Do you listen to contrary POVs?

[Jump4Joy]

I think there needs to be pinch of doubt. It’s not always good to hold firmly to beliefs

 

[joeybaggz]

I think there needs to be pinch of doubt. It’s not always good to hold firmly to beliefs

Depends on the POV.

On moral matters, doubt, no. An honest, inner locution grounded in honesty, sure. Listen to a contrary POV, okay, but it is not going to change one bit a fundamental character trait that I build and live my life on. I held firmly to my belief in Santa Claus till I was 7. Gradually came to a different understanding. I hold firmly to the belief that murder, adultery, theft is wrong. Not going to doubt any of those positions.

 

[drac16]

Yeah, definitely. I like learning about different religions so that I can understand them and hopefully evangelize the people of other faiths.

 

[lilypadrees]

I like finding out other points of view. But they rarely change mine.

 

[pensmama87]

Still, though, understanding their view can offer an opportunity to explain yours. I used to be pro-choice because I felt it was more compassionate to the mother. (It’s not an uncommon view, by the way.) There were people who wrote me off as a horrible babykiller, and in turn I thought they were cruel and didn’t care about the plight of women facing unplanned pregnancies. Not much room for either of us to change our minds.

I was persuaded by people who recognized the compassion I felt and started there. And I do the same with people who feel now as I did then.

 

[QwertyGirl]

By understanding someone else’s POV, you understand that person a little bit better. I think that is so important, even if just for selfish reasons, so we can get along aside of each other to make life better. It doesn’t mean I will “go to the dark side” and agree with their POV. Usually, far from it.

We all have POVs that are based in something. So you state your POV is that life is sacred from conception to natural death. All well and good. Those who don’t beleive that may have all kinds of misconceptions about why you believe what you believe. If they take a bit of time and converse with you about it and listen to how you came to your conclusions, they may walk away understanding a whole lot more not only about you, but about a whole segment of society who believes the things you believe. Understanding can lend itself to respect (even if they still disagree). And respect can leave the world a better place to live in. That is why I believe it is so important to try to understand the POV of others when it is differrent than mine.

And finally, I don’t see anything wrong with being open-minded about your value system. Aren’t we always supposed to be growing, on the inside, as a person. I spend a lot of time re-evaluating and learning, and yes, sometimes moving the needle in what I believe and why. I think this is something to be encouraged, not discouraged. We are here to learn. And often times, from each other. At least that is what I believe.

 

[joeybaggz]

As Ted Koppel once said in an address at Duke University, they are called the Ten Commandments, not the Ten Suggestions. On moral issues, I will listen to another’s POV politely when they diametrically differ from or oppose mine. Politely, like listening to a Saturday morning kid’s cartoon. I most definitely agree that listening to a POV different from mine will allow me to understand another a little bit better, but in such cases as my stance on moral issues, all that does is put someone in the “adversarial” camp.
There are those who say, and I agree wholeheartedly with them, that the great problem in society today with its 53% divorce rate, broken homes, destitute single mothers with kids, etc. etc. is that we are drowning because we have too much sympathy, too much compassion, too much tolerance; we have become a society who fails to say right is right and wrong is wrong. Like it or not, there are moral absolutes.

 

[QwertyGirl]

I most definitely agree that listening to a POV different from mine will allow me to understand another a little bit better, but in such cases as my stance on moral issues, all that does is put someone in the “adversarial” camp.

Interesting POV. Thanks for sharing. This is where we differ in a big way. I don’t perceive those with different POV’s from mine as adversarial. They are just people with different POV’s.

 

[joeybaggz]

Interesting POV. Thanks for sharing. This is where we differ in a big way. I don’t perceive those with different POV’s from mine as adversarial. They are just people with different POV’s.

No argument. I used the term adversarial in the sense that the are the opposite of mine, not so much in a negative sense of combative.

 

[IWantGod]

I think it’s healthy to listen to other peoples opinions or points-of-view. When i first became Catholic, i was so desperate to believe that i actively ignored views that i thought were contrary to my faith. I am glad i am no-longer like that anymore. It causes more harm than good.

I listen to all views, be it political, scientific, religious or anything. Sometimes you learn things you never considered before. Sometimes it’s good to think outside the box.

Just be logical and reasonable.and judge the information you receive accordingly.

You become stronger for it.

 

[Damian]

I’m an atheist and post regularly here. So yes I do. My personal goal is to be able to communicate better on topics that people find emotionally explosive without getting them to those points. My goal here is to get into this echo chamber so that people can have a reference point on what an atheist is instead of what they are told they are from someone who is not an atheist.

 

[gracepoole]

Yes, I do routinely. There are some opposing voices I find far too annoying to engage with but in general, opposing voices are part of my regular rotation.