When people disagree, violently

Our Spring Book Club has been discussing the issue raised in Jonathan Haidt’s book, “The Righteous Mind - Why Good People are divided by Politics and religion”.  His premise is that people generally agree on the fundamental dimensions of morality: care, liberty, fairness, loyalty, authority and sanctity.  Where people differ are the relative weightings assigned to each of the dimensions by each person, or group of people.  For example, Liberals may consider all 6 dimensions valuable, but highlight particularly care, liberty and fairness more than others.  On he other hand, conservatives may put more emphasis on loyalty, authority and sanctity. Those differences in relative weighting is the cause of much of the conflict between liberals and conservatives, and many groups.  

We feel that Haidt’s analysis sounds plausible, providing valuable insight into some of the serious conflicts that afflicts many countries and communities today.  However, there is also a feeling that some important elements are missing from his analysis.  Perhaps partly because his analysis is based on observations on the community that he is living in, in North America.  One of the glaring gaps is the absence of the analysis on authoritarianism, which dominates many countries and communities.  We feel that, in the context of Haidt’s framework, authoritarians put even more emphasis (than the conservatives) on loyalty and authority, maybe even sanctity.  

We also feel Haidt has not gone far enough in analysing the degree of violence that may result from the differences and conflicts among the groups.  If the struggle among groups remain in the form of arguments, elections and other civil and lawful arenas, the world would not have been in such a terrible place.  But there are discriminations, exploitations, political and economical oppressions, police brutalities, arbitrary detentions, forced exiles, assassinations, killings, wars and more.  Evil is so evident.  It is no more just divisions among “good” people.  

That leads to the solution offered by Haidt.  He recommends listening to the other side, meeting people from diverse backgrounds, trying to understand why people hold different views even when we disagree with them.  There is much research that points to the benefits of such exposure.  It is harder to hate someone that you know and feel connected to.  It also helps to counteract some of the worrying effects of social media.  That is also part of the motivation behind service-learning, particularly international service-learning that is so much a part of my life.  Haidt himself is true to his words.  He has put much efforts towards promoting mutual listening, understanding and dialogue. 

But ultimately, these actions seem unequal to the depth of the conflict.  The hatred between some of the antagonists, the evil that has been and continuously perpetuated is so deep, that these action has no realistic hope of removing.  Great misery and evil can also be tackled with great love and sacrifice.  Such as that exemplified by Jesus Christ.  I have heard that the blood bath expected in South Africa when apartheid was abolished was averted at least partly because of the faith of some of the key people as well as the large number of believers in the country.  The way the Rwandans are stressing reconciliation after that horrible genocide in 1994 is also at least partly attributable to the Christian faith giving the strength to many of them to forgive.  I feel the hand of providence that somehow our team at the university is involved in projects in both countries.  

I truly believe that the Christian faith has a lot to contribute towards healing this world.  Christ sacrificed Himself for me, but also for him, her and them, everyone, near and far. What does it mean to imitate Christ if I care only for myself and those who are like me?