Podcasts religion BJC Podcast S3, Ep. 06: Challenging misinformation: How to have productive conversations with friends and family

S3, Ep. 06: Challenging misinformation: How to have productive conversations with friends and family

Published: Dec. 13, 2021, 4:21 a.m.

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What do you do when you\\u2019re around the dinner table or visiting family over the holidays and hear someone share misinformation? How do you have productive conversations and truthful exchanges that bring people together? From fake narratives that drive violence to the mundane myths that build a false foundation, Amanda and Holly talk about common misconceptions they hear, what they see when talking about the dangers of Christian nationalism, and how you can find areas of agreement with others. They share some specific ways they would handle difficult statements in one-on-one conversations. In segment three, Holly and Amanda talk about the pros and cons of online worship from their own experience.

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Segment one: Why is misinformation such a problem in Christian communities? (starting at 00:49):

Amanda and Holly discuss this May webinar from the Council on Foreign Relations:\\xa0Disinformation and Faith Communities, which featured Joan Donovan from the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Public Policy, along with Ed Stetzer of Wheaton College\\u2019s Billy Graham Center.\\xa0

They also mention a piece Stetzer wrote for\\xa0USA Today\\xa0in September 2020:\\xa0\\u201cEvangelicals need to address the QAnoners in our midst\\u201d

Amanda wrote this column for Baptist News Global about Michael Flynn\\u2019s troubling comments:\\xa0If you\\u2019re paying attention to Christian nationalism, you won\\u2019t be shocked by Michael Flynn\\u2019s call for \\u2018one religion under God\\u2019

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Segment two: Handling difficult conversations with others (starting at 14:28)

Learn more about the Christian Against Christian Nationalism campaign at\\xa0christiansagainstchristiannationalism.org.

Amanda referenced this summer\\u2019s webinar:\\xa0White Christian Nationalism: How Racism Undergirds Christian Nationalism

Amanda read\\xa0this Tweet\\xa0from author\\xa0Kaitlyn Schiess:
The problem with the \\u201cconfront your family about politics on Thanksgiving\\u201d thing isn\\u2019t that we can\\u2019t influence our families or shouldn\\u2019t have those conversations, it\\u2019s thinking one tense dinner will do it.\\xa0

Long, compassionate faithfulness > \\u201cbold\\u201d one-time confrontation.

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Here are some resources to help combat misinformation from the Christians Against Christian Nationalism website:

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Segment three (starting at 28:41): Online and in-person worship services

Amanda and Holly talked about this NPR story by Deena Prichep:\\xa0Worshipers found religious homes near and far thanks to virtual services

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Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC\\u2019s generous donors. You can support these conversations\\xa0with a gift to BJC.\\xa0

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