The balance must go all the way

Referendums and theology can have multiple things in common.

We can wildly disagree about them.

We can get firmly entrenched in “our camp” of the issue.

We can be incredibly opinionated about them online.

And, sometimes, we say - even with the best of intentions - that things are going to be balanced when we discuss them.

The trouble is, no matter if the discussion is occurring amongst family or friends, or in private or civic settings, we often fail to be truely balanced.

Why? 

Because our good intentions often don’t cover over our personal feelings.

I’ve got no doubt that when I teach the studies of religion subject at my school next year, even unknowingly, I will not be giving a balanced view.

Not all the time.

Even accidentally.

The best way to measure if you’re being genuinely balanced in your discussion of a topic is the following: questions, praise and encouragement.

Are you posing an equal number of questions to either/all sides?

Are you directing the same amount of praise to all sides?

Do those, no matter where their opinion falls on the topic, leave with the same level of encouragement?

If you can’t honestly respond that everyone has received the same level of challenge and exhortation, then you had a discussion… but it wasn’t a genuinely balanced one.