As much as we value agreement and unity, we also heavily value our own opinions. The labels we ascribe to our fellow citizens block us from engaging in invigorous conversations with one another, believing that we cannot find common ground with someone whose views align on different poles than our own. Our shallow definitions of “conservative” and “progressive” keep us from understanding the world we are all striving to work toward.

Dr. Jason Vickers, Professor of Theology at Asbury Theological Seminary, is an ordained elder in full connection on the Western NC Conference of the United Methodist Church and the current editor of the Wesleyan Theological Journal. Vickers challenges conventional definitions of what it means to be conservative or progressive, claiming that we adopt these mindsets without truly considering what it means to be on either side of the spectrum.

He talks with Eddie and Chris about the way all of us value conserving certain traditions and progressing toward a better future. They talk about the American South and the way Southern culture glamorizes rebellion. They discuss how all of us can have healthier, trusting conversations by opening our minds to understand why we value what we do. 

Follow Jason on the web: http://jasonvickers.org 

Learn more about Jason’s work at Asbury Theological Seminary here: https://asburyseminary.edu/person/jason-vickers/ 

Find Jason’s books here: http://jasonvickers.org/books/ 

Follow Jason on social media:

https://www.facebook.com/jason.vickers.773 

https://twitter.com/JasonEVickers