Public Discourse and Religion
By Frances Forde Plude
We have talked about applied theology – called pastoral theology, practical theology, or public theology. Here we highlight the latter.
Benjamin Franklin used the term “public religion” and in the United States we have passed through three stages, according to the authors of the book Habits of the Heart. They called the first stage “biblical” because, especially in Puritan colonial life, citizens were part of a covenanted community in their civic and social lives.
The second tradition, reflected in Thomas Jefferson, stressed the republic, and emphasized virtue in public life. The third cultural language, individualism, stresses ambition and self-improvement. This recent phase, and we are all part of it, can neglect commitment to the wider community.
U.S. Catholic Prophet
An early theorist on the role of religion in society was the Jesuit John Courtney Murray. When my husband and I attended Mass years ago in London, an English Jesuit sighed: “Ah, you Americans gave us John Courtney Murray.” His work – We Hold These Truths, for example – is largely credited as the basis for the Vatican Council’s Declaration on Religion Freedom document.
The Catholic Theological Society of America (CTSA) recently had “Catholicism and Public Life” as its convention theme. The meeting was held in San Jose and the Silicon Valley was an appropriate site in which to reflect upon how faith can be inserted into a global society that is largely wired (and with large populations poor).
The convention program was coordinated by Kenneth R. Himes, OFM. Himes is co-author of the book Fullness of Faith: The Public Significance of Theology (Paulist). One reviewer noted that this work shows how theological topics are rooted in the faith-life of the church.
What can communication studies contribute here?
Public discourse is, at its core, a communication enterprise. Respect for other voices, dialogue, persuasion, building consensus – in all these areas communication scholars and practitioners have built a body of knowledge and data that can improve and facilitate our religious discourse. Thus, communication, including communication theology, does not refer only to mass media studies.
Our challenge is this: shedding current gridlock, our anxiety about church-state tension, and overemphasis on individualism, Christians must dialogue about religious values in the public square. And we need to integrate communication (and communitarian) skills into the enterprise!
By Suzanne Nelson
Recently the University of Central Florida hosted Peace Day. Attendance was voluntary but thousands of students packed the arena, along with local church and civic leaders. We experienced public discourse of the highest caliber as we listened to two Nobel laureates, Oscar Arias and Desmond Tutu, talk about the essence of peace and reconciliation.
Public Opinion Leadership
Bishop Tutu received a standing ovation from his secula” audience when he urged five steps to make a positive difference in the world. 1) Have the self-esteem that comes from knowing you are loved by God. (At this point we experienced a reverent hush in the crowd; the whole audience was completely focused on Tutu.) 2) Be thankful. 3) Let that thankfulness lead to generosity. 4) Stop demonizing our enemies. 5) Dream new things.
Oscar Arias, former president of Costa Rica, also received a standing ovation. Using an economic frame, he exposed the senselessness of illiteracy, malnutrition, and homelessness in a world of such abundance. His impressive facts and figures had staying power because he presented them with an attitude of humility and an obvious sense of concern and responsibility.
Bishop Tutu was direct, honest, and theologically refreshing. He developed his points through story and symbol grounded in his own rich experience, education, and thoughtful reflection. The audience could sense his respect for them, his awareness of their potential. He lifted our spirits, not because he was “optimistic” but because he was “a prisoner of hope,” as he put it.
Public Discourse in Our Town
Beneficial public discourse, it seems to me, is more than debating and justifying a personal moral conviction to persuade other individuals to buy into it – no matter how theologically correct it may be. Rather, beneficial public discourse acknowledges the common good and the reality of the moment. We may need to tolerate the presence of weeds at the same time we are fertilizing the wheat.
Whatever we do to advance public discourse in or through our parish work, we will need to find – or form – articulate people who appreciate differences, are sensitive to language, and are skilled in dialogue and consensus building. As parish leaders we need to bring them together through speaking invitations, video conferencing, film, or teleconferencing. They may be from our own parish, other parishes and workplaces in the community, other cultures or races or religions, other cities. Or we may find material books.
We need to be people who can integrate sound theology with real life experience and who, with infectious hope, can interpret that experience from the viewpoint of the common good.