For people of faith, civil discourse begins in recognizing the image of God in our conversation partner. Since we are all children of God, our approach should involve mutual respect. Respect, not agreement, is an essential key for a healthy discussion. This workshop addresses how we may inadvertently be complicit in, or possibly even encourage, polarization. The Depolarizing Ourselves Introductory Workshop is designed to help you lessen the effects of polarization when you encounter them in your political conversations. Note that by “polarization,” we are not referring to healthy disagreements over issues or philosophy. We are talking about how we regard and talk about large groups of ordinary people on the other side of our own politics as if they were enemies.
The goals of the workshop include:
- How to be more aware of their own “inner polarizer.”
- How to interact without demonizing, dismissing or stereotyping large swaths of the population.
In our current political climate, much of our conflict stems not from healthy disagreement over policies, issues, or philosophy. Instead, it is created by the often emotional, rancor-escalating, and highly polarizing conversations that we typically have with others. Braver Angels has created our Depolarizing Ourselves Workshop to help you reframe how you view the other side in the face of disagreements around politics. Successfully ‘taming’ our inner polarizer starts with recognizing our tendencies around harmful generalizations about the other side. This requires acknowledging how we often attribute negative intent and motivations to the other side without first trying to understand them.
FACILITATORS: Paul Manfredi member of St. John’s in New Milford for over 20 years. He has served on Mission Council, Northwest Region Leadership Team and has held various posts at St. John’s. In 2022 Paul joined the Braver Angels group and has been approved to present workshops as a moderator in 2024.
Gary Holland, originally from Houston, Texas, 1969 found him settling in Connecticut after studying computers and international business at MIT. For the past 42 years, he’s called Ridgefield home, alongside his wonderful wife Nancy—a native Nutmegger from Bristol, CT. Now retired, Gary’s career was predominantly in senior Information Technology management roles. In 2021, he discovered a new passion: Depolarization. Now, volunteering as a dedicated member and leader at local, state, and national levels of Braver Angels, Gary is here to help you learn about Braver Angels and its Mission to “Bring Americans together to bridge the political divide and strengthen our democratic republic.
Event Timeslots (1)
Session One (10-11:15 AM)–2025
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A First Step Toward Civil Engagement
