'Healing the Heart of Democracy" Book Discussion (online) [1]

Healing the Heart of Democracy Discussion Group

Monthly, October 23, November 20, December 18, January 22, February 26, March 26, April 23, May 28

6:30 pm Online

Facilitated by Rev. Kim Mason

***You are required to have a copy of the book. It is available from all major bok sellers and the local public libraries***

Explore some of the key ideas in Healing the Heart of Democracy by Parker Palmer, including the Five Habits of the Heart. As Parker J. Palmer writes, “When we choose to engage, not evade, the tension of our differences, we will become better equipped to participate in a government of, by, and for the people . . .” We can take an important step in that direction by using this book to frame and focus conversations about politics with family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, and others. in the course of these conversations, we will learn more about what it means:

• To listen to each other openly and without fear, learning how much we have in common despite our differences

• To deepen our empathy for the alien “other” as we enter imaginatively into the experiences of people whose lives are radically unlike our own

• To hold what we believe and know with conviction and be willing to listen openly to other viewpoints, changing our minds if needed

• To seek out facts and explanations whenever we find reason to doubt our own truth claims or the claims made by others, thus becoming better informed

• To probe, question, explore, and engage in dialogue, developing a fuller, more three-dimensional view of reality in the process

We will grow in our ability to deal with political conflict, holding that complex force field in ways that unite “We the People” and allow us to hold our leaders accountable to the common good.