Understanding Woke Culture & Responding With Grace | Noelle Mering

The “Woke Movement” and “wokeism” are terms that seem to be thrown around EVERYWHERE on the internet these days. On one side, you have people wondering why their friends and family are suddenly hating the values they grew up with. On the other side, people who have a genuine concern for justice and the marginalized are trying to help THEIR friends and family see their concerns and side of the story. Where does it all leave us?
Today, I’m sitting down with Noelle Mering, author of Awake, Not Woke to discuss what the woke movement even is, where it comes from, where it’s misguided, and what we can do about it in our everyday lives. I know this sounds like a super political episode, but we really stress the importance of seeing the PEOPLE on both sides of the woke argument with the love and dignity they deserve as children of God.
My challenge to you this week is to share this with someone who disagrees with you on this topic, so that you may engage in a loving, fruitful conversation and see the GOOD in each other ❤️
And as always, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to our KZbin channel so that you never miss an episode of the Chris Stefanick Show!
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Awake, Not Woke: tanbooks.com/p...
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[@RealLifeCatholic]

Hello Friends! All marriages need a boost, and we have a new program meant to do just that!! 💕 Join the waitlist: reallifecatholic.com/marriage/

[@chrisgardner640]

Is no one happily married here? God hasn't done his part!

[@julieevery7468]

Noelle is a very grace filled lady, and also very intelligent. Blessings to both of you.

[@nherring3386]

Thank you. You both remind us to stay focused on Christ and not the storm raging around us.

[@Kitchener10]

Thank you Chris and Noelle. I have heard you both speak in Steubenville. You have a wonderful message on what our Catholic response should be to those caught in woke ideology. Clear historical background of how woke ideas have grasp so many especially the youth. The more people who hear the truth and share the truth the better. Thank you again.

[@bernakinch9781]

Great conversation. Totally agree the forces behind any division is the Evil one. He is the Father of lies who comes to kill, steal and destroy. But he has been defeated. Pray and love and forgive❤🙏

[@VCRJackie]

Sooooo wonderful to hear such a love filled conversation … and at the same time straight shooting. Take a bow you both , ye did a wonderful job God bless you… from Ireland 🇮🇪 🙏🏾❣️

[@Mav...]

What a very engaging discussion. Both of you articulate your thoughts so well. / Chris, I saw you at the Men's Conference this weekend in Norman, OK. I wish I had taped it to share with others. I'll find it. God bless you both.

[@KatRace]

Excellent, excellent conversation. Great points for all of us to consider.

[@PhyllisMobley-d5m]

Thank you for this enlightening interview! I learned so many things about this movement that I was previously unaware of. Thank you for always pointing us to respond in a Christ like way. 🙏🏻

[@theresiliencedoctor001]

Chris, I had never heard of Noelle Mering before this video, and now I am a fan. This is a great interview that I will watch again, thanks

[@VanessaCruz-kl7so]

Great interview. Very brainy topic but also very important. Is there any resources I can share with my high school senior so he understands what he’s likely to hear from college professors and how to stay grounded on the Catholic faith? Thanks for your ministry!!

[@stephen5804]

Thank you for your truth and reality.

[@RS-tt1kz]

Thank you both God bless you both.

[@cindyjahn8823]

Very nice! I loved this and learned something today and want to apply the kindness in which you speak

[@Laura-qd9kj]

I have appreciated your attempt to offer an authentic Catholic Christian perspective on issues, and this episode was enlightening. I'd like you to dedicate as much time to bringing to the light- as you said- "the other side of the same coin": the MAGA movement, which SO MANY CATHOLICS SUBSCRIBE TO. It was uncanny to me how most characteristics Noelle described about wokeism are equally true about MAGAism. It also is based on strategic distortions and lies from the leaders, accepts conflict and violence as necessary for change, promotes a "tear it all down" (it= "liberal" media, schools and government), motivates through a victimization identity ("they're all out to get us"). IMO it is the right wing libertarian version of left wing libertarian wokeism, though the identified subjects of oppression are different. They are interested in power, not truth, nor dialogue; enforcing the binary- you are with them, or you hate America. Identifying enemies among us and targeted devaluing of fellow citizens is the main activity. All these phrases were offered in your discussion with Noelle and they are anti-Gospel from either source. The philosophical underpinnings of the two versions may be different, but the result is the same- define us into division. I have a deep sadness that most of my rural, "Christian" family and neighbors have accepted the MAGA victim identity and support its self-avowed savior; I feel the same for family and friends who have absorbed wokeism. Thank God for his mercy!

[@jeredrandulic]

God bless you!🙏

[@randyjmalick3709]

Thanks, Chris. This was so very helpful, as all your videos are!

[@donwilson8828]

So very well done.. THANKS!!

