Boen Wang

In the moment, I'm convinced that it must be something beyond what any human is capable of. It must come from God. On the receiving end of his unconditional love, I consider being the prodigal son. For the briefest flash of a moment, I consider returning. When we were on the phone, this is how Dave ended the call. I didn't feel like I could say no. I didn't want to disappoint my white grandpa.

In the moment, I'm convinced that it must be something beyond what any human is capable of. It must come from God. On the receiving end of his unconditional love, I consider being the prodigal son. For the briefest flash of a moment, I consider returning. When we were on the phone, this is how Dave ended the call. I didn't feel like I could say no. I didn't want to disappoint my white grandpa.

Amen. I talk to Dave on Saturday night. Come Sunday, it's obvious where I have to go. Quick voice memo, because I'm already late, but I'm at the church. Kind of tired, woke up at 8.30, stayed up too late last night. Already late, but going to go to this Mandarin Sunday school. We'll see how it goes.

Amen. I talk to Dave on Saturday night. Come Sunday, it's obvious where I have to go. Quick voice memo, because I'm already late, but I'm at the church. Kind of tired, woke up at 8.30, stayed up too late last night. Already late, but going to go to this Mandarin Sunday school. We'll see how it goes.

This is the church where Dave led the Chinese fellowship, the one my parents attended, and that I attended as an infant until we moved away when I was two. What did this place mean to them? These are people who had zero experience with organized religion. What did they get from going? The Chinese Fellowship is now run by seven people.

This is the church where Dave led the Chinese fellowship, the one my parents attended, and that I attended as an infant until we moved away when I was two. What did this place mean to them? These are people who had zero experience with organized religion. What did they get from going? The Chinese Fellowship is now run by seven people.

Seven Daves, in other words, three of whom are Chinese and four of whom are white. I spoke to one of the new white Daves over the phone, who told me that I could record the service. But a few days later, while I was cooking butternut squash risotto, he called again and told me he had found a podcast called Jesus Wept.

Seven Daves, in other words, three of whom are Chinese and four of whom are white. I spoke to one of the new white Daves over the phone, who told me that I could record the service. But a few days later, while I was cooking butternut squash risotto, he called again and told me he had found a podcast called Jesus Wept.

Jesus Wept is a podcast my fiancée Grace and I make, where we analyze and, to be honest, make fun of various topics related to evangelical Christianity. We process our respective religious traumas through humor. In the most recent episode, I went to a Chinese church and recorded the service. Afterwards, Grace and I critiqued the speakers and, again, to be honest, made fun of them.

Jesus Wept is a podcast my fiancée Grace and I make, where we analyze and, to be honest, make fun of various topics related to evangelical Christianity. We process our respective religious traumas through humor. In the most recent episode, I went to a Chinese church and recorded the service. Afterwards, Grace and I critiqued the speakers and, again, to be honest, made fun of them.

I told Grace about how one of the speakers said that because Paul writes that women shouldn't have authority over men, she won't teach men in the church. So then, basically, she is like, well, in the church, I will teach women, I will teach children, but I will not teach men, except in specific circumstances. Like what? I don't know. Change a diaper? Maybe. Doesn't she have a fucking PhD?

I told Grace about how one of the speakers said that because Paul writes that women shouldn't have authority over men, she won't teach men in the church. So then, basically, she is like, well, in the church, I will teach women, I will teach children, but I will not teach men, except in specific circumstances. Like what? I don't know. Change a diaper? Maybe. Doesn't she have a fucking PhD?

She has a master's in divinity, yeah, from the seminary.

She has a master's in divinity, yeah, from the seminary.

Yeah.

Yeah.

New Dave tells me over the phone that after listening to the podcast, he's changed his mind and won't allow me to record anything in Norman, which is reasonable. I recorded a church service and made fun of it, and he doesn't want me to do the same thing to his church. In the podcast, I talk about how I don't believe in God.

New Dave tells me over the phone that after listening to the podcast, he's changed his mind and won't allow me to record anything in Norman, which is reasonable. I recorded a church service and made fun of it, and he doesn't want me to do the same thing to his church. In the podcast, I talk about how I don't believe in God.

And as we wrap up the conversation, New Dave says he needs my word that I won't record anything. He says, Which is kind of a weird thing to say, but I'm like, sure, you have my word. See you Sunday. When I enter the church, New Dave is waiting in the lobby. I shake his hand and tell him I'm not recording.

And as we wrap up the conversation, New Dave says he needs my word that I won't record anything. He says, Which is kind of a weird thing to say, but I'm like, sure, you have my word. See you Sunday. When I enter the church, New Dave is waiting in the lobby. I shake his hand and tell him I'm not recording.