Learning to Disagree: A Conversation with John Inazu

In this episode of the Faithful Politics podcast, Josh Burtram and Will Wright interview John Inazu, the Callie D. Danforth Distinguished Professor of Law and Religion at Washington University in St. Louis. Inazu discusses his new book, Learning to Disagree, which explores the importance of understanding and navigating disagreements in a pluralistic society. The book, structured around an academic calendar, combines memoir and practical advice, aiming to help readers handle disagreements constructively in their daily lives.

Inazu emphasizes the importance of empathy, patience, and forgiveness in managing disagreements, noting that these skills are crucial in both personal and societal contexts. He argues that the best lawyers win cases by deeply understanding the opposing side, and similarly, individuals can manage conflicts better by genuinely listening and trying to understand others' perspectives. Inazu also discusses the challenges of engaging in hard conversations, particularly those involving deeply personal or moral issues like LGBTQ rights.

The discussion touches on the role of law in ensuring fairness and protecting civil liberties, highlighting how legal frameworks help manage societal disagreements without resorting to violence. Inazu also critiques the current state of political discourse, exacerbated by media partisanship, and suggests practical strategies for individuals to diversify their news sources and engage in more constructive conversations.

Finally, Inazu advises focusing on long-term relationships and investing in institutions that facilitate ongoing dialogue and understanding, stressing that meaningful change and deeper understanding require sustained effort and commitment.

Guest Bio:

John Inazu’s scholarship focuses on the First Amendment freedoms of speech, assembly, and religion, and related questions of legal and political theory. His books include Liberty’s Refuge: The