2:00pm-4:00pm on Wednesday 18 March
Times shown are in GMT (UTC +0) up to the 26th March. For events on or after 27th March times are in BST (UTC +1).
Woolf Institute, Madingley Road, CB3 0UB
Disagreement and conflict are normal parts of all human relationships. Whether at home, with friends, at school or work, or in society, wherever there are human beings there is disagreement and conflict. Some conflict is dangerous and needs to be prevented or managed, but most of our day-to-day conflict is just a natural part of differing individuals, groups, cultures and belief systems coming into contact with one another. In these cases, the question is not how to stop disagreeing or manage conflict, but how to see disagreement and conflict as gifts and opportunities for transformation.
In the current climate of political polarisation, disagreements about ongoing international conflicts and extreme rhetoric between parties who disagree, tools and skills for talking with one another across our differences are rarely modelled or practised. The Woolf Institute has over 25 years of expertise in interfaith relations, and Dr Elizabeth Phillips has over a decade of experience in conflict transformation.
Through our research, teaching and public engagement, we seek to address polarisation between faith communities and between those communities and wider society. One of our current research and engagement projects is looking at how to maintain and cultivate good relations between Muslims and Jews in the UK during conflict in Israel and Palestine. Good relations in light of such complex problems do not arise from agreement, but from learning how to listen to and speak with one another about our differing perspectives and experiences. These are vital life skills both for interpersonal relationships and good global citizenship.
This workshop will help participants to identify how they reflexively engage with disagreement and conflict, and also discover what strengths they possess for disagreeing well. Participants will learn skills for cultivating their best selves in situations of difference, disagreement and conflict. Together we will explore how disagreement can be a gift and conflict can be an opportunity.
