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How to Have a Good Conversation with Someone Who Holds Opposing Political Views
(Part 1)
by Pr. Lisa Rygiel

As some of you know, a group of us viewed the movie Bad Faith together with some members of the United Methodist Church and on April 30, we met again to discuss it.

As anyone who is remotely politically aware, we live in a time of intense polarization and conflict. Some of us have some unpleasant conversations with friends and family and have even had relationships torn apart because of political disagreement. Whatever your political beliefs, it's probably true that half the people in the country disagree with you about every single central point that you hold dear. That's the nature of a democracy. It is important as Christians that we can live with differences without getting into fights that lead to nothing but further resentment. Yet, how can we learn to get along?

I brought to the discussion a handout with some practical steps on how to have good conversations with someone who holds opposing political views.

It was suggested that I could share this information as a series in our e-formation. Here are the first two steps.

  1. Start with the Right Goal
    A good political conversation is not about winning, converting, or embarrassing someone. Most likely, no one is going to have their minds changed about the concepts they hold deeply. Research shows conversations go better when the goal is understanding, not persuasion. Productive outcomes can include:
  • Learning something new
  • Being better understood
  • Preserving a relationship
  • Clarifying your own thinking

Success does not require agreement.
[clearerthinking.org], [psychologytoday.com]

  1. Lead with Curiosity, Not Certainty
    Studies consistently find that curiosity — genuine interest in how another person thinks—reduces defensiveness and improves conversation quality.

Try asking:

  • “Can you help me understand what led you to that view?”
  • “What experiences shaped how you think about this?”
  • “What feels most important to you in this issue?”

Curiosity signals respect and makes people more open — even when views don’t change.
[nature.com], [psychologytoday.com]

May 10, 6th Sunday of Easter
10 a.m. Sunday Worship

Announcements

  • Fellowship: Join us after worship Sunday for coffee and conversation. All are welcome.
  • Church Council: The Zion’s church council will meet after worship, downstairs in the Fellowship Hall.
  • Wednesday Book Club: The Wednesday Book Club is focusing upon What if Jesus was Serious – A Visual Guide to the Teachings of Jesus We Love to Ignore. It meets at 10:30 a.m. each Wednesday in the Fellowship Hall. You can join at any time, so if you haven’t been able to attend before now, why not consider doing so.
  • May Newsletter: The May issue of the Zion’s newsletter Connections is available on the Zion’s website and in paper format in both the Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall.
  • Summer Hiatus: Both children’s choir practice and Friday yoga are on summer hiatus.
  • God’s Work Our Hands: Terri Watson, our GWOH coordinator, is continuing to match people who can support o members of Zion’s who need of assistance – rides, errands, etc. Talk to Terri for details. Sign-up sheets also are in the Fellowship Hall.
  • Time of Prayer and Coffee: We are invited to join our siblings in Christ from the Methodist church for a time of prayer and coffee at 10:30 a.m. each Thursday at Kangaroo Coffee -in the Marketplace on Commercial Street.
  • 5-Loaves: An increase in requests for 5-Loaves meals that last Saturday of each month, means that we are increasing, by two, the number of delivery routes. With 10 routes, instead of eight, we will need additional volunteers to support meal deliveries. Prayerfully consider helping with future 5-Loaves delivery assistance the last Saturday of each month, beginning Saturday, May 30.
  • Zion’s Camp Out: Mark your calendars! We have reserved the group camping area at Trinidad Lake State Park May 31 (Sunday) through Wednesday June 3. Let Pr. Lisa know if you can help lead activities or help coordinate this adventure.
  • We’re Here for You: For pastoral care, call Zion’s at 719-846-7785 or send an email: zionsluth@gmail.com.

E-formation

In the gospel reading for this coming Sunday, Jesus says that he will not leave us as orphans. One of the places where we are washed, fed, embraced and sustained by God is at worship. Come on Sunday, to join with all the baptized to receive the Spirit of the Risen Christ.

John 14:15-21
Continuing last Sunday’s proclamation of John 14, we hear Jesus promising that he will remain with the community in the person of God the Advocate. The Spirit is on our side, defending us before the divine judge. Jesus is calling us to a life of love.

Acts 17:22-31
This learned proclamation of the resurrection, beginning with God’s creation of the world, assumes a sophisticated, polytheistic society, and it sounds newly applicable to us in the twenty-first century. Christians are called to share in this worldview that culminates in the resurrection.

1 Peter 3:13-22
This first-century use of Noah’s flood as a metaphor for baptism became commonplace over the centuries in the church. For example, calling the worship space a “nave,” or ship, imagined the church as the ark of salvation, and one option for a reading at the Easter Vigil is the Noah legend. Verses 21-22 remind us that the resurrection is proclaimed in many places outside the gospels’ narratives of Easter Day.

Zion's Lutheran Church
zionsluth@gmail.com
719-846-7785