Persuasion

4 Reasons Pastors Ought to Be Gentle

“Arguments tend to be focused on facts and logic…. A person presents arguments in the hope that someone else will have their understanding or thinking altered as they consider the arguments…. Narratives, on the other hand, tend to be focused on personal stories and experiences. … Increasingly, the discourse in our culture is bereft of arguments but filled with competing narratives.” - Ben Edwards

“Meanwhile, much of evangelical Christianity has emphasized the therapeutic and emotive experience of faith above the theological ideas that undergird it. Poor catechesis and avoidance of difficult doctrine means that for many Christians, religious identity is only as secure as the feelings that accompany it” - TGC

“No matter the theological issue, we can be sure that a litany of quick-fire responses often only exacerbate the issue for those who are in need of biblical instruction and theologically nuanced clarity. To that end, I would suggest that the antiquarian tripartite modes of persuasion (i.e.

“People who argue in favor of vaccines are making rational arguments to people who have already proven themselves not to be moved by reason.” - Washington Examiner

“By styling political debate in terms of ‘an enemy,’ Ahmari adopts what might be called the ‘Flight 93 Election Forever’ style of politics, which sees democratic politics as not a matter of debate, persuasion, or compromise, but one of war with an ‘enemy.’” - The Bulwark

“The American Charter Project (ACP) sponsored the program in an effort to offer guidance on how to overcome polarization in the United States along ideological and religious divides. ACP will release the “American Charter of Freedom of Religion and Conscience” later this year as part of its effort.” BPNews