Other Viewpoints
Every now and then I tell people that I like conflict, a little conflict anyhow. I'm not sure I really like it or enjoy it, but it seems like we need some of it in this world. Like friction, it is helpful to keep things rolling along. Now if I could set things up, I would find a way to end all conflict and make everything work and everyone happy. I think that is why I'm not in charge of too much in this world, my ideas about conflict just aren't that realistic, are they?
I think there is some conflict that is normal for this world and like a bit of stress, it can be helpful. Obviously, some kinds of conflict are dangerous too, but I'll talk more of that in the future.
The thing that seems to be missing for many of us is a conflict vocabulary and a set of tools for dealing with conflict. We have very few words that help us resolve our differences and so we resort to some flight or fight mentality instead of creating an environment of learning about other peoples viewpoints.
I sometimes think that we should start a group at the General Conference that argues with our theologians. Call them the other or Contrary Biblical Research department of the GC. They could argue the other side of things in doctrine and methods.
In my army days, we had a unit on Fort Hood that was all dressed in Russian uniforms and gear. They had Russian tanks and weaponry and were trained in Russian tactics. I learned a lot from those guys. I also had no interest in becoming a Russian after my training with them and the occasional mock battles with them. We were better because we had opposition, at least some opposition. It sharpened us, disciplined us.
So I'm not so afraid of other viewpoints these days. Don't test me on that, sending me some diabolical doctrinal diatribe against the Sabbath or something, but I don't mind a good discussion with someone who sees things different than I do. It takes more work to engage with someone who is not in agreement with us, but the rewards may far outshine the efforts. Maybe it starts with just listening, not to gather information to stoke our disagreement and prepare for battle, but to just listen to try to understand where they are coming from.
I think there is some conflict that is normal for this world and like a bit of stress, it can be helpful. Obviously, some kinds of conflict are dangerous too, but I'll talk more of that in the future.
The thing that seems to be missing for many of us is a conflict vocabulary and a set of tools for dealing with conflict. We have very few words that help us resolve our differences and so we resort to some flight or fight mentality instead of creating an environment of learning about other peoples viewpoints.
I sometimes think that we should start a group at the General Conference that argues with our theologians. Call them the other or Contrary Biblical Research department of the GC. They could argue the other side of things in doctrine and methods.
In my army days, we had a unit on Fort Hood that was all dressed in Russian uniforms and gear. They had Russian tanks and weaponry and were trained in Russian tactics. I learned a lot from those guys. I also had no interest in becoming a Russian after my training with them and the occasional mock battles with them. We were better because we had opposition, at least some opposition. It sharpened us, disciplined us.
So I'm not so afraid of other viewpoints these days. Don't test me on that, sending me some diabolical doctrinal diatribe against the Sabbath or something, but I don't mind a good discussion with someone who sees things different than I do. It takes more work to engage with someone who is not in agreement with us, but the rewards may far outshine the efforts. Maybe it starts with just listening, not to gather information to stoke our disagreement and prepare for battle, but to just listen to try to understand where they are coming from.
Two weeks ago we were backpacking in the Sierras, and we met up with a guy at Vogelsang High Sierra Camp who is an MD and also has a PhD in artifical intelligence. He worked as a research professor at Stanford for 10 years and then decided he needed a real job to support his family, so he worked as an ER doc for the next two decades. After discovering, in our initial conversation, that we had widely differing views about the things we consider most important in our lives, we decided we needed to spend the rest of the day hiking together, picking each other's brains, and challenging each other's most basic assumptions. At the end of the hike that day we remained far apart on our beliefs, and had had a delightful day. He told me what he considered the greatest challenge to the evolutionist's position (the fine-tuning problem) and I admitted what I thought was the greatest challenge to the Christian's position (a good and powerful God ruling over a messed up world). He came over to our campsite and cooked a couple meals on our stove during the next two days. Now that we're both back home we're keeping in touch. The point is: disagreeing does not need to be disagreeable. It certainly should not have to be disagreeable among Christian believers.
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I sure agree with you. It's great when we see that the experience of relating to someone that has some different views is more valuable than making sure they know all about us and how different we are from them. It seems the more secure we are in our understanding of our beliefs, the more we are comfortable with those who see things from another perspective.
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Looking at issues from all sides is one of the marks of great leadership. We don't always see it by ourselves so God sends someone our way to get us to take another look. Whether it comes from the GC or the pews we need to look at what we believe and test it once in a while. The key is not getting upset with those who don't agree with us. But simply asking what can make me a stronger person and leader through this encounter? Pastors face these pew potatoe critics all the time and too often we shrug them off and think that they don't have anything to say to us. Thanks for being willing to listen to the otherside. You never know what you'll learn.
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All so true.
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It seems to me that we are afraid of any viewpoint other than our own. Is it because we are not sure enough that our viewpoint will stand the scrutiny of conflict?
An Arkies Musings
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Sure, your suggestion is highly probable when it comes to allowing other viewpoints on to the table.
I think your comment points to the end result that many of us do not want to reach. Our minds are set to avoid an argument that we feel or fear we cannot win. Why wade into an argument that is difficult to prove or you don't have enough ammunition to overpower your opposition.
We like to be right and we like to win and entering an argument puts those two characteristics at risk. We have history locked away in our minds relating to arguments that have gone awry or that we have somehow lost or we perceived that we lost and this history inhibits our argumentative process.
So I answer your question in that way when you say it will not stand the scrutiny of conflict. I'm afraid that we don't know if it will or not if we don't give it a chance and we remain persistent in the argument. But we also need a willingness to be sharpened by other arguments.
This point implies that we might be willing to change our viewpoint or alter it in some way. While some people are inflexible and will not change their arguments at all, regardless of other styles of thinking and new ideas, there are others who are reluctant or even afraid to have their arguments challenged for fear that they will have to let go of their way of life and start over again.
My response to your short comment(mine is way long) has a couple of elements in it, if you can find them, that kind of dance around your comment/question. Actually, as I think about it, I think I've just tried to bring some complexity to this issue, for it is more complex than I think we allow for it. There is much at stake in how and when we argue and our reluctance to get involved in argumentary thinking.
Another area of interest is the relationship aspect of arguing. Can I still have a friendship with someone who has a different viewpoint than I do on the important subjects of my life? This is a large contributor to argument prevention as well.
How to argue is probably a class that most of us missed, maybe a refresher from Aristotle and Plato, Socrates and Jesus is in order. Jesus seems to have had plenty of experience at it and He is still going strong.
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It's been some time since I've been through Mena, your photo's remind me of the one's that the state tourist department used to promote the beauty of Arkansas. I wish I would have made it to some more of those places you photograph.
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