It is not just what you say, but how you say it that matters. Today, that is especially true in our polarized political setting. The polarization is so severe that we no longer listen to counterposing arguments and rationale. In a time when disagreement too often leads to hatred and disrespect, join us for a conversation about how we can bring civility and kindness to society. During this discussion, you’ll learn:

• Lessons about kindness and civility from our different faith traditions
• Your role as an individual and our collective role as a society in perpetuating kindness and civility in communication
• Methods to help you bring civility into even the most difficult of situations

During the discussion, you’ll have the opportunity to converse with other attendees and ask questions of the panelists, creating opportunities to develop new connections with and learn from others committed to kindness and civility.

Joining us for this conversation, we welcome from the Theology Department of the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences at Boston College:

• Kenneth R. Himes, O.F.M., Ph.D., Professor of Theological Ethics. He previously held positions at the Washington Theological Union, University of Virginia, Howard University Divinity School and St. John’s University and is a former member of the Theological Society of America and the Society of Christian Ethics.
• Shawn Copeland, Ph.D., Professor of Systematic Theology. She is known for her work in theological and philosophical anthropology, embodiment, political theology, theological methods; African and African–derived religious and cultural experience and African-American intellectual history.
• Cathleen Kaveny, J.D., Ph.D., Darald and Juliet Libby Professor of Law and Philosophy. She serves on the masthead of Commonweal as a regular columnist. Her interests include the relationship of law, religion, and morality in pluralistic societies, health care ethics, rhetoric and ethics, the relationship of mercy and justice, and complicity with wrongdoing.