WOF 516: How to Have a Civil Debate in a Polarized World

Charlie Kirk's assassination revealed a disturbing new cultural and political reality for those who share any of Kirk's views: it is possible, in our day and age, to be shot for speaking your mind. How can we recover from this dark event, whose effects have reverberated across the globe? How can we reclaim the possibility of disagreement with each other without resorting to violence? What conditions must be in place to make civil debate both possible and productive again, especially as our society appears to be growing more polarized?

A listener asks for advice on a healthy way to end an argument when it's clear you're at an impasse.

00:00 | Introduction
02:19 | Praying at Planned Parenthood
03:17 | Bishop Barron and Charlie Kirk
08:58 | Athens, Jerusalem, and the West
14:49 | Two necessary conditions for meaningful dialogue
22:08 | Belief in God—the fundamental condition
24:50 | God and the priority of logos over will
26:34 | Do we really need God for human rights?
28:44 | The Catholic case for freedom of speech
29:54 | Public celebration of evil
33:05 | Violence as a response to speech
34:18 | How can we debate those who reject necessary conditions for dialogue?
35:27 | How forgiveness is possible when justice is wanted
36:42 | Evangelical lessons from Charlie Kirk
37:40 | Listener question: How do you walk away from an impasse?
39:57 | Join the Word on Fire Institute

Links:

• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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