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STOP PREACHING TO THE CHOIR
 

By Susan Diamond

I was at a conference recently where a legal scholar discussed the very sensitive subject of who holds legitimate legal claims to the Holy Land.

The discussion was not about biblical rights, political rights, or human rights. It was just about the legal aspect of one particular opinion supporting one side of a contentious argument.

Obviously, this is a red hot topic currently with the Hamas-Israel war raging in the Middle East.

I don't intend to get into the pros and cons or the victims and villains.  I'd like to explore a different angle with you.

Though the presenter did a wonderful job explaining his position with charts, maps, and direct quotes taken from historical legal documents, it didn't really matter what evidence he presented. He was preaching to the choir.

Every person in that room knew exactly where they stood on the issue and had deeply held beliefs in agreement with the presenter. No one who held an opposing view was invited to attend the event.

And that seems to be the way it is these days. If you want to speak up on a controversial issue, have fun finding somewhere to do it and someone who will listen to you.

Find a safe space instead. Talk to someone who agrees with you.

Should we even try to have a calm, civil conversation with people who hold different points of view than we do?

If we do have these conversations, do we try to convince them that we're right and they're wrong?

I am often in this situation. People will assume I share their views and thoughtlessly carry on a one-sided conversation, talking passionately and with exclamation points!!!

That's why I'm sharing this inspiring, very interesting TedTalk by Laura Engelhardt. Watch and learn something new about conversations in years past and conversations today in an era of social media. WATCH NOW