The Greensboro Pigfest Report

The conversation was lively, and the food was great. It was our first PigFest that we “themed”, in this case with predominantly Mexican food. The evening featured the following propositional exchanges:

Proposition #1: Hard power will be needed in responding to situations like Iran, rather than soft power, because soft power does not work without hard power. The participant cited an Economist quote from an Iranian leader: “Thank God that our enemies are idiots.” Does soft power work given the state of human nature? Some contrasted the difference in political philosophy based on differing opinions to human nature, as illustrated in Reagan versus Carter foreign policy models. This resulted in some background on the idea of “checks and balances” advanced by our Founding Fathers because of their suppositions about the fallen nature of man. The timer stopped us short.

Proposition #2: Americans are not good at applying cultural context to our reading.
We must think more thoughtfully about the use and meaning of literary phrases that require contextual interpretation. For example, in the book The Alchemist, the term “omen” is used. The negative reaction to this may be specific to American interpretations of this as a negative, demon-related expression; while in other cultures this term refers to the appearances of God. People view all literature through “worldview lenses” and we must be aware of this. This challenge is becoming more acute as the world becomes “smaller” (i.e., more connected). Ideas were suggested about how we can become more globally literate.

Proposition #3: Pat Robertson was wrong in his recent statements about Sharon
One person discussed his recent visit to the Middle East and the convincing conversations he had with Palestinians, particularly Palestinian Christians. This made him wonder if we have been oversold on a “blind fidelity” to Israel. Another noted that “taking the Lord’s name in vain” in the Hebrew actually refers not so much to swearing, according to the rabbis, but to the inappropriate assumption of the voice of God in communicating with others, which he suggested is Mr. Robertson’s chief problem in these kinds of pronouncements. Another referenced a new book by a Wheaton professor on the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Proposition #4: There should not be a Christian Party
Reference was made to Abraham Kuyper and his notion of “sphere sovereignty” and the idea of a Christian party. One noted the essay by C.S. Lewis on the subject of Christian Political Parties (in God in the Dock), in which Lewis noted that it would be a bad idea. One asked, “Why? To rule?” Another mentioned Jesus and the coin, where he notes that we ought to render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s. Another referenced Colson’s book, Kingdoms in Conflict. Others noted that if key issues arose in either party, they might defect, and the only option would be an Independent ticket or a new party altogether.


Tikkun Olam: how to improve PigFests as they emerge around the country? One person noted that one great problem in our New Society is a “lack of front porches”…which is one aspect of what Pigfests hope to recreate. The Roanoke idea to have people come with a proposition card was well received. Others highlighted the importance of a “starter kit” to make it easy for people to get their own groups going….