Dialogue on Dialogue<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"One or two readers complain that there is not enough 'dialogue' on this blog. That's a fair point I suppose, but then, this is a blog. It is not an\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/standingonmyhead\/2009\/10\/dialogue-on-dialogue.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Dialogue on Dialogue\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"One or two readers complain that there is not enough 'dialogue' on this blog. That's a fair point I suppose, but then, this is a blog. 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{"id":1611,"date":"2009-10-24T21:33:00","date_gmt":"2009-10-24T21:33:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/standingonmyhead\/2009\/10\/dialogue-on-dialogue\/"},"modified":"2009-10-24T21:33:00","modified_gmt":"2009-10-24T21:33:00","slug":"dialogue-on-dialogue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/standingonmyhead\/2009\/10\/dialogue-on-dialogue.html","title":{"rendered":"Dialogue on Dialogue"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

What is the point of dialogue? There are some good reasons for it. Dialogue between opposing factions may help to clarify the truth. It can be a process whereby people who are genuinely seeking a way forward may move together into a fresh understanding of one another and the truth that they both seek. Also, it may help to clarify peripheral details that need to be worked out.<\/p>\n

However, too often \u2018dialogue\u2019 is a sneaky way for people who want to dispute truth or disobey God\u2019s commands to justify their rebellion, cause scandal and lead others into error or sin. If something is a revealed truth through natural law, Scripture and the teachings of Holy Church, then there is really no need for dialogue except to clarify that truth and expound it and defend it.<\/p>\n

Dialogue may help in this situation to work out pastoral details, but any dialogue which clouds the basic truth or undermines it is actually counter productive and not only a waste of time but actually dangerous. For example, abortion is wrong. It is never right. Dialogue on that truth itself is useless. Seeking to \u2018find common ground\u2019 on that one is a waste of time. However dialogue on ways to reduce abortions, on ways to help women in crisis pregnancies, on ways to support women who wish to keep their children or have them adopted\u2013all these and many other topics are great areas for dialogue.<\/p>\n

While dialogue has its uses, too often in our present culture it is used by those who do not believe in such a thing as revealed or objective truth. The assumption is that truth is \u2018whatever works for you\u2019. Consequently, dialogue is the means by which relativists reach a utilitarian compromise. Furthermore, dialogue is more often used by those who have a radical, \u2018progressive\u2019 agenda to promote their ideology.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome let us reason together\u201d they say, and then with \u2018difficult\u2019 theoretical cases sentimental, utilitarian and political arguments they dismantle the status quo, and once they have introduced an element of doubt in their opponents they line up for the kill. Discussion and \u2018listening\u2019 ends and they prepare to eliminate all opposition. Go here<\/a> to find this stage of \u2018dialogue\u2019 from one person who used to push for \u2018listening and discussion of difficult issues.\u2019<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"