Religion. Politics. Parenting. Name your issue that prompts strong opinions. Whatever it is, everyone reading my blog can relate to the concern of being “right” about something and wanting to help someone who is “wrong” to see the light.
Some of you will recall that I referred you back in the Fall of 2009 to the “Can You Hear Me Now?” series of articles by Dale McGowan. The prompting for this post also comes from McGowan, but the meat of it is actually the work of Phil Plait. Both individuals possess and encourage ideas which are offensive to some of you, but the point of the post is to remind us all to be more receptive when our prized opinions are challenged, regardless of the colors on our jersey. So, be challenged and respond appropriately, whether you are actively religious, casually atheist, compassionately conservative, flaming liberal, homeschooling father of 12, public-school mother of 1, whatever.
Here are a few teaser notions from the piece:
“How do you convince someone that they are not thinking clearly when they’re not thinking clearly?”
“If a person’s self-identity is wrapped up in what they believe to be true, it is understandable if they are reluctant to permit challenges to their perception of truth.”
“When hammering a nail into a wall, it’s important to pound the nail without destroying the wall.”
“It is difficult to be rational and introspective when an attack has you on the defensive.”
“When we are trying to persuade other people, we are not at war and therefore do not need to be warrior-like, we need to be diplomats.”
“Entrenched belief can mask itself as rational thought and then you find people unwilling to question themselves. If people are not willing to question their own stances, hubris may creep in while logic is left by the wayside.”
“Communication is key. The best idea ever thought of in the history of humanity is useless unless someone communicates it.”
Dale McGowan recommends Phil Plait...CLICK HERE.
My previous suggestion for the Can You Hear Me Now series: CLICK HERE
November 2009 “Community Division” post at this blog: CLICK HERE
Some of you will recall that I referred you back in the Fall of 2009 to the “Can You Hear Me Now?” series of articles by Dale McGowan. The prompting for this post also comes from McGowan, but the meat of it is actually the work of Phil Plait. Both individuals possess and encourage ideas which are offensive to some of you, but the point of the post is to remind us all to be more receptive when our prized opinions are challenged, regardless of the colors on our jersey. So, be challenged and respond appropriately, whether you are actively religious, casually atheist, compassionately conservative, flaming liberal, homeschooling father of 12, public-school mother of 1, whatever.
Here are a few teaser notions from the piece:
“How do you convince someone that they are not thinking clearly when they’re not thinking clearly?”
“If a person’s self-identity is wrapped up in what they believe to be true, it is understandable if they are reluctant to permit challenges to their perception of truth.”
“When hammering a nail into a wall, it’s important to pound the nail without destroying the wall.”
“It is difficult to be rational and introspective when an attack has you on the defensive.”
“When we are trying to persuade other people, we are not at war and therefore do not need to be warrior-like, we need to be diplomats.”
“Entrenched belief can mask itself as rational thought and then you find people unwilling to question themselves. If people are not willing to question their own stances, hubris may creep in while logic is left by the wayside.”
“Communication is key. The best idea ever thought of in the history of humanity is useless unless someone communicates it.”
Dale McGowan recommends Phil Plait...CLICK HERE.
My previous suggestion for the Can You Hear Me Now series: CLICK HERE
November 2009 “Community Division” post at this blog: CLICK HERE
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