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Red and blue

Last summer I went to a Christian festival, which was very, very cool.  I loved the look of the place; I loved the lineup of speakers; every time I went to a session I thought, yes, you're so right!  The speakers expressed views I heartily agreed with and received lots of applause.  I was among like-minded people.  Would I go back?  I'm not sure, and that's not just because it rained without pause for the last 36 hours of the festival.

On one level it felt very warm and affirming to be around people who all seemed to have the same views as me, about politics, about military action, about Christian theology.  In church I am used to being very diplomatic, carefully neutral, or at least expressing my views with hesitation.  Here at the festival I could be completely me, and everyone around me saw things the same way I did.

And that's the problem.  It felt a bit like eating a massive chocolate cake (or drinking two or three large double shot cappuccinos).  Yes, those things feel good, but too much of a good thing is bad for you.  I am used to having others around me who see things differently, and I realise that that is actually a good thing, not just for me, but for the whole community.  We need each other to help us see our blind spots.  So I'm not sure it would be good for me to go back.

They serve this amazing Tibetan chai tea there though... So I'm torn.

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