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You are here: Home / Opinions and Editorials / Do You Discuss Issues or Argue?

Do You Discuss Issues or Argue?

August 22, 2012 By R. Brad White 1 Comment

I have a lot of conversations with people that hold wildly varying beliefs. Sometimes those conversations are productive. But all too often, they go nowhere. 

So, I want to share some things I’ve learned (and continue to learn) about how to have a worthwhile discussion with someone who holds different beliefs than myself. This is an attempt to answer the question:

How can we discuss issues without letting it devolve into an argument?

Accept that you don’t know everything. Or at a minimum, accept that you don’t know everything about THIS person’s opinion or perspective on the issue. 

1) Take a moment to understand the assumptions, stereotypes, and judgments YOU have about the other person and their strongly held position FIRST.

2) Accept that you don’t know everything. Or at a minimum, accept that you don’t know everything about THIS person’s opinion or perspective on the issue. 

3) Seek to understand the person behind the discussion. Example: If you are talking to Bob about abortion, seek to understand Bob. 

4) Expect that you will likely misinterpret what they are really saying, and ask them to confirm if you understand what they are saying. 

5) Complete steps 1-4, BEFORE you ever attempt to make your points and express your thoughts on the issue. 

My Prayer

Good luck in your discussions! My prayer is that they will be productive and that you will learn just as much as you expect the other person to learn from you.

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Filed Under: Opinions and Editorials Tagged With: respect, tolerance, understanding

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Comments

  1. Margaret McConnell says

    January 2, 2013 at 4:54 am

    it seems I have been seeking to know God and serve Him all my life but i have certainly made some bad decisions and hope that i learned from them. I am always trying to know and love our Savior better. I have been a mainline Protestant, a Pentacostal, and 15 years ago became a Catholic and feel very much that this is right fir me. But I understand not everyone will choose that path and that those who don’t can still be blessed and saved.

    Reply

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