Beyond Bias: Discovering Common Ground for Peace in Polarized Times

Compassionate Las Vegas Podcast with Will Rucker

About the Guests:

• Will Rucker: Reverend Will Rucker is a key figure dedicated to fostering compassion throughout Las Vegas. He serves as a Global Council Trustee for the United Religions Initiative (URI) North America and is at the forefront of promoting peaceful and ethical engagement in faith communities.
• Karen Volker: Karen is the Director of Partnership and Violence Prevention at URI. With over a decade of experience at Cure Violence Global, Karen brings a wealth of knowledge on the health approach to violence prevention.
• Medina Moore: Medina is the Voting Rights Organizer for the Arizona Faith Network. She focuses on promoting peaceful political engagement and fostering unity across diverse communities through prayer, dialogue, and partnerships.
• Geneva Blackmer: Geneva is a Global Council Trustee for URI North America and a PhD candidate specializing in digital theology and religious communication. She is actively involved in countering digital disinformation and promoting digital literacy.

Episode Summary:

In this episode of Compassionate Las Vegas: The Podcast, hosted by Reverend Will Rucker, listeners are invited to explore the critical role of faith communities in promoting peaceful political engagement during election seasons. Recorded as a live webinar, this session brings together experts Karen Volker, Medina Moore, and Geneva Blackmer to discuss actionable strategies against violence, spreading misinformation, and fostering inclusive dialogue amid political divides.

The episode unveils how faith communities can leverage their influence to prevent electoral violence, create dialogues, and counter harmful narratives. Karen Volker delves into the health-based approach to violence prevention, highlighting its behavioral science roots. Medina Moore emphasizes the import of maintaining neutrality while engaging politically, offering the Arizona Faith Network's methods of promoting peace through prayer vigils and partnerships as prime examples. Geneva Blackmore tackles the digital age's challenges by urging communities to improve digital literacy to combat misinformation and hate speech effectively.

Key Takeaways:

• Faith communities are pivotal in mitigating electoral violence by endorsing nonviolence as common ground among divided groups.
• Open dialogue and partnerships across various community groups can significantly reduce potential conflicts during high-stress events like elections.
• Embracing prayer vigils and meditative practices can foster a peaceful atmosphere, helping to alleviate the anxiety surrounding elections.
• Effective use of digital platforms by faith communities can counteract the spread of misinformation and promote truthful, peaceful narratives.
• Engaging young people and amplifying their voices in faith spaces is crucial for effective peacebuilding and fostering future leadership.

Notable Quotes:

• "A little consideration, a little thought for others, makes all the difference." - Reverend Will Rucker
• "Violence is a behavior that can be prevented." - Karen Volker
• "Prayer is going to be the essential key in elections in this work in ensuring that we have peace at our polling locations." - Medina Moore
• "Digital spaces are not neutral, we all possess a bias when processing information online." - Geneva Blackmore
• "Healing isn't just personal, but also systemic in this way." - Geneva Blackmer

Resources:

• United Religions Initiative: URI - Organization fostering inclusive, interfaith cooperation.
• Cure Violence Global: Early work experience of Karen Volker, focusing on health approaches to stopping violence.
• Arizona Faith Network: Engage with current initiatives for peaceful political engagement at azfaithnetwork.org.
• Digital Theology Resources: Access interfaith America's curriculum for deeper learning into engaging religious diversity online.

Tune into the full episode to enrich your understanding of the pivotal role faith communities play in diffusing political tension and promoting peace. Stay connected with Compassionate Las Vegas for more dialogues designed to inspire and enact compassion across all communities.