THE PRECIOUS GIFT OF LOVING DISAGREEMENT

'The occasion to have a safe and thoughtful discussion with someone who genuinely loves you and disagrees with you passionately is a rare and precious gift.'

Gregg A Ten Elshof, I told me so: self-deception and the Christian life, p.119.

WHY WE DO DISAGREEMENT BADLY

'We tend not to have a category for disagreement between equally sincere, intelligent, and well-informed people where there is a genuine and discoverable truth of the matter. And without such a category, we're faced with a choice between (i) giving up on the idea that we know the truth on the issue in question or (ii) thinking of our opponent as insincere, stupid, or ill-informed. If our cause is one we cherish, the second option will be the most attractive. And once we've got our opponent characterized as insincere, stupid, or ill-informed, then mistreatment, mockery, and exclusion from serious discussion - all for the sake of the cause, of course - will come more easily.'

Gregg A Ten Elshof, I told me so: self-deception and the Christian life, p.92.