“Jesus is greater than our

disagreements.”

When our differences seem impossible to overcome, what can we as Christians do to engage without falling into avoidance or opposition? In this final session, Dr. Swamidass details an effective approach that Christians can take to faithfully and peacefully deal with issues of scientific conflict.

Key Terms

Knowledge-deficit approach: A common model of public engagement that assumes that a lack of knowledge is the main problem in most societal conflicts

Modeling: A strategy of leadership and pedagogy that guides others by displaying and living out the behavior we want them to replicate

Main Points

• A “knowledge-deficit” approach to scientific controversy and conflict places ourselves in the impossible position as experts to provide knowledge. This approach undermines trust, and our main barrier to relationship is a deficit in trust.
• The most effective approach in times of conflict is to model seeking understanding without trying to convince. This subverts the “fight or flight” response, enabling real thought to take place, and ultimately leads to change.
• As leaders, we have to be willing to enter conversations to really learn and to be changed ourselves, expecting others are going to be more willing to change as they see us modeling a willingness to consider new ideas and/or change ourselves.

Content questions

• Do you find yourself operating with a knowledge-deficit approach, assuming that a lack of knowledge is the main issue in societal conflicts? In what ways have you seen this?
• Have you experienced the “fight or flight” in issues of scientific conflict? What does that tend to look like?
• How have you seen intellectual humility modeled well in the church and/or the scientific community?

Application Questions

• What could your Christian community take away from this course? Come up with some practical applications, however small, that model listening, seeking understanding, and loving the scientific community like Jesus does.
• In what ways are you willing to change as you deal with issues of scientific conflict? Think about what it might look like to engage in conflict with both intellectual humility and confidence in Christ as you engage others.