How can we better dialogue with each other on the primary issues that divide us without being too argumentative or mean-spirited.
My thought is better dialogue would come from asking and being willing to and able to answer questions.
Like you said quite often we end up speaking past each other. I remember a thread a few weeks back where this near impossible to define question was asked. People started asking questions and the OP came right out and said if you can’t answer my question don’t post, I’ve spoken to many apologists and no one can answer my question. I don’t have time to answer everyone’s questions I just need an answer. Well no wonder no one could give a good answer they couldn’t figure out what was being asked and to be honest I don’t think the OP knew exactly every angle of what they were asking either.
Anyway back on topic, I try my best to answer every question that someone brings up about the Catholic Church, just wish more non-Catholics I dialogue with would be willing to do the same about their church so I could see how their different teachings all line up. Catholics are at a definite disadvantage here because most non-Catholic denominations don’t have a readily available Catechism that we can search to find out how they are defining something.
Also, if we are talking about having a better dialogue on this forum I would recommend the OP making sure they put their question in the correct Category. Seems like a lot gets dumped into Apologetics that isn’t Apologetics.
For instance you are posting in the Apologetics (defending the faith) category and asking everyone here not to defend their side. My thoughts would be a question on better dialogue would go more into the Non-Catholic or the Catholic Living section.
Finally, it drives me crazy when you type till the word limit runs out and the other person responds with you are taking that out of context and no other reasoning. Well if it’s out of context explain why, break down the why’s of the verses in question and point out why you feel your context is correct. But to ignore what someone wrote and just flat out tell them they are wrong is mean-spirited in my book.
Dialogue is good, questions are good, silence is bad.
God Bless
The more time goes by, the more I am recognizing and appreciating that the only way to really evangelize and share our faith is to love people. If you are not friends, and if there is not the sense that you care for each other, it’s more likely to lead to bickering rather than dialogue.