I will do my best to listen and try to see the others point of view, but as a different example e.g. abortion and euthanasia I will never ‘see’ the oppositions side, and capitulate to that thinking.
Support for abortion and euthanasia at their “worst” involves a blindness, a denial, that is protected by some kind of pain, fear, or hurt, so the seeing or understanding involves being able to identify the times when we ourselves are in denial. It is painful to admit our own denials, but is also very freeing and unifying.
Capitulation is not to be a goal in this, I think, or even an expected outcome. The outcomes we can hope for are a mutual love, respect, and reconciliation.
So I choose to be salt to their wrong thinking, and light to show them the truth.
That also, hopefully, will lead to a good outcome. I think it depends on the delivery, though.
Those who oppose the Catholic Church beliefs and teachings don’t want to leave it ‘there’, but want and continue to apply pressure through various means in order to get the Church to capitulate and change those very teachings.
Good point. We can “leave it there” in terms of reconciling and accepting. When it comes to changing teaching, though, there is a place for awareness. If there is something new coming forth, it is to be based on truth. For example, the Church may begin ordaining married deacons as priests in parts of the world, and while there is resistance, the fact is that for nearly a thousand years there were married priests, the Spirit guided that way. It was need that stopped the practice, and it may be need that restarts it. The fact is that God does not tell us that it is “always wrong” or something like that, even though people afraid of change would resist it.
Now, if I were to deliver that teaching in a belligerent way, putting down those who resist, I don’t think people would be receptive.
Denial has to be
explored, not confronted head-on. “Do you recall when you first began believing in that way?” “What experiences have you had that underlie the importance of your belief?” “When you think of what might happen if people of the other opinion had their way, what feelings stir in you?” The person who listens accepts whatever comes, but there is no need for capitulation.
We are Salt and Light . For anyone not aware, ← have a pdf assessment tool which is very good and can be downloaded.
Yes, this is a very good start!
I’ll get off my soapbox now.
Do you think that it would be fruitful for parishes to have “discussion meetings” where such conversations take place? For people not caught up in the polarity, the meetings would only serve to expand awareness, but for those people truly caught up in the us v. them affiliations, it could bear fruit.