What Are The Greatest Challenges In Communication For Lds To Non-Lds And Vice Versa.

[HeatherAnn]

Thanks for your thoughts. I agree in part. Most of us come to some vague understandings of other sects beliefs from within our own sect.. distortions seem part and parcel of that sort of thing. I don't mind so much anyone coming to the table with some sort of presupposition about my beliefs, the thing that disturbs me is when a person holds to their presuppositions after we talk about them.

I agree.

It also depends on if somebody is...

ex-lds,

lds their entire lives living in UT,

lds living somewhere with few lds

never been lds & clueless or

never been lds with anti-mormon beliefs.

Parts of the communication problem is categorizing people based on differences instead of realizing common ground.

I think it also depends on what's at stake. A heated religious disagreement between a married couple with children... or a passing exchange between strangers... will dictate how emotionally invested each is in being "right" & how much one listens & accepts the other without expectations.

[Jeff K.]

I think the emphasis of differences and the de-emphasis of similarities are the greatest problems in establishing communications between most faiths. There seems to be a strong focus on how people are different, which makes it easier to lessen the possibility of friendship and increase the level of contention. I bet a discussion in forums regarding similarities will follow two paths.... one ins which few will post, the other path being a deviation towards differences. Essays perahps will not similarities, but posts follow the motives and emotions of people in the immediate response. An essay will have an established goal in the mind of the writer, while forums with their questions and answers will simply follow the motives of the various posters, the goals of which are constantly changing based on who is posting, when and how often.

[Calm]

I think the emphasis of differences and the de-emphasis of similarities are the greatest problems in establishing communications between most faiths. There seems to be a strong focus on how people are different, which makes it easier to lessen the possibility of friendship and increase the level of contention. I bet a discussion in forums regarding similarities will follow two paths.... one ins which few will post, the other path being a deviation towards differences. Essays perahps will not similarities, but posts follow the motives and emotions of people in the immediate response. An essay will have an established goal in the mind of the writer, while forums with their questions and answers will simply follow the motives of the various posters, the goals of which are constantly changing based on who is posting, when and how often.

I think it's important to establish commonalities at the beginning of the discussion, especially in regards to the discussion itself so that all are on the same page and not talking past each other. But I also love to discuss the differences once past that point because it not only helps me understand the other, but also helps me look at my own beliefs in a new way and grow in greater understanding there as well.

Unfortunately it does often seem that most people looking for a discussion only care about the differences and such get inflated, I think though this is in part due to thinking that talking about what we agree about would be boring. Variety is what is seen as exciting and variety in religious discussions generally means talking about differences (ironically, this focus often seems to lead to greater repetition than I've seen in discussions where there is an attempt to focus on commonalities.)