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Better Angels Debate on Guns in America

October 29, 2019 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Better Angels Debate on Guns in America: Tuesday, October 29, 2019, 7 – 9 PM, Summit, NJ
You are invited to a Better Angels Debate on Guns in America to be held on Tuesday, October 29, 2019 from 7 – 9 PM, hosted by Beacon UU Congregation in Summit and the Summit NJ Better Angels Alliance.

A Better Angels Debate is a different kind of debate in which a group of people bring their views, and think together about a difficult question. There are no winners or losers. The purpose is to express your views AND listen to others’ views. More information about Better Angels Debates, including a video, can be found at www.better-angels.org/debates/.

We use a modified parliamentary procedure, which helps us speak respectfully and listen carefully to each other. A specific issue on the general topic of guns in America will be chosen through this registration process, phrased in the form of a Resolution. At the debate, participants will express their thoughts For or Against the Resolution. It is also okay, actually encouraged, to express doubt or nuance, and even to change your mind. At its best, this debate is a collective search for greater understanding about an important issue through a vigorous, passionate airing of views, without descending to personal attacks.

There are three goals here:
– To better understand our own views
– To better understand opposing views
– To form stronger relationships with those around us.

After the debate adjourns, we’ll take a few minutes to share what we found surprising, and what we enjoyed.

We hope you find this intriguing and will decide to contribute your thoughts to this exchange of ideas. If you do plan to attend, complete this registration form, including the survey (do not complete the survey if you do not plan to attend). This debate format works best with a moderate number of participants, so attendance will be limited to 45 people, on a first-come, first-served basis. If you want to come, register soon.

The debate also works best when the group is divided on the issue, with half in favor of, and half opposed to, the resolution. The survey is intended to see which of the following Resolutions: a) interests people most; and b) splits opinion closest to 50%-50%. For each of the Resolutions we are considering, we will ask:

– your level of interest in discussing the resolution.
– your position (agree, disagree, neutral) on the resolution.

The survey closes Friday, October 18, at midnight.

We’ll send an email during the week of October 20 to let you know which resolution we’ll be debating, and ask you to confirm that you will attend. Then we will follow up with any last-minute instructions.

If you have any questions about this event or Better Angels, email: betterangelsworkshop712@gmail.com.
Thank you for your interest!

Details

Date:
October 29, 2019
Time:
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Event Categories:
,

Organizer

Beacon (Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Summit)
Phone
908-273-3245
Email
administrator@summitbeacon.org
View Organizer Website