Can Truth and Tolerance Coexist? | Volf & Pendakur
May 16, 2024
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The podcast features theologian Mirsolav Volf and Dean of Students Vijay Pendakur discussing the balance between truth and tolerance in society. They address the complexities of living together despite differences, the role of compromise in community, physical and emotional safety on college campuses, and speaking the truth in love. The conversation explores navigating truth, values, and tolerance, respectful dialogue, and understanding different viewpoints in diverse settings.
Truth is essential for trust and just relationships, fostering healthier social interactions.
Respectful engagement with diverse viewpoints is crucial for navigating conflicting truths in a democratic society.
Deep dives
The Importance of Truth in Relationships
Commitment to truth is emphasized as crucial for building just relationships. Truth establishes trust essential for coexisting harmoniously and preventing identity distortion, leading to healthier social interactions.
Navigating Disagreements and Consequences
In an era marked by intense disagreements, especially during elections, the podcast explores the challenge of handling significant differences. It questions compromising beliefs to pursue common goals and delves into the complexities of bridging gaps amid diverse viewpoints.
Discussing Truth and Tolerance in Diverse Society
Yale theologian Miroslav Volf and Cornell Dean Vijay Pindeker analyze moving beyond mere tolerance towards understanding diverse perspectives in a democratic society. They address the importance of speaking truth with love, fostering just relationships, and navigating conflicting truths respectfully.
Balancing Safe Spaces and Freedom of Speech in University Settings
The tension between safe spaces and free speech in universities is examined, focusing on physical and emotional safety. The podcast stresses the need for nuanced discussions on safety versus comfort, the significance of safe spaces for belonging, and the importance of respectfully engaging differing viewpoints while upholding dignity and respect.
For many of the key issues today, it’s challenging to simply agree to disagree. Not only do we have serious differences in opinion and belief, but how we choose to act in light of them can have profound consequences.
How, then, should we live together? Is compromise a necessary component of community?
In a forum originally titled “Can Truth and Tolerance Coexist,” theologian Mirsolav Volf (Yale) and Dean of Students Vijay Pendakur (Cornell) delve into the complexities of a diverse, democratic society. Volf and Pendakur discuss how we can go beyond simply agreeing to disagree, what the role of physical and emotional safety is on college campuses, and what speaking the truth in love really means.
Their conversation was held at Cornell University in 2019. Thank you to the Forum planning team at Cornell university for making this event possible.