[@lorrainefolkes4908]

I do not understand "woke". I am almost 73. For me, the word "woke” means I stopped sleeping and became aware of my surroundings.

[@melissamohr8985]

I'm 47 and don't understand either!

[@Di_bear]

It's the new Marxism.

[@sethw7399]

That's how it should be.

[@AndyPrenticeMusic]

It's a phrase from the black community to remind themselves to constantly be aware of systemic racism. Like white people co-opting their language and twisting it into meaningless words

[@nakisharogers4555]

They took that term from the Hebrew Israelites and trying to stick it to their agenda. Woke culture or Woke Movement was referring to African Americans realizing that the Bible was referring to their affiliations. They have always STOLEN our phrases or land and now they are stealing the melanin in our skin!! Look it up

[@rjchavez4897]

Get this book. It's truly beyond anything written on this topic.

[@meetutony9354]

I wish there are some teams or groups that actually study about woke in parishes and dioceses,in order to equip the congregation with the necessary knowledge to spread the awareness of woke culture esp among the youth....let's not wait till the destructive waves of this culture reach our own homes ....

[@3letitgo]

Excellent show…very well explained

[@darmat6288]

Woke means no boundaries, anything goes.

[@kelkabot]

A very intelligent and helpful discussion. Thank you.

[@bethmannino3993]

Poor Katie….it happens to the best of us. ❤.

[@stephanieurick8820]

I'm a conservative Christian. Had a large family. My nuclear family was broken when God revealed my husband's infidelities. This is not a rare case. This is the majority of all of the reasons that marriages end in divorce. He was a "good guy". I forgave multiple offenses. I'm not unusual. Yet the failure of the nuclear family rests on the shoulders of a movement that he doesn't believe in? Why? Am I sentenced to a life of STDs because I am supposed to forgive 7 x 70 and beyond? Because he says he got to 7x7 in our first two years of a very long marriage. I am not an unusual case. Wake up!!! Look within!!! Do all of the things you just projected that isn't being done by "woke" people. Nuclear families are being destroyed by the head of the family. Wake up and lead!

[@RealLifeCatholic]

@@stephanieurick8820 I’m so sorry for what you went through. I obviously condemn that - but it doesn’t change that if an org has “destroy the nuclear family” on their website - that’s also bad and condemnable, presuming you think a functional nuclear family is a good thing…

[@stephanieurick8820]

⁠@@RealLifeCatholic one can be awake to the unchristlike things going on in our communities without being a member of the Black Lives Matter organization. Originally, that statement was on their website. I remember seeing it when I was researching that group. And I was definitely put off by that. I do believe that kids need loving parents. And having both male and female parents would be preferred, especially if there were enough of them. Unfortunately, there aren't. So I have had to take on other peoples children in my home. Where I am a single mother. Scripture tells me that some of us are not meant to be remarried. So, a nuclear family is not in my children's future. I did go to their website again just now to see what is on there now, and that statement is not on there anymore. At least I could not find it. I think they must have new management. I don't know. I'm not gonna be joining that organization. Although I won hundred percent agree, that black lives, and all lives matter. And I hope that people can see my life and see that I truly show that I believe that. I watched your video because I wanted a better understanding of what is wrong with the "woke" movement. I did not find that here. when I listen to conservative politicians, all they do is criticize it, but they don't point out specific things that are wrong. I found the same thing in your video. Except in your video I even found you guys praising what is right about it. I heard the word compassion mentioned many times. But when you mentioned specific actions they were all tied in to the BLM organization. I see a lot of fear here. I live in a community where people of color are still a minority, but we have a lot of people of color in my community. I couldn't afford to grow up in a white community, my neighbors were mostly black. I'm not seeing people being violent because they want revenge. Are there people like that in the world? I have no doubt. But I do not see them in my community and they have not been the majority of my experience. I grew up here, but for 30 years I live in communities in the north, and in the south of the eastern side of the United States. I have visited many places and that's just not been the experience. It's not in the news, and it's not information that I am hearing from my friends who live in the communities that I have lived in. People just wanna be treated equally. They want to get back what they give out. People want to love and be loved. Saying that all division comes from evil is to deny Luke 12:51. So, I am searching for understanding of the POV that I am having a hard time understanding. Thank you for your video. And thank you for your response. I appreciate you sharing your point of view.

[@iwctoys1]

And here you are reinforcing woke culture.

[@RealLifeCatholic]

@@iwctoys1 clarify?

[@luislopez3221]

Is because there's a continuation of abuses ,that brings back history, how can people change if some groups still abuses,

[@Cove-o4d]

Woke speech is free speech.

