Join Braver Angels’ workshop on ‘Skills for Disagreeing Better’

In an age of shouting and disagreement, Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Naperville is bringing back the popular Braver Angels workshop “Skills for Disagreeing Better” on Saturday, May 2.

In this polarized time, we lack basic understanding of why people on the other political side hold their beliefs. We don’t see them as they see themselves – their core values and central concerns – but instead as we choose to see them. We are tempted to regard our own side as principled and the other side as self-interested.

When we try to communicate across this gap, we often lack the skills for listening carefully, looking for common ground, and sharing our perspectives in ways that connect rather than create more misunderstanding.

We can learn to disagree better in polarized times, which means accurately seeing where we differ and where we share common ground.

The goals include:

• More understanding of the values and concerns of people who differ from you politically

• Better skills for listening in a way so that the other person feels heard

• Better skills for sharing viewpoints in a way the other person might hear -- even if they disagree

This free workshop will give you practical ways to negotiate verbal and political minefields with your perspective, your composure — and relationships — intact.

The free community workshop, “Skills for Disagreeing Better,” will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. at the church, 815 S. Washington St. Register via Eventbrite.com.