Conversations with Peter Boghossian How To Have Impossible Conversations | Peter Boghossian at TPUSA Berkeley Event
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Nov 15, 2025 The event at UC-Berkeley was filled with tension, with chaos outside and police presence inside. Peter Boghossian offers tools for having difficult conversations, emphasizing the need to rethink political disagreements by focusing on shared goals. He advocates for listening, asking what it takes to change minds, and celebrating common civilizational threats. Simple acts like handshakes can foster bridges between different faiths. Surprisingly, many people are eager for truth and productive dialogue when listened to genuinely.
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Backstage Meeting With A Christian Apologist
- In 2013 Peter wrote A Manual for Creating Atheists and met Christian apologist Frank backstage.
- They shook hands and began a cordial exchange despite opposing beliefs.
Find Shared Higher-Order Goals
- Many disagreements mask a shared higher-order goal like conserving the republic.
- Recognizing shared commitments reframes debate from identity to specific disagreements.
Listen And Repeat To Understand
- Listen first and seek to understand what someone actually believes before arguing.
- Repeat their view back until they say “that’s right,” then ask what would change their mind.
