Engineering Pastors and the "Find Yourself" Degree

Did you know the fastest way to become a Chinese Christian pastor is actually to get an engineering degree? Apparently, the "Engineer-to-Pastor Pipeline" is a real thing, and this week on Pearl Dive, Dr. Justin Tse is here to explain why. Host Daniel Mok (in his brave debut as a podcaster!) chats with Justin about his journey from a California "pastor’s kid" to a UBC student who basically used a history degree as an elaborate excuse to move to Vancouver and "find his roots." We’re diving into the "revivalist" tradition—a world where personal piety is everything and history is often treated like that one awkward relative no one wants to talk about because it feels a bit too "man-made."Justin also breaks down his book, Sheets of Scattered Sand, where he explores why describing Chinese Christians as "disunited" is actually a poetic tribute to their complexity. We tackle the "Secular Dream" of the Pacific Rim—which, sadly, isn't a fancy luxury cruise, but rather the awkward social space where religious fervor meets multicultural politeness. From the "flexible citizenship" of the 80s Hong Kong migration to Justin’s own spiritual pivot toward Eastern Catholicism, this episode is a witty, deep-dive look at what happens when a "grain of sand" tries to find its place in a global story. Whether you're here for the sociology or just the engineering jokes, it's a treasure trove of Sinophone history you won't want to miss. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fulleraachi.substack.com