[@mattwatkins2499]

Chris, I understand the beginnings of the term “woke” and I appreciate your understanding that people can’t just write-off people as being “woke.” It appears to me that “woke” is only being used by those in opposition to the reductionist viewpoint. I realize that titles help sell books, but I wish that people could stop using “woke.” Woke is being used in a reductionist manner by its opponents in a similar manner as the revolutionaries use conservative. It seems to me that woke is overused among EWTN-watching and -listening Catholics. Labels certainly help us to recognize viewpoints and motivations, but I want to come up with a better term than woke.

[@seacprogrammer8455]

say less Bro ------------------> WOKE, as I have exclaimed for months now on several videos, bloomed in "White America" for god knows what reason it apparently has been latched on to for some group that wants to hate those LGBT whatever people and not just love and let God handle it but back on point .... for minorities for ever ---- it was just as you described. WOKE as in aware of your surroundings, '' Keep an eye on that wierdo " make sure you know where you kids are blah blah common sense in the hood,, elucidated if you will it was known as "mother with" / common sense / street sense,, don't end up dead ! lol See gun == run ! Ahh childhood anyway --- it bloomed into a much more complex awareness of various implicit societal judgements / benefits etc etc into complex stuff like the details of how, the now released Nixon Tapes, supposed War on DRUGS was just a ploy to deprive minorities of a solid family unit. scoff all you want they burned down a literal whole city to prevent our advancement. Yet Paid the Japanese $$$$$ for internment camps ( lol really ) IRONY ! Anyway.... them devils literally brought drugs into the USA for just that reason, I digress read it for yourself. or just go ask ChatGPT to teach you history your schools didn't . hahahahahaha vault.fbi.gov/cointel-pro en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COINTELPRO

[@katherineheller4038]

Grandparents? It's parents who are stunned. College? It's highschool here.

[@ann8869]

Grace❤

[@moesan2u1]

Great Show, at 64 years of age it is hard to change. But I'm willing to try. Instead of looking for the negative I just want to spread Love and share the Gospel, God Bless you all and I Love you. (PS: I just posted this show on my Facebook page, I'll see how many of my friends need more of my Love...Amen). Come Holy Spirit, Help me to Love and not hate, accept instead of rejecting, and to Understand instead of being judgmental.

[@chrisgardner640]

Everyone deserves to be happy and happily with whoever. With or without your partner, while pregnant, after being rapped..btw thats why shes single." That is the reason we should make sure the fetus is protected.. not the baby who gave birth to her brothers son

[@RonaldGundrum]

It's time to Ostracize the word "woke" completely.

[@deanmarion5477]

Hey Chris, woke agenda is to be racist, accepting LGBTQ community,pro- choice ( some work are pro-life) that is our prayer to convert them on to join the clour Red to join us.

[@PeterTroiano]

Sorry Chris. This discussion was not helpful to my understanding of woke. You both are well versed in the topic but I need a primer to get to first base on this.

[@sirthomas4637]

They touched on it halfway through.. woke is: my actions are what defines me without moral boundaries. So, accept me for what i am.

[@JohnWalton-ef7xi]

My thinking is won,t to say . am confused am sick need disability check.

[@luislopez3221]

Love love love is the only.way.WWJD,

[@luislopez3221]

See you said prohamas ,and is not prohamas ,is propalestinians,

[@elizabethfield6941]

This is a disappointing spin on waking up to injustices in our culture. Jesus was woke, he would have embraced transgender people and would as God on earth have known that what God makes is natural. God makes trans people, straight people, gay people. This author is offensive to me. Her take that woke is spiritual warfare is offensive. I love Jesus and his messages of life on Earth, this book you pushing is not supported by the life of Christ. Sadly it is supported by the religious right who are fearful of accepting nonbinary people. As we southern people say. I’m praying for you. God’s love and peace to you both.

[@DM-wx3fi]

Desantis went after anyone who doesn’t agree( project 2025) he made a word ( woke) and went after schools and says Florida where woke comes to die?! Who does he think he is? Mini Trump and it divided so many but we are now Awake so our joy of being is not dying. Sorry didn’t shut us down . Just surprised us!!!!

[@Ashclayton1994]

Tell me you have never read the Bible without telling me you never read the bible

[@ChrisGrimes-zv1fb]

That's the funniest joke I've heard all day😂😂😂

[@BrandonBurx]

Plese tell me this comment is satire....

[@luislopez3221]

Come on we are Christians, don't said there's no kkk in Christian community's

[@seacprogrammer8455]

Amen! That will preach 7 times a year and as usual no one will hear it

[@chrisgardner640]

As a democrat with reasonable understanding. You lost me at jesus. I imagined you would call out extreme wokism but you whent straight to crist. Advice is you will lose with God 9/10. Ito many gods for it to be 1. Support the lower class. That's where the votes are... Canadian liberal

[@INCHATT]

Chris Steanick what you are doing is called Gaslighting.