We Are So Divided!

We can’t even agree during a pandemic! Brendan and Bob discuss how we can begin to overcome the venom in our discourse that we’ve learned from our contentious culture. Instead of mimicking what pundits on cable news do, dehumanizing their opponents, and giving in to fear and rage, we are to be what Jesus called the “peacemakers.” Brendan and Bob discuss what the Scriptures have to say about this and consider strategies on how to better communicate on social media. It’s an important topic, but they never take things so very seriously that they forget to have a fun and engaging conversation. In the podcast, a study is cited called “America’s Divided Mind: Understanding the Psychology That Drives Us Apart” from Beyond Conflict, a research group that uses neuroscience and behavioral science to understand how conflict happens and ways to reduce it. The report says, “Americans incorrectly believe that members of the other party dehumanize, dislike, and disagree with them about twice as much as they actually do. In short, we believe we’re more polarized than we really are—and that misperception can drive us even further apart, (representing) a new degree of toxic polarization in America.” Read the report here: https://beyondconflictint.org/americas-divided-mind/ Bible Passages: Matthew 7:1-5; Matthew 5:9; James 1:9; Proverbs 15:18; Ephesians 4:29; Proverbs 19:11 Check out the podcast page for ways to connect with the show: https://www.re-integrate.org/reintegrate-podcast/ Get full access to Bob Robinson’s Substack at bobrobinsonre.substack.com/subscribe