The THINK Initiative: constructive dialogue in Christ Church’s Great Hall
Three years ago, over a Thai takeaway, a group of students met in Christ Church’s Graduate Common Room. They had not met because of shared perspectives or beliefs – indeed, they were there precisely because of their competing worldviews. Though they were not like-minded, they were like-hearted, each having a desire to listen to and understand others more deeply.
As one of the students explained, they were each trying to solve a personal problem: ‘I knew that polarisation and groupthink had taken a toll on me. I was living in (what I now know was unwarranted) anger and fear because I was not even attempting to see how those holding drastically different views to myself could be doing so out of goodwill.’
Behind the THINK Initiative is the contention that through listening to others the way we would like to be listened to – for instance, with full attention and empathy, and without judgement or assumptions – we can become better, more grounded people, as well as better thinkers, and contribute to a healthier pluralistic society. Motivated by this belief, participants in the Initiative meet to share perspectives and to practise the impulse to listen openly, working on the skill of engaging in constructive dialogue on contentious issues.
The THINK Initiative began with just 13 participants, but on Thursday 8 May some 150 people came to Christ Church’s Great Hall to take part in the project. Among the attendees were students from Harvard and Yale, to which the scheme has spread, as well as a diverse mix of University of Oxford students, alumni and academics, aspiring leaders from the Oxford Character Project, participants in the Abrahamic Theistic Origins Project, and members of the Saïd Business School. They were welcomed to the Hall by Christ Church DPhil student Joel Bell. ‘Tonight is a unique moment in time,’ he said. ‘You are gathered with trustworthy people of goodwill from diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and stories – and that’s not just a fun detail, it’s the whole point.’
‘The differing views held by people in this room are what make this space exciting and special. It gives us the opportunity to better understand each other and other views more deeply – and in doing so, to hopefully understand the world more clearly and in a more grounded way.’
What was clear was our unity in being open-minded and most importantly, being prepared for our opinions to be changed.
What was clear was our unity in being open-minded and most importantly, being prepared for our opinions to be changed.
Over dinner, groups of three and four shared their unique viewpoints and endeavoured to listen to each other as they would wish to be listened to. Each participant was challenged to identify how their listening could be improved, and to cultivate an impulse to be curious about others and their thoughts. Their enjoyment was clear to see, the Great Hall humming with warm-hearted conversation and laughter.
A new participant in the THINK Initiative spoke afterwards of their experience: ‘It was clear to me, even as a first-time attendee of the group, just how special the atmosphere of discussion was. Individuals differed in opinion, background and ideology and yet came together to share ideas. What was clear was our unity in being open-minded and most importantly, being prepared for our opinions to be changed.’
Jagyoseni Mandal, a DPhil student in History of Medicine and Christ Church GCR President, had also attended a THINK dinner for the first time: ‘It was a truly enriching experience. It made me actively think about the importance of not only listening but being open to varied ideas and holding the space for conversations that are necessary even if of a different view.’
‘Above all what made the event most exciting was that I got to meet wonderful people and friends and had fun while doing it!’
Other Christ Church news
