Often, when faced with attendance at a family, social or workplace gathering, people are advised as follows: "You don't want to get into any type of deep conversation with so-and-so. If you just steer clear of politics and religion, I think you'll be okay".
It sounds like great advice, but it's virtually impossible to engage another human being in cogent conversation without both of these topics rearing their ugly heads. While the focus of any given conversation may not touch on either topic in an overt manner, both are bubbling merrily under the surface.
This point is touched on in a book I picked up at the library yesterday, "God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything" by Christopher Hitchens. (I'm sure I'll have to write about this work as I progress in my reading.)
How we look at the world is shaped by our political and religious or philosophical perspectives. None of us are blank canvasses. We all have biases, preferences and unique ways of interacting with the world around us.
Consequently, our frames of reference, informs anything we speak or write about. Take something as innocuous as a superficial conversation about the weather. How each person views "climate change" often impacts this seemingly meaningless dialog.
Person B, on the other hand, doesn't give much credence to the so-called phenomena of "climate change". Consequently, for them, there is no direct cause-and-effect. The wet year is merely a random, chance occurrence.
While we can establish no precise rule in these kinds of situations, some generalities can be observed. In general, Person A is most likely a political and religious liberal, while Person B is more apt to be conservative in both areas.
It really doesn't matter much which topic of conversation might come up. Whatever is focused on is defined by our political and religious or philosophical beliefs. It's not that we consciously use these variables to drive our communications; they manifest themselves simply because they are an ingrained part of who we are.
It sounds like great advice, but it's virtually impossible to engage another human being in cogent conversation without both of these topics rearing their ugly heads. While the focus of any given conversation may not touch on either topic in an overt manner, both are bubbling merrily under the surface.
This point is touched on in a book I picked up at the library yesterday, "God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything" by Christopher Hitchens. (I'm sure I'll have to write about this work as I progress in my reading.)
How we look at the world is shaped by our political and religious or philosophical perspectives. None of us are blank canvasses. We all have biases, preferences and unique ways of interacting with the world around us.
Consequently, our frames of reference, informs anything we speak or write about. Take something as innocuous as a superficial conversation about the weather. How each person views "climate change" often impacts this seemingly meaningless dialog.
Person A: Gosh, it's really been raining a lot lately.There's a better than average chance Person A's comments are colored by their concern regarding global warming. This person views the "abnormality" as having a specific cause and this is the direct effect.
Person B: I'll agree to that!
Person A: You know, it really is abnormal for this time of year.
Person B: Oh, I wouldn't say that. These things run in cycles. We're simply having a wet year.
Person B, on the other hand, doesn't give much credence to the so-called phenomena of "climate change". Consequently, for them, there is no direct cause-and-effect. The wet year is merely a random, chance occurrence.
While we can establish no precise rule in these kinds of situations, some generalities can be observed. In general, Person A is most likely a political and religious liberal, while Person B is more apt to be conservative in both areas.
It really doesn't matter much which topic of conversation might come up. Whatever is focused on is defined by our political and religious or philosophical beliefs. It's not that we consciously use these variables to drive our communications; they manifest themselves simply because they are an ingrained part of who we are.
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