- International arena - trade, diplomacy, war
- Mix of rhetoric and practice
“Republican” standard-bearer (1:04:02)
- Republicans vote for the Republican ̄\_(ツ)_/ ̄
- Explains the consistency of his support
“Enemy of the Left” (1:07:20)
- A bulwark against progressivism - for Christians and non-Christians alike
- A word on minority groups and why the Left shouldn't take their support for granted
LatinX-plaining the election
Immigrants and the American Dream
“Ally” of the religious right (1:25:49)
- Trump has delivered, transactionally speaking
- Folk Christianity and Trump worship
Christian Conservatives Respond to Trump’s Loss and Look Ahead
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FAQ
How many episodes does In Good Faith have?
In Good Faith currently has 28 episodes available.
What topics does In Good Faith cover?
The podcast is about Culture, Christianity, Society & Culture, Society, Religion & Spirituality, Podcasts, Religion, Thinking and Reflection.
What is the most popular episode on In Good Faith?
The episode title '22: Know Yourself' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on In Good Faith?
The average episode length on In Good Faith is 66 minutes.
How often are episodes of In Good Faith released?
Episodes of In Good Faith are typically released every 31 days, 15 hours.
When was the first episode of In Good Faith?
The first episode of In Good Faith was released on May 30, 2020.
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