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Ken Fong stumbled across an opinion piece in the L.A. TIMES by Osamudia James, Professor of Law at the University of North Carolina. Entitled - Florida’s censorship of ‘diversity’ efforts are a tantrum born of white guilt - Kemp agreed the article is worthy of full discussion. The author's phrase, "white innocence," underscores the claim made by Robyn DiAngelo in her now classic book, White Fragility. White folks instinctively resist real conversations about race, often with vigor. Ken Fong wanted to know if The Beached White Male agreed: Is white folks' common claim to "innocence" a factor in the Anti-Woke, Anti-CRT campaign that this article calls a childish "tantrum"? In response, Kemp shares his journey - from conservative white Boomer to host of his progressive podcast. He identifies as "white," but deplores "whiteness." The two Kens explore their personal stories that confirm the good professor's thesis. They call out the Florida governor's highly politicized crusade against D.E.I. (diversity, equity, and inclusion) for what Kemp calls "whiteness at work." SHOW NOTES

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Ken welcomes tenured UCLA Professor and prolific author, Dr. Robert Chao Romero to the podcast. They discuss his new book: Christianity and Critical Race Theory: A Faithful and Constructive Conversation. CRT and “Wokism” have become misappropriated political tropes across the country. Dr. Romero and Jeff Liou have collaborated on a compelling book that makes an important contribution to the conversation, bringing correction, insight, and inspiration. The terms CRT and “WOKE” have been weaponized in a way that distorts their intended meanings and adds to our political, social, and spiritual polarization. A deeply committed Christian, Dr. Romero has been teaching CRT for many years in both undergraduate and graduate courses at the university, long before the terms appeared on the public scene. Equipped with a master's degree (UCLA) a law degree (UC Berkeley) and a Ph.D. (UCLA), Robert is uniquely positioned to demystify the controversy and represent a biblical perspective that challenges the popular notions that are being used to silence history, perpetuate misinformation and fuel racial animosities. SHOW NOTES

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After a few weeks break, Ken and Betsey reunited at their imaginary beach and catch up on the headlines. The passing of the popular pastor and author Tim Keller signals the loss of an unusual evangelical: theologically and socially conservative, but a fresh, intelligent, innovative voice who left a lasting impact on the city of New York and beyond. Ken offers a review of his current read, The Other Evangelicals - A Story of Liberal, Black, Progressive, Feminist, and Gay Christians―and the Movement That Pushed Them Out. Ken names some of them: Harry Emerson Fosdick, Tom Skinner, Jim Wallis, Nancy Hardesty, Virginia Mollenkott, and Ralph Blair to name a few. Betsey and Ken raise the question: "Who decides who is an 'Evangelical'"? The New York Times predicts that the former president is the inevitable nominee of the Republican Party. His lock on a base that measures 30-35% of the voting public makes him virtually unbeatable. That base holds firm even in the face of a flurry of legal challenges, which include massive civil penalties, sanctions and even jail time. The rising number of Republican challengers doesn't change the calculation. If anything, it makes Tr**p's nomination all the more likely. Betsey compares and contrasts the political styles of the governor of Florida and the Secretary of Transportation - DeSantis vs. Buttigieg. She favors the latter.

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Dr. Peter Enns returns to the podcast to discuss his brand new book Curve-ball - When Your Faith Takes Turns You Never Saw Coming* or How I Stumbled and Tripped My Way to Finding a Bigger God. Pete admits it's the longest title in the history of publishing. The popular professor, author (see show notes for his many other books), and podcaster (The Bible for Normal People) drops his guard like never before sharing his spiritual and intellectual journey from his days as an aspiring baseball player to progressive Christian thinker. "Wrestling with God and Scripture is very old and completely normal. Actually, it's God-activated," he says. In reviewing the book, Ken and Pete talk about Noah, Jonah, and Jesus as archetypes in the struggle. Richard Rohr, David Bentley Hart, Thomas Oord and Rachel Held Evans get honorable mention as guides. Evolution is a major "curveball" for many Christians. Pete is especially interested in the chaos and "weirdness" of physics and quantum mechanics, all of which have opened Pete's mind and heart to a much bigger and more profound notion of God. While Pete avoids the clichéd use of the over-used and misappropriated descriptor, "deconstruction," he traces a normal, natural, and healthy evolution in our understanding of faith and our relationship to the God of the Universe. SHOW NOTES

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Professor, comedian, podcaster and now author, R. Scott Okamoto returns to the podcast to discuss his new book: Asian American Apostate - Losing my Religion and Finding Myself at an Evangelical University (Ev.U.). After reading the volume cover to cover, Ken shares his written review which will appear on the Amazon site featuring Scott's book. Throughout Scott's college and graduate school life, he identified as a committed evangelical Christian, working closely with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. Earning his B.A. at the University of California at San Diego and then his M.A. at the University of San Francisco, Scott began teaching as an adjunct at a high-profile evangelical university (Ev.U.) in Southern California. Within a few years, he became popular a full professor in the English department. But as he taught, privately, his Christian faith began to unravel. The conservative political culture, the exclusivist fundamentalism, the racial insensitivities, and the gender debates all contributed to what he now calls a complete deconstruction of his faith. After leaving Ev.U., Scott created a safe space for others to discover freedom, identity, and community outside the structures and strictures of high-demand religion and conservative politics. He tells his story and theirs in this episode of the podcast, his new book, and his many interviews as host of his own popular podcast - Chapel Probation. SHOW NOTES.

