A Conclusion to a Cultural Journey
Embrace Complexity
Beware of Overcorrection
Be Teachable
Embrace Error
Read Together
In the face of both learning and practicing intercultural communication the authors of Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes the readers are not provided with a checklist. The readers are not given a system. The readers are not given an algorithm.
People are complicated, people are messy. To properly communicate with people there is not system, in fact even suggesting that communication can be deemed “proper,” is unrealistic. So rather the authors give us advice to keep in mind, I will compare this with how we can use these in face of the current political division that is highlighted by the recent elections.
Embrace Complexity
This election has certainly not been simple. However, there appeared to have been a narrative of ease with the decision making along party lines, especially when speaking with an other. There has been a narrative of right and wrong as determined by the colors red and blue rather than circumstance and rhetoric.
Beware of Overreaction
To be wary of overreaction or over correction is pertinent in this season. Especially with a change in power from one party line to another, in our communication we may be tempted to highlight the change rather than the commonality.
Be Teachable
This one is frankly going to be the most difficult to me. I know what I know and I know that I want to keep that knowledge as it is. There is a philosophy professor who once said that, “the more arguments I won, the more I lost; and all I wish for it to lose so that I may gain.” What he meant by this was that as he won debates, he no longer learned, and learning is where the real victory is.
Embrace Error
In the same vein of being teachable, we should embrace error. By practicing this in the election discussion we show our eagerness to have a genuine connection with the human across from us rather than wishing to sway them to our side.
Read Together
As a bibliophile I love this. This in specific reference to the scripture, and not personalizing or individualizing the bible to us specifically but keeping the whole in mind. This will greatly benefit the discussion of the election as an attitudinal change rather than a specific demarkated change.
