Letter to Paul VanderKlay: Rome Reflections and the Metagelical Future

November 13, 2025

Dear Paul,

I'm writing from a place of unexpected transformation after spending several days in Rome for a Vatican AI conference. As someone who has recently identified with the charismatic/Pentecostal stream—and carried the typical Protestant skepticism toward Rome—I find myself profoundly moved by what I witnessed.

Walking through St. Paul's Basilica, where the apostle himself is buried, I was struck not by idolatry but by centuries of devotion made manifest in stone and gold. Maybe these magnificent structures aren't replacements for relationship with God, as I'd taught myself to believe, but rather epic testimonies to faith—material shows of devotion that still speak after centuries. Meeting devoted Catholic technologists who seem to clearly walk intimately with Christ challenged my unexamined assumption that liturgical tradition diminishes authentic spirituality.

Your concept of "metagelicalism" has helped me frame this experience for me. The rigid boundaries between denominations are dissolving or don't seem as important as they used to. It seems that young people are less interested in their forefathers' denominational battles; they're assembling faith walks that draw from more of the whole Christian treasury. The internet has become the new narthex where Orthodox icons, Pentecostal worship, and Catholic mysticism all converge in a single seeker's journey.

How much energy have we wasted on internecine conflicts when there's such richness to be found across traditions? As someone previously quick to celebrate being "saved from" Catholicism, I increasingly see how much we lose when we can't honor what different streams preserve and offer. The Pope's voice matters in global discourse precisely because humanity demands anchoring voices. The fact that atheistic tech people instinctively seem to monitor what the Pope tweets says something.

I think you're onto something profound with metagelicalism. It's not just a label for a trend but perhaps the honest acknowledgment of what's always been true: we all assemble our own faith walks, even when wearing denominational labels. Jonathan Pageau's Orthodoxy doesn't look identical to his patriarch's; I assume your Reformed faith carries unique contours in comparison to your father's. The difference now is we're being transparent about this creative assembly, building from Christianity's broad ontology rather than pretending wholesale adoption of a single tradition is even possible.

Metagelicalism being "the new front door to the Christian hallway" resonates deeply. People are encountering Christ through YouTube discussions and philosophical podcasts before they ever darken a church door. The boundary between insider and outsider blurs in these digital estuaries where the river of tradition meets the open sea of seeking.

Your videos are a gift to those of us trying to navigate these waters. Thank you for coining language that helps us understand this moment. Your work mapping this territory matters more than you might know.

With gratitude and respect, Gary Sheng