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UPCOMING DIALOGUES

SEPTEMBER 24, 2008
Hofstra University: Day of Dialogue

Union Theological Seminary: Interethnic / Interfaith Difficult Conversations

NOVEMBER 16, 2008
Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims: Interfaith Teach-in

For more information about upcoming events,
please call
718-768-2175.

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Help us build trust,
relationships, and partnerships among neighbors, citizens, and immigrants of different
faiths and cultures.

 

What is Dialogue?
Dialogue is a balance of advocacy and inquiry. Advocacy is reasoning with supportive data. Inquiry is suspension of reason and exposing your mental models and heart, giving the other person a "window to your reasoning" and to your humanity"
Good Dialogue Is...
  • ...an Exchange of ideas and experiences that is so active, effective, highly charged that it leaves none of the participants unchanged.
  • means learning to suspend one's opinions and judgments in order to truely listen to one another.
  • requires staying in the dialogue, even when one's closely held beliefs are challenged.
  • requires all participants to contribute from where they are - even half-formed ideas.
  • can result in divergent views converging, discovering a new social intelligence.
What is the Difference Between Dialogue and Debate?
Dialogue
Discussion and Debate
To inquire and to learn To tell, sell, peruade
To unfold shared meaning To gain agreement on one meaning
To integrate multiple perspectives To evaluate and select the best
To uncover and examine To justify/defend assumptions