Giving Civility a Try

“We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory will swell when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.” ― Abraham Lincoln

This past Spring, Christian leaders across the political spectrum, met  for a day and a half of dialogue at the invitation of The Faith & Politics Institute to "discuss how faith leaders can work together to promote deeper respect and greater civility in the public square." (http://faithandpolitics.org/better-angels-project/)

As one participant put it, “Faith leaders have a remarkable opportunity to shift the conversation, but it’s very challenging, particularly in a larger society that wants to understand everything as a battle, as engaging the enemy, rather than with someone who might have something to teach us.” (Episcopal Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori)

It is great to hear our leaders doing this!  I liked that one of the methods used was for pairs of faith leaders with very different perspectives on a contentious political issue to listen to one another and engage one another in respectful dialogue and understanding. 

Such civility helps us see one another not as enemies but fellow citizens of this wonderful country and allows us to use the better angels of our nature, and even learn from one another.  I suspect we will find much in common even if we continue to disagree.

As summer is upon us, I ask you to resist the urge to stay locked in to your one perspective, but to seek out those you might disagree with and engage them in useful and civil dialogue.  Its too easy for us to watch our one network be it Fox or MSNBC or CNN, and miss other viewpoints.

Let us give civility a try, listening to the better angels of our nature, and do unto others as we would have them do unto us.