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I – “From noon to three, the whole earth was dark. Around mid-afternoon Jesus groaned out of the depths, crying loudly, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” Some bystanders who heard him said, “He’s calling for Elijah.” One of them ran and got a sponge soaked in sour wine and lifted it on a stick so he could drink. The others joked, “Don’t be in such a hurry. Let’s see if Elijah comes and saves him.” But Jesus, again crying out loudly, breathed his last. At that moment, the Temple curtain was ripped in two, top to bottom. There was an earthquake, and rocks were split in pieces. What’s more, tombs were opened up, and many bodies of believers asleep in their graves were raised. (After Jesus’ resurrection, they left the tombs, entered the holy city, and appeared to many.) The captain of the guard and those with him, when they saw the earthquake and everything else that was happening, were scared to death. They said, “This has to be the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:45-54 – The Message)

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II – “So why are you now trying to out-god God, loading these new believers down with rules that crushed our ancestors and crushed us, too? Don’t we believe that we are saved because the Master Jesus amazingly and out of sheer generosity moved to save us just as he did those from beyond our nation? So what are we arguing about?” There was dead silence. No one said a word. With the room quiet, Barnabas and Paul reported matter-of-factly on the miracles and wonders God had done among the other nations through their ministry. The silence deepened; you could hear a pin drop. James broke the silence. “Friends, listen. Simeon has told us the story of how God at the very outset made sure that racial outsiders were included. This is in perfect agreement with the words of the prophets: After this, I’m coming back; I’ll rebuild David’s ruined house; I’ll put all the pieces together again; I’ll make it look like new so outsiders who seek will find, so they’ll have a place to come to, All the pagan peoples included in what I’m doing.” God said it and now he’s doing it. It’s no afterthought; he’s always known he would do this.” (Acts 15:10-18 – The Message)

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III – “In worshipping the moon in the water of the well people forget about the real moon up in the sky. They take the reflection to be the real thing and the well to be the entire sky. And over time as this habit grows stronger through generations by tradition, the very thought of a moon and a sky outside the well strikes like blasphemy.” – Abhijit Naskar

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IV – “It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God.” – Thomas Jefferson

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V – “wherein there is no Greek [figure of the multitudes who are non-Jews, and of those who are cultured and civilized] and Jew [figure of a covenant people of God], circumcision and uncircumcision [figure for religious in-groups and out-groups; there is no longer a covenant people versus non-covenant people], barbarian [foreigner who speaks a different language], Scythian [figure or example of wild, uncivilized groups], slave, freeman, but to the contrary, Christ [is] all, and within all (or: Christ [is] all humanity, and within all mankind; or: Christ [is] everything or all things, and within everything and all things; [note: the Greek is plural, and is either masculine, signifying “mankind,” or neuter, signifying all creation, in these phrases]).” (Colossians 3:11 – JMMT)

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VI – “All the old fashions are now obsolete. Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ.” (Colossians 3:11 – The Message)

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VII – “The world has only one border. It is called humanity. The differences between us are small compared to our shared humanity. Put humans first.” – Nadia Murad

AI notes below:

Exploring Inclusivity, Cultural Identity,

and Religious Evolution in Modern

Society

Inclusivity, Cultural Identity, Religious Evolution

Theme

This lecture delves into the themes of inclusivity, cultural identity, and the

evolution of religious practices. It critiques traditional religious interpretations,

emphasizing the tearing of the temple veil as a symbol of direct access to God.

The speaker discusses the human aspect of Jesus, the inclusivity of his

message, and the challenges faced by early apostles in accepting Gentiles. The

lecture also critiques cultural imperialism in missionary work and highlights the

importance of separating church and state. Through personal anecdotes, the

speaker underscores the need for authenticity, transparency, and breaking down

cultural and racial prejudices.

Takeaways

8. The speaker discusses the challenges and limitations faced by religious

families.

9. The speaker reflects on societal changes regarding acceptance of

LGBTQ+ individuals.

10. The speaker discusses the symbolism of the veil being torn in the temple

during Jesus' crucifixion.

Highlights

 "Surely goodness and mercy follow me all the days of my life."

 "Human interaction changes how you feel about other people."

 "The world has only one border. It is called humanity."

Chapters & Topics

Symbolism of the Veil in the Temple

The tearing of the veil in the temple during Jesus' crucifixion symbolizes

the breaking down of barriers between God and humanity.

 Keypoints

o The veil separated the Holy of Holies from the public.

o Its tearing represents the removal of separation between God and

people.

o This event is only mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew.

 Explanation

The speaker reflects on the symbolism of the veil being torn in two,

suggesting it represents the dismantling of religious barriers and the direct

access to God.

Evolution of Religious Practices

The transition from the natural state of humanity in the Garden of Eden

to structured religious practices and temples.

 Keypoints

o Humanity began in a natural state with God in the Garden of Eden.

o Over time, religious practices became more structured and

controlled.

o The evolution included the building of temples and the

establishment of religious hierarchies.

 Explanation

The speaker discusses how religious practices evolved from a natural

state of being with God to structured systems with hierarchies and

barriers.

Human Aspect of Jesus

The lecture discusses the human aspect of Jesus during the crucifixion,

highlighting his conflict and suffering.

 Keypoints

o Jesus' human emotions and conflict during the crucifixion.

o The parallel between Jesus' suffering and the struggles faced by

people in ministry.

 Explanation

The speaker emphasizes that Jesus, while performing the ultimate act of

love, experienced human emotions of conflict and suffering. This is

paralleled with the struggles faced by individuals in ministry, as

exemplified by Jeremiah's lamentations.

Inclusivity in Christianity

The lecture emphasizes the inclusivity of Jesus' message, extending

beyond the Jewish people to all nationalities.

 Keypoints

o Early apostles struggled with the inclusion of Gentiles.

o Jesus' interactions with non-Jews and the shift in his understanding

of his mission.

 Explanation

The speaker discusses how the early apostles initially believed Jesus'

message was only for the Jewish people. However, through interactions

with non-Jews, Jesus and his followers began to understand the universal

nature of his message.

Critique of Cultural Imperialism in Missionary Work

The lecture critiques the historical imposition of Western culture in

missionary work.

 Keypoints

o Missionaries often imposed their own culture rather than just

spreading the gospel.

o The conflation of Christianity with Western cultural norms.

 Explanation

The speaker critiques how missionaries historically imposed Western

cultural norms on other nations, rather than focusing solely on spreading

the gospel. This included attempts to 'whiten' non-Western peoples and

cultures.

Separation of Church and State

The concept that government and religious institutions are to be kept

separate, ensuring freedom of religion and freedom from religion.

 Keypoints

o Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin did not identify as

evangelical Christians.

o The separation was to avoid a mandated church like in England.

o Freedom of religion includes the freedom to be an atheist.

 Explanation

The founding fathers intended to create a system where individuals could

practice any religion or none at all, without government interference. This

was a response to the religious mandates in England, ensuring that the

U.S. would not have a state-sponsored religion.

Cultural Identity

The idea that individuals can fully belong to multiple cultures

simultaneously.

 Keypoints

o Eva and Gloria's statement of being 100% Mexican and 100%

American.

o Cultural identity is not limited to a single heritage.

 Explanation

Cultural identity is complex and multifaceted, allowing individuals to

embrace multiple heritages fully. This challenges the notion of being 'half'

of one culture and 'half' of another.

Mispronunciation as Racism

The deliberate or careless mispronunciation of names as a form of

othering and racism.

 Keypoints

o Mispronouncing names can be a way to signal that someone is not

part of the dominant group.

o It can be a subtle form of exclusion and discrimination.

 Explanation

Mispronouncing someone's name, especially when it is done repeatedly or

deliberately, can serve as a microaggression that reinforces racial and

cultural hierarchies. It suggests that the person is not worth the effort to

learn their name correctly.