KenVincent
Moderator
Registered: 12/19/07
Posts: 103
|
|
| |
| #1 |
The Big Questions - A good question with which to begin this lesson might be to ask: What is civility, and in our culture what would civility look like?
- Is civility in decline, or is it simply more visible today than in the past — what with 24/7 television coverage, camera phones, Twitter, Facebook and so on?
- Some might argue that civility has a downside. A culture of civility is also a culture of dishonesty, some say, and that what is often perceived as incivility is more accurately an attempt to draw attention to the truth. What do you think?
- In his book, Choosing Civility, P.M. Forni, Professor at Johns Hopkins University and Director of the Civility Initiative at Johns Hopkins, offers a number of "civility" rules. What rules of civility would you suggest? (You might see if your local library has this book to see some of the "rules" Dr. Forni suggests for purposes of aiding the discussion. You could also have an easel with butcher paper and a magic marker handy to record the suggestions of the class.)
- When someone is uncivil to you, how do you handle the situation? Are you conscious of how your profession of faith causes you — and helps you — to respond in a way that otherwise you might not?
- Do you think that developing the discipline of civility in your life would improve the quality of your life? If so, in what way?
__________________
Ken Vincent
Online Forum Moderator
St. Luke Lutheran Church
Albuquerque, NM |
| Loading... | | |
WillHoffman
Registered: 01/04/08
Posts: 98
|
|
| |
| #2 |
1. "Civility" is not found in the Bible. Respect is systematically used and developed in the Old Testament, beginning with Genesis 41:40: the Steward's Charge from God: "You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to my orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you." For the sake of order and well-being someone is in charge, leader over followers, a task-master. In the next books, people are taught respect of their parents, the elderly, God, leaders from tribes, judges, and finally kings. Luther in his Large Catechism says that respect is the underpinning of the commandments. Proverbs urges respect shown through kindness over ruthlessness and instruction over ignorance, while the prophet Isaiah cautions fools and scoundrels who show no respect.
2. I believe that in a more complex world, civility (respect) is harder to find. In our culture of hate, fear, complaint and blame, leaders are often disrespected, both personally and in their positions. We all need to learn the art of "Follow-ship" while agreeing to disagree, honoring everyone's right to speak out.
3. "Some say" there is a downside to civility? Who, what, when, where, why and how -- the five "W's and the H" of journalism practice. This is an example of using the current mass-media misrepresentation of authority (sources) and dualistic false balance. The three uncivil examples paraded in the media recently and cited in this discussion have been conflated, misconstrued and misapplied. Each has its own life, characters, and motivation. Each has its own truth and lesson.
4. There are some basic rules of public speaking. Speak when spoken to. Respect all viewpoints. Avoid prescriptions, generalizations, and misrepresentations. Don't damn the origin. Choose words carefully.
5. There are many Old Testament principles of respect cited above as well as correlative Christian teachings of compassion, forbearance, and restraint.
6. There is always room to learn and practice more civility and respect. I think the key is "practice," living out, doing, making an example, and speaking out thoughtfully.
__________________
??: I'm still stuck on the Frontage Road of the Information Super Highway and I think I'm headed in the wrong direction -- can't seem to find the on-ramp. |
| Loading... | | |
