Claim OwnershipIn Good Faith
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© 2024 In Good Faith
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In Good Faith is a podcast where two friends talk about society and culture through a Christian lens and in good faith. We seek to approach everything with charity and curiosity, and aim to help our listeners do the same. Presented by Chong Shao and Daniel Shih.
28 Episodes
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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 go...
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...
On today’s show, Chong and Dan share what’s been going on in our lives during a busy 2022. This gets us to unpack the concept of “busyness”, and how we in modern society constantly strain against our limits and wonder if we are doing “enough”. Drawing on insights from the book You’re Only Human, we consider how limits are not an inherently bad thing. We also explore the root of our busyness, namely pride in pursuing our own interests and seeking to be the master of our own lives. We conclude ...
On today’s show, Chong and Dan examine the elephant in the current affairs room - the Russo-Ukrainian War. We start by introducing the frame of the End of History, the famous work of political philosophy which posited liberal democracy as the final form of human government after the Cold War. The 1990s and 2000s were great, but now History is back with a vengeance. Rather than discussing the intricacies of the war, we unpack why the war matters by reflecting on four ideas:There is such a thin...
On today’s show, Chong and Dan plants the flag on a topic that is looming large on the horizon: the metaverse. We begin by exploring how previous technologies have transformed society and worship, including automobiles (leading to megachurches) and smartphones (leading to Instavangelists). The metaverse looks like the next “big thing”. What is it, and why should people (including Christians) care about it? Drawing on a Gospel Coalition article, we critically examine the metaverse through thre...
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”? Da...
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 youWhat your mind tells youWhat your conscience tells youWhat others tell youNOTE: We are conducting a shor...
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 - minis...
On today’s show, Chong and Dan begin by reflecting on the one year anniversary of In Good Faith. We share things we’ve learned, our favourite episodes, and give a heartfelt thanks to our excellent listeners. From there we launch into the topic of building things (not to build up our resume, but to build for others and our society). What are the barriers to building, what does the Bible have to say about building, and what are own experiences with building? We conclude with an exhortation to o...
On today’s show, Chong and Dan continue discussing the book “The Wisdom Pyramid” by Christian author Brett McCracken. We begin by distinguishing information (which we covered in the previous episode) from wisdom, and note how the latter is about the practical - doing, applying, discerning and living well. We then examine each layer of Brett’s pyramid, starting from the foundational aspect (the Bible) and working our way up. Along the way we share our personal experiences and failings, and pre...
On today’s show, Chong and Dan begin a two-parter on the book “The Wisdom Pyramid” by Christian author Brett McCracken. In the first episode, we set the scene by discussing a particularly modern sickness: information obesity. As with the abundance of food, so today there is an abundance of information. We explore why this is a problem, and share three information habits from our personal lives that make us “sick”. In the next episode, we will unpack the sources of truth that lead to a life of...
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 b...
On today’s show, Chong and Dan start by explaining our absence (there’s a good reason!) and sharing our resolutions for 2021. We then get into the realm of philosophy by exploring how one can resolve moral dilemmas. After a quick visit to the Enlightenment, we explore two well-known approaches to moral thinking, utilitarianism and deontological ethics. Finally, we apply them to a case study involving COVID-19 vaccines. How do they help us to think through the issues, what are their weaknesses...
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 optim...
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 presiden...
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 202...
On today's show, Chong and Dan return to the topic of freedom. We start by responding to a thoughtful emailer who questioned the way we traced the popular definition of freedom to the Existentialist movement. We then delve deeper into the idea that freedom is not about lack of constraints, but rather the presence of good constraints that help us to pursue good objectives. We finish by talking about the Christian perspective on freedom - what does it say that we are free from and free for, and...
On today’s show, Chong and Dan address the idea of freedom, its promises and perils. We start with a popular definition of freedom ("I can do whatever I want, and not be subject to anything else") and trace its roots to the Existentialist philosophy of the 20th century. We then discuss examples of how this idea is expressed in (Western) society and culture, before tackling the problems with it. Rather than focusing on freedom, should we instead be thinking more carefully about the constraints...
On today’s show, Chong and Dan continue their interview with John McClean. We discuss what it means for Christians to "transform" our culture and use Chong's work as a case study. Finally, using the Benedict Option book as a launching point, we discuss what it looks like for Christians to live and worship in a secularising world.John is Vice Principal of Christ College (in Sydney, NSW) and teaches in the areas of Christian Thought focusing on Systematic Theology and Ethics. He is the convenor...
On today’s show, Chong and Dan is joined by John McClean to discuss the “culture war” and what Christians should think and do about it. We discuss how the culture war relates to the church’s mission to be a witness and to bless the nations.John is Vice Principal of Christ College (in Sydney, NSW) and teaches in the areas of Christian Thought focusing on Systematic Theology and Ethics. He is the convenor of the Gospel, Society and Culture (GS&C) Committee of the Presbyterian Church of NSW ...
On today’s show, Chong and Dan wrap up an informal three-part cycle of shows by examining how we think, specifically via the topic of logical fallacies. We discuss two common logical fallacies that appear in everyday conversations, news, commentary, books and podcasts (other people's podcasts, of course). The straw man is when you misrepresent your opponent's argument and the motte-and-bailey is when you misrepresent your own argument - but why would you do that?Connect with usInstagram - htt...
On today’s show, Chong and Dan examine two approaches to making the world a better place, one that starts on the outside and one that starts within. We advocate for the latter and present a framework for thinking about individual wellbeing that we will revisit in future episodes. In the second part of the episode, we explore one aspect of wellbeing - practicing virtue - through examples from our own lives.Connect with usInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/ingoodfaithfmTwitter - https://twit...
On today's show Chong and Dan dig into the perils and problems of the internet by seeking to answer the question: "Why is everyone angry all the time?" (Or so it seems). We discuss the profound changes that communication technologies have wrought on societies and unpack how the internet is changing society today in four ways:The internet connects everyone and everythingThe internet doesn’t forgetThe internet depends on, and demands, our attentionThe internet changes how we communicateConnect ...
On today's show Chong and Dan continue the discussion about society reckoning with its complicated past, this time through the lens of biblical history. How does the Christian faith reconcile the moral failings of its protagonists with its vision of a just and perfect future? We suggest this is done through the concept of ‘grace’. What is it, how does it link to forgiveness, and how can we apply it to our present circumstances?Connect with usInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/ingoodfaithfm...
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.Connect with ...
On today's show Chong and Dan begin with thoughts on George Floyd's killing and its aftermath. We share our reflections on the importance of respecting this moment and how (not) to use social media. In the main part of the episode, we look at a framework for explaining society's posture towards Christianity: Positive World, Neutral World and Negative World. What do each of these mean, where are we today and how should Christians live in response?Connect with usInstagram - https://www.instagra...
On today's show Chong and Dan use the COVID-19 situation as a springboard to talk about a very important concept in philosophy and psychology: motivated reasoning. What is it, when does it become a problem, what does the Bible say about it, and how can we combat it in our own lives? (Note: this episode was recorded before the protests that have occurred in the aftermath of George Floyd's killing in the United States. We refer to earlier protests against the coronavirus shelter-in-place orders...
On today's show Chong and Dan introduce the podcast and its premise. What are we trying to achieve? What does it mean to apply a 'Christian lens'? Why do we think it is important to have dialogue that is 'in good faith'? In the second part of the episode, we get vulnerable with some personal sharing on how our experiences and upbringing have shaped the thinking that we are bringing to the podcast.Connect with usInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/ingoodfaithfm/Twitter - https://twitter.com/...
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