Am I listening?

[PoetPhilosopher]

I get the sense that some people think I'm not listening to them when they talk about subjects that aren't really my forte, like conservatism, some religions, etc. I'd say I'm listening but in a different way. If someone tells me, "I have God in my life and it's so great! You should too!", I put it at the back of my mind, and see how things work out for them. If they experience a lot of anxiety as a result of their beliefs, or if they really are changed by them in some profound way, or if their beliefs cause them to exclude minority groups, or if their beliefs truly cause them to overcome some of the societal hurdles people face in achieving unity and community... that's the kind of stuff I listen to. The seeing, rather than the being told.

 

[PureX]

Good point. What people believe they are, and what they actually are, are often two different things. Belief matters to them, but actuality matters to the rest of us.