Conference

15 Quotes from “The Cost of Freedom: How Disagreement Makes Us Civil”

Jemar Tisby
No one knows what will happen when Cornel West, Robert P. George, and Rick Warren get on a panel together, but you’re certain to get some great quotes.
“The Cost of Freedom: How Disagreement Makes Us Civil” took place on April 30 at Biola University. Co-sponsored by several organizations like the Torrey Honors Institute and the Center for Christian Thought, the event brought together two former faculty colleagues at Princeton, West and George, who disagree on many issues in order to demonstrate how intelligent conflict can actually lead to greater respect and understanding. Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church and author of The Purpose Driven Life, moderated the discussion.
The following are sets of quotes from West, George, and Warren given throughout the evening. The event audio and video by Biola are posted here.

Cornel West

  1. “Indifference to evil is more insidious than evil itself.” Cornel West quoting Abraham Heschel
  2. Loving is a form of death. So you must learn how to die before you can learn how to love.
  3. Opt for deep integrity rather than a cheap popularity.
  4. In America to be popular is to be well-adjusted to injustice, well-adapted to indifference.
  5. How will the rage be filtered through love and justice or through hate and revenge? That’s the question. (#Baltimore)

Robert George

  1. It’s not about whether you reach agreement, the bond created by friends dedicated to the truth working together to get to the truth is the most powerful thing.
  2. There is much to be gained by civil, carefully-listening discourse. It’s not just that I have something to teach, but I have something to learn, even if I’m right and my interlocutor is wrong.
  3. Disagreement is no impediment to love and no impediment to joy.
  4. Speaking the truth in love is first of all about getting to the truth about what love is. It’s not a feeling. It’s volitional.
  5. As Christians it’s important for us to understand that our faith is a thinking faith.

Rick Warren

  1. We have to move from “come and see” to “come and die.”
  2. I believe in the inerrancy of Scripture. I do not believe in the inerrancy of my interpretation.
  3. If you want to know how valuable you are, look at the cross.
  4. Optimism is psychological. Hope is theological.
  5.  “Leaders absorb the pain.”–Rick Warren asking officials in Rwanda about how they reconciled after genocide

Jemar

Jemar Tisby is the founder of The Witness, Inc. and a staff writer for The Witness BCC.  He is the author of How to Fight Racism and the New York Times bestseller, The Color of Compromise. Follow him @JemarTisby

1 Comment

  1. 스포츠중계

    Very insightful stuff.

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