A protestant church denomination spends time and effort to convince other congregations to join it, since they are right and others are wrong. Should not a Christian organization be spending its time and energy toward mission and ministry? Doing the work of Jesus in the world?
America just held an election. Each side hyped up the evils lying in wait if the other side won. Anxiety rose throughout the land. Should not we have been more concerned about how we build a society based upon our founding principles?
What we have here is a failure to listen.
I mean, really listen, to other people.
If I can convince you to listen to one podcast this month no matter where in the world you live, listen to this Guy Kawasaki podcast interview with Tonia Israel on The Science of Political Unity.
Dr. Tania Israel is a distinguished professor at UCSB and author of Facing the Fracture. Kawasaki’s new book is Think Remarkable.
Dr. Israel isn’t just another voice in the crowded space of political commentary; she’s a pioneering researcher and practitioner in the art of bridging divides. Her work at UCSB has positioned her at the forefront of understanding how we can heal America’s growing political fractures, and her insights have never been more crucial than they are today.
In this episode, we dive deep into the heart of political polarization, exploring how our media consumption, social bubbles, and cognitive biases shape our views of ‘ the other side.’
Dr. Israel challenges conventional wisdom about empathy and reveals surprising truths about how even the most empathetic people can contribute to polarization. Her practical strategies for engaging across political divides offer hope for meaningful dialogue in an increasingly divided world.
Hint: Ask deep questions, perhaps sincerely ask how did you come to believe that.
Oh, I should add that this is not the first election in US history with this level of polarization. Somehow we seem to have survived even if once we had to go to war.
Faith Venture 