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If you missed the Coronation, you'll want to tune in here. Ken welcomes back author, historian, columnist, and lay minister in the Church of England, Martyn Whittock. It's a lively conversation between a curious American and a scholarly Brit. Ken acknowledges the appearance of excess, the residual of colonialism, and the confusion over the cozy Church/State dynamic. That said, Ken then explains his personal family connection to London, to the former Prince Charles, and to the King's carriages - and how he finds the pomp and circumstance so moving.

From his home in Bath, England, Martyn shares his perspective on the historic celebration of the Coronation of King Charles III in London, the first in 70 years. Charle's mother, Queen Elizabeth, was crowned in 1953. Martyn just published a comprehensive article in Brittain's Christian Today explaining the 1,000 years of coronation history at Westminster Abbey in London. Martyn gives a first-person response to the grand celebration that captured the rapt attention of the nation, the Commonwealth, and the world. The ceremony was filled with symbolism, much of which Martyn explains. Ken quizzes his guest on the future of the monarchy and the nature of his "Christian nation" as it compares to the American version of Christian Nationalism. Martyn relays 1,000 years of history in which the monarch evolved as non-political and Parliament emerged as a secular governing body, today with a professing Hindu as Prime Minister (Rishi Sunak). Martyn shares his thoughts on the two couples in the spotlight - William & Kate and Harry & Megan.  

Martyn also introduces his new book to be released in the Fall: American Vikings - How the Norse Sailed into the Lands and Imaginations of America

SHOW NOTES - See Martyn's books, TV appearances, and published articles

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Ken and Betsey review her visit to Southern California, which included a visit to the high desert "Super Bloom" of poppies and spring color, an evening conversation around the topic "Reimagining the Church," and a tour of Ken Fong's beautiful Japanese garden. Joe Biden is an official candidate for the Democratic nomination for a second term as POTUS. Polls predict a rematch of the two aging politicians - Biden v. Tr**p - as "most likely"... but the majority of Americans don't want it. The annual Correspondents Dinner put Joe Biden in the spotlight. Noting his stellar performance, it led  Ken to the conclusion that "maybe he can do it." There's yet another firing at a high-profile evangelical college in the Mid-West over ANTI-WOKE/ANTI-CRT - Professor Julie Moore at Taylor University. Secretary Pete gets the credit for the theme of Biden's campaign: Freedom!

SHOW NOTES - including photo galleries from Crystal Cove, the Super Bloom, and Ken Fong's Garden.

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Ken welcomes the popular scholar, professor, author, and podcaster, Dr. Peter Enns. Pete's podcast, The Bible for Normal People ("the only God-ordained podcast on the internet") has a broad and wide reach, exploring the sacred text along with his co-host Jared Byas. They have interviewed a wide range of scholars from many religious and theological backgrounds. Ken especially appreciates his watershed book, The Sin of Certainty. The two share their journeys through seminary, and Pete gets candid about his experience at Harvard where he completed his dissertation and earned that Ph.D. Pete's early book, Inspiration and Incarnation: Evangelicals and the Problem of the Old Testament, sparked a controversy that led to his departure as full professor at Westminster Theological Seminary. Pete candidly shares the awakenings he experienced in those formative days and the freedom he enjoys today. SHOW NOTES

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Ken welcomes professor, fellow podcaster, and author Dr. Brad Onishi back to the podcast to talk about his new book - Preparing for War - The Extremist History of White Christian Nationalism and What Comes Next (release date: January 3, 2023). A long-time friend of the podcast, Brad has been busy after a major event in Denver focussed on Christian Nationalism last month with a large audience both live and virtual. It featured major influencers and thinkers including Robert P. Jones,  Sam Perry, Katherine Steward, Larycia Hawkins, and his podcast partner, Dan Miller. In addition to his regular podcast, Straight White American Jesus,. Brad is releasing a series on The New Apostolic Reformation with Professor Matthew Taylor, Ph.D. It's an expose on a growing movement advancing an extreme dominion version of Christianity. Brad introduces his book which traces what we now know as Christian Trumpism from the 1960s to the present in the context of his own personal journey - beginning with his conversion in high school in Orange County (CA); the great mid-west and Southern migration to California, the John Birch Society, The Crystal Cathedral and Robert Schuller, his own Friends Church (predominantly white) and Friendship Baptist Church (predominantly black), to Dr. James Dobson and his secular eugenicist mentor, Dr. Paul Pompenoe. Onishi fills in the background on two Jericho Marches, featuring Eric Metaxas, Michael Flynn and Alex Jones,  which were a prelude to the January 6 Insurrection. Finally, the two discuss the ways in which American Evangelicalism finds its roots in The Lost Case Narrative of the South. SHOW NOTES

Originally aired December 2022

Purchase Brad's new Book: Preparing for War - The Extremist History of White Christian Nationalism--and What Comes Next   

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Podcasters Ken Fong and Ken Kemp come together again as The Two Kens to unpack the drama of an historical moment in American political history - a former President of the United States was indicted by a Grand Jury and arraigned on thirty-four felony counts. While the nation debates the merits of the case brought by District Attorney Alvin  Bragg before Judge Juan Merchan, the Two Ken's reflect on the import of bringing Donald J. Trump into the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse accused of falsifying official records relative to the payment of $130,000 to Stormy Daniels in exchange for her silence. In his introduction to the podcast, Kemp takes time to comment on another major event: the expulsion of two young lawmakers from the Tennessee House of Representatives, Justin Jones and Justin Pearson. 

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