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Summary

In this episode, we dig in to a big question: Do we really want community across difference? This short episode invites us all to consider if, amid the challenges of engaging with people who have different opinions and moving beyond seeking validation and comfort, we're truly committed to our relationships with the hypothetical and actual capital-O Other. We remind ourselves, based on the writing of St. Paul in Romans 12, that building community requires mutual affection, harmony, and a willingness to be present in times of joy and sorrow and that as we turn away from the need to be right and instead focus on understanding and developing relationships, we're making a decision to never slip into dehumanization. Building community across difference is complex and challenging, but essential for healing and love in the world.

This is our last episode before the podcast goes on break until September, but we invite you to practice building community across difference in the intervening time.

Keywords

community, difference, relationships, faith, love, curiosity, dehumanization, mutual affection, harmony

Takeaways

• Building community across difference requires moving beyond seeking validation and comfort.
• Approach conversations with curiosity and a willingness to learn.
• Recognize the humanity of others and avoid dehumanization.
• Building community requires mutual affection, harmony, and a willingness to be present in times of joy and sorrow.
• Repent of the need to be right and instead focus on understanding and developing relationships.
• Building community across difference is complex and challenging, but essential for healing and love in the world.

AI Disclosure: To support our staff in their limited time, many of our episode summaries are first generated by AI and then edited by the Communications Director to accurately reflect and preview our podcast episodes.