To Understand and be Understood
These five practices for moving beyond the polarization which currently dominates our public discourse are adapted from Charles C. Camosy, assistant professor of Christian ethics at Fordham University in New York City: 1. Humility. -We might be wrong -Acknowledge that our views are ours, not Truth itself. -We seek understanding and are willing to change our mind if convinced. 2. Treat your conversation partner as a full-fledged human being. -They are human beings, God’s beloved creatures, well worth knowing in their own right. -Never presume to know what someone thinks or what motivates them because of their gender, race, level of privilege, sexual orientation, or social location. -Listen to learn rather than critique (“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”) 3. Avoiding binary thinking. -Genuine issues are almost always too complex to fit into simplistic categories like liberal/conservative, religious/secular, open/close-minded, pro-life/pro-choice, etc...