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From Conflict to Understanding - Led by Dr. Ariane David
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We live in a time when political, cultural, and religious divisions can seem impossible to cross. As Albert Einstein observed, “The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.”What then is the thinking that keeps us stuck in our thinking; unable to move on; unable to find lasting solutions to our differences; unable even to “hear” each other?
The problem isn’t simply what we think. It’s how we think.This presentation examines the mental habits that keep individuals and societies stuck in conflict. Drawing on evidence from systems thinking, ethics, and human behavior, Ariane introduces practical cognitive and spiritual exercises designed to help participants develop new ways of thinking about persistent human problems.
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What You’ll Learn
Positional thinking is the deeply ingrained belief that our own perspective is the only valid one—the truth.In the first part of this two-part seminar, you’ll learn to recognize positional thinking and begin letting go of the automatic impulse to judge or blame those who see things differently. In its place, you’ll practice genuine curiosity and discover how trust—and meaningful communication—can grow through understanding.These skills can be used in political and religious discussions, as well as in the everyday conversations we have with family members, friends, colleagues, and neighbors.
In the second part, Ariane will guide participants through a series of experiential exercises. You’ll have an opportunity to put Non-Positional Thinking into practice and experience how it can change the quality of a difficult conversation.
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This Isn’t Neutrality—It’s Clarity
Non-Positional Thinking doesn’t ask you to abandon your principles or pretend that every position is equally valid. It does help you approach disagreement with greater clarity, integrity, and understanding. Grounded in cognitive science and lived experience, it is a practical tool for anyone who wants to help build a more compassionate society, renew a divided church community, or heal a struggling relationship.
Why It Matters Now
This seminar directly supports the Church’s mission to build synodal communities—communities in which people listen carefully to one another and every voice is treated with dignity. It also reflects Pope Leo XIV’s call for ethical dialogue as a foundation for peacebuilding throughout the world.“Knowing how best to approach [social questions] is more important than providing immediate responses…”— Pope Leo XIV, Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice Foundation Address
These are very tough times to be a reformer/leader.
Now more than ever we need to stand up for human rights in the world and in the church.
We ask, how can the church credibly advocate for justice in the world while denying basic human rights to the majority of 1.35 billion members. Jamie says, ‘we have a hierarchy that is too afraid of admitting its vulnerability as an ailing and alienating institution’.
Don’t we have a responsibility to a God of love and justice to lead the way and show how we can Be Church outside of the institution?
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But what sort of leaders will we be?
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What sort of theology will influence our approach? Lay people have huge sacramental power and leadership.
How will we identify and overcome the obstacles in our path - our fears, and our scepticism as well as the patriarchal and authoritarian culture that is the Catholic Church?
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As Jamie will explain, the church makes a formidable opponent.
Jamie is a challenging, inspiring and deeply thoughtful leader with over 200 published articles, over 30 years’ experience of activism in the world and in the church. She is also a woman of deep faith and belief who from the age of 14 has felt called to the priesthood.
Her message is one of hope….
‘There are countless women and men who are doing the work of justice and compassion, the true work of the church. While the institutional church crumbles under its own weight of faithless, desperate acts of self-preservation, they are modeling the work to which God calls us, by serving in hospitals, prisons, shelters, schools, community centers and anywhere else God seeks to be made present.’These servant leaders are the keys to the future of the church’.
Dear Friends, we rarely ask for donations, but right now we must.
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Our small Core Team give their time voluntarily, but we need your financial support to keep Root & Branch running, enable our outreach to grow, and ensure that our webinars and events remain free to all.
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Small Christian Community Families worldwide are also invited to offer assistance to Pope Leo by joining in the Family Synod
Because Church leaders gathering at the Vatican lack firsthand experience with family life, we believe it is vital they hear from both blood-related families and also from friends who have become family to us through our SCCs. Along with families, all SCC families from all around the world are invited to host small, informal listening session using the Conversations in the Spirit format to share your joys, struggles, and pastoral needs.
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