I created the Respectful Conversation project out of a sense of being appalled at the sad state of public discourse in contemporary society, including the realm of politics, the media, and many churches and educational institutions.  The engagement between persons who disagree with one another is increasingly shrill and nasty, too often characterized by demonizing the other, listening to only an echo of yourself, and holding to fixed positions without openness to learning from those who disagree.  Such broken discourse does not bode well for the future of our schools, churches, local communities and nation.  It is urgent that we take immediate steps to seek a better way to engage those with whom we disagree.

That better way is to create welcoming spaces for those who disagree with one another to have respectful conversations.  As a Christian, I believe this better way is integral to the call for Christians to love others, for a deep expression of love for another person is to provide a safe, welcoming space for that person to disagree.  That goal can be shared with all persons of good will, whatever their religious or non-religious convictions.

But lofty rhetoric will not reverse the pernicious state of public discourse.  What is needed is for thousands of us to model this better way by initiating respectful conversations in our local communities.

The mission of my respectful conversation project on this website has two components:

• To model respectful conversations regarding controversial contemporary issues; and
• To encourageothers to initiate their own forums for respectful conversation about important contemporary issues and to assist in facilitating such additional forums.

Modeling Respectful Conversation On This Website

Instead of just bemoaning the current sad state of public discourse in contemporary society and simply “talking about” the need for forums where those having strong disagreements about contentious issues can engage in “respectful conversation,” I decided to just “do it” on this website (to borrow a phrase from Nike). As a result, the site contains several examples of respectful conversation, which can be found on the Previous Conversations page. The results of these conversations were summarized in a series of books, which can be found on the Publications page.

Encouraging Respectful Conversation Outside This Website

My strategies for facilitating respectful conversations outside of this website are as follows:

• I have included in this website various resources that may be helpful for those interested in promoting respectful conversation.

• I invite and encourage readers of this website to initiate conversations on issues of importance to them in their local contexts.  For details on initiating such conversations, see Conversation Circles: Starting a Circle.  Online conversations can be accessed at e-Circles.   For possible “rules for engagement” when conducting a Conversation Circle or an e-Circle, see Conversation Guidelines.