Polarized: The Collapse of Truth, Civility, and Community in Divided Times and How We Can Find Common Ground

by Keith M. Parsons

Overview

An atheist philosopher and a Protestant minister interact in a constructive and respectful dialogue about their differing views on life, stressing the importance of honesty, civility, and community engagement at a time of polarized politics. Unity in diversity (e pluribus unum) — the quintessential American value— is under assault today, and along with it, our sense of shared community. In this book, an atheist philosopher and a United Church of Christ pastor demonstrate that common ground can still be found even by people with very different perspectives on life. In short, difference need not mean division. The authors focus on the importance of truthfulness, civility, and community. In a respectful dialogue, they exchange ideas on the nature of truth, the importance of honesty, the value of civility, the definition of community in a pluralistic society, respecting differences while avoiding divisiveness, and the consequences to our nation when ideological rancor and the demonizing of opponents dominate the public square. The authors have a personal stake as well as an intellectual interest in these issues, as they met in childhood and have maintained their friendship over the decades despite their very different life choices and career paths. They both view with alarm the widening fissures developing among Americans and conclude by pointing out a similar preference for diatribe over rational debate in the decades preceding the Civil War. At a time of shrill rhetoric, this measured, reasoned discussion between two friends shows that communication and respect are possible between people of good will.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781633884540
Publisher:	Prometheus Books
Publication date:	01/29/2019
Pages:	384
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.40(d)

About the Author

Paris Donehoo recently retired as the senior pastor of First Congregational United Church of Christ in Elgin, Illinois. He has also served as a chaplain and bereavement coordinator for Hospice of West Suburban Hospital in Oak Park, Illinois, and as an adjunct professor in the Doctor of Ministry in Preaching degree program at Chicago Theological Seminary. He is the author of one previous book and articles in Christian Century, Christian Ministry, and other journals.

Keith M. Parsons is a professor of philosophy at the University of Houston-Clear Lake. He is the author of nine previous books including It Started with Copernicus, Rational Episodes, and God and the Burden of Proof, as well as articles or chapters in the American Rationalist, Oxford Dialogues in Christian Theism, The Oxford Handbook of Natural Theology, and other publications.

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The Purpose of This Book
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Copyright © 2019 Paris N. Donehoo.
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Table of Contents

The Purpose of This Book 11

Introduction

Donehoo 15

Parsons 26

Section I Untruth and its Consequences

What Is Truthfulness?

Parsons 39

Donehoo 46

Are We in the Post-Truth Era?

Parsons 53

Donehoo 66

What Is the Value of Truth?

Parsons 71

Donehoo 83

How Do We Restore Respect for Truth and Truthfulness?

Parsons 97

Donehoo 109

Concluding Thoughts on Truth

Parsons 125

Donehoo 128

Section II No Civilization without Civility

What Is Civility?

Donehoo 135

Parsons 141

Has Civility Broken Down in Our Day?

Donehoo 151

Parsons 158

Why Is Civility So Important?

Donehoo 169

Parsons 183

How Do We Restore Civility?

Donehoo 191

Parsons 199

Concluding Thoughts on Civility

Donehoo 207

Parsons 213

Section III E Pluribus UNUM: Community in Diversity

What Is Community in a Pluralistic Society?

Parsons 221

Donehoo 231

How Has Divisiveness Become So Extreme?

Parsons 241

Donehoo 249

What Is the Value of Community?

Parsons 257

Donehoo 266

How Do We Achieve Community in a Fractured Society?

Parsons 277

Donehoo 287

Concluding Thoughts on Community

Parsons 297

Donehoo 303

Conclusion: An Unabashedly Alarmist Coda 309

Bibliographic Essay

Donehoo 319

Parsons 322

Acknowledgments

Donehoo 339

Parsons 342

Notes 345

Editorial Reviews

"Donehoo and Parsons pull off a remarkable feat—demonstrating that it’s possible to be charitable, thoughtful, and truthful, even when your fundamental beliefs are worlds apart. You can disagree with one side or the other—or perhaps even both—and that’s okay. In fact, that’s healthy. But you’ll still walk away from this book with renewed faith in the power of bridge building, both personally and politically, which is something we desperately need.”   —Nathan Bomey, author of After the Fact: The Erosion of Truth and the Inevitable Rise of Donald Trump “In an era when the very definition of ‘truth’ is in question, and manipulators are working overtime to incite division, we need models of civil discourse that illustrate how those of us with different perspectives can still engage in vigorous debate without losing sight of our commonalities. Polarized is such a model, and it serves as leverage against the forces of sophistry, obfuscation, and caprice that are eroding what holds us together despite our disagreements—our most vital sense of human community.”   —David DiSalvo, author of What Makes Your Brain Happy and Why You Should Do the Opposite “What is happening in our country is not only ’anti-American’ but also dangerous. This work challenges us to return to truth-telling integrity and communal civility, but to do so without abandoning our values and love of country. Polarized is a clarion call to seek the redemption of the very soul of America before it is too late. Reading this will challenge and equip you in the struggle to save true American values and vision.” —Rev. Dr. Michael S. Piazza, professor, Hartford Seminary “In this age of partisan politics and demagogic rancor that has torn our nation apart and undermines our democratic foundations, Parsons and Donehoo are a welcome breath of sanity, providing us with a blueprint for how to navigate the dangerous waters we presently find ourselves in.” —Dr. Robert E. Bartholomew, coauthor of American Intolerance “A fascinating book that blends the worldviews of two unlikely companions, a Protestant minister and an atheist philosophy professor, whose core American ideas and values drive us to challenge the Trump establishment and work toward truthfulness, civility, community, and unity. Donehoo and Parsons exchange substantive dialogue in this debate-shifting book, and anyone interested in the sanctity of American Democracy would benefit from reading it.”   —William T. Hoston, associate professor of political science, University of Houston–Clear Lake “An inspiring compendium of thoughtful perspectives opposing the divisiveness, incivility, and counter-truth atmosphere splintering American society today. I pray readers will not treat this book as ‘just another anti-Trump diatribe’ but read and benefit from it as a clarion call for unified, civil, and truth-driven actions reclaiming all that is good in and about America, and proclaiming this for the world!”   —Imam Kareem Irfan, Esq., past president, Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago “The polarization of public discourse today is bemoaned by many and, if left unchecked, will quite possibly irreparably erode the body politic and the constitutional foundation upon which it is grounded. What is the cause of this current, troubling state of affairs, and what might be done to ameliorate the situation? Fortunately for us, in Polarized, Parsons and Donehoo have taken on these issues and have skillfully mined everything from naturalism to neuroscience, history, the arts, the Bible, and spirituality to give us well-argued responses to these questions. The authors’ sober and objective approach to the material shines like a beacon through the partisan ‘rabble-rousing’ that poisons both public and social media today. This book is especially important given the hyper-tribal actions and rhetoric of President Trump, which threaten to further divide this country at a time when we need a leader for all Americans, one who will protect the freedom and liberty of everyone and not just those with whom he agrees. This is the right book for the right time, an important book that seeks to unite us at a time when those in power seek to do just the opposite.”   —James T. Houk, professor of anthropology, Franciscan University, and author of The Illusion of Certainty “

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