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Gregg begins this episode by relating how his mediation training can help people be their best selves, which he also sees as both the focus and result of being a Christian.  Part of his excitement concerns the hope that mediation can contribute towards restoring relationships–moving beyond the disposability of relationships to seeing yourself and the other person in new ways.

So in a mediation context each disputant has their view of the truth and each may well have a true view of their position, however putting that truth in the context of the whole often changes things.  John observes how, ironically, Christian culture is typically uncomfortable with “multiple truths” and instead there must be one “right” and one “wrong.”
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This week John and Gregg discuss Chapters 1 and 2 from Darin Hufford’s book titled The Misunderstood God: The Lies Religion Tells About God.

We have mixed feelings about the book. Hufford makes some good observations about what doesn’t work in Christianity which is refreshing and yet also makes sweeping generalizations about how people feel and experience things we couldn’t relate to.

The general focus of Hufford’s presentation is that “we” (he uses that phrase a lot to refer to all Christians) have been lied to by our Christian culture about who God is and how he relates to us. Each chapter takes a look at different misunderstandings about God Hufford perceives.

Hufford suggests that the way we live and experience of God does not match the message Christians proclaim and that Christians live and act like their relationship with God is working when it’s really not.

Hufford asks a large audience if they are miserable in their relationship with God and many people raise their hands. This is a turning point for the way Hufford approaches Christianity.
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This episode starts with John thinking more about topic of justice from the things Gregg shared in Episode #5. Gregg takes issue with John’s assertion that we’d all be better of if we all assumed other people were always doing the best that they can. Gregg wonders exactly what that means, especially when the stakes are very high.

John observes that some Christians are very focused on the idea that one day God’s justice will reign on the earth. Gregg sees this preoccupation as problematic and the easy way out. Gregg relates to his own orientation–that God loves him furiously. As a result, for example, Gregg is not focused on wishing justice for the wrongs previously done to him by his father.

Gregg observes how in the story of Job that God doesn’t respond to any of Job’s questions, but instead responds with God’s self. In the same way Gregg has experienced God showing up for him in a way that is real and meaningful and as a result he doesn’t need God to set past wrongs straight.
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