How do we talk with the people with whom we disagree the most? Especially in today’s toxic social, religious, and political environment, where disagreement is seen as treason and we’re all on the edge of being canceled? This week, we had our eyes opened when Justin Lee gave us some practical advice for how to communicate with those across the aisle–and why our old arguments have always failed so miserably. Justin first appeared on our radar in the early 2000s, when the “Great Debate” on his blog about LGBTQ+ inclusion in the church broke new ground in showing that there is such a thing as a committed, faithful, gay Christian, and arguing that the Bible may not say exactly what we think it does about all queer relationships through all time and circumstances. That conversation turned into the popular book “Torn: Rescuing the Gospel from the Gays-vs.-Christians Debate,” which was recently updated in a 2024 edition. Justin has now turned his attention to an even bigger picture, focusing on the many ways that we disagree across different aspects of our society, and dives deep into the causes of our disagreements, why our old ways of arguing with one another often backfire and make the divine even wider, and practical tools and methods of having productive conversations with the people who disagree with us the most. His essential book on this topic is called “Talking Across the Divide: How to Communicate with People You Disagree with and Maybe Even Change the World” Bio: Justin Lee has been successfully bridging cultural divides for 25 years. He first developed his strategic dialogue techniques while working at the difficult intersection of faith and LGBTQ issues, where he became internationally known for helping heal family and community rifts. His book on that subject, Torn, is now one of the most widely read in the field. Justin’s latest book, Talking Across the Divide: How to Communicate with People You Disagree With—and Maybe Even Change the World, draws on scientific research and real-world examples to apply these same techniques to today’s political and social conflicts. Follow Justin’s work at GeekyJustin.com.

Justin Lee Website: https://geekyjustin.com/ Facebook: @geekyjustin Instagram: @geekyjustinlee Twitter/X: @geekyjustinlee

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