S3 E07: Scott Okamoto on losing faith and becoming an English professor at an evangelical school + his thoughts on Oppenheimer

GUEST BIO

Scott Okamoto is a former English professor and ex-Evangelical writer, musician, and home chef. His newly released book is called Asian American Apostate: Losing Religion and Finding Myself at an Evangelical University. In the book, Scott tells his story of losing all faith while teaching at an evangelical university. Through this process, he dug deep into his roots as a 4th generation Japanese American and found community, art, music, and a life worth living. Scott also has a podcast called Chapel Probation.

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DEFINITIONS

• Religious Deconstruction - a process in which people re-examine their faith and previously held beliefs, sometimes to the point of leaving the religion.
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• Religious Deconstruction - a process in which people re-examine their faith and previously held beliefs, sometimes to the point of leaving the religion.
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• Heart Mountain is a historic site sharing the stories of WW2 Japanese American prisoners.
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• Reparations: $20,000 checks paid in the 1990s to some 82,000 surviving Japanese American individuals who was detained in the camps. Camp residents lost some $400 million in property during their incarceration.
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MENTIONED

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TAKEAWAYS

1. Japanese Incarceration Camps are still glossed over in history classes. We need to demand that it be taught like Germany teaches about the Nazis.
2. Many felt embarrassed about their incarceration and tried to be exemplary patriots after their release in order to avoid being sent to camps again.
3. Representation helped many Japanese Americans feel like it was ok to talk about the camps.
4. Redlining and other discriminatory practices affect all of us.
5. You don't win people over with facts and arguments, but by building relationships with them.
6. Many of the views of evangelicals are not actually rooted in the bible. Religious texts are updated by flawed humans.
7. Deconstructing is easier if you have a good support system and community outside of religion.
8. You don't have to understand someone's experience to show compassion.

CONTACT

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Host: Lazou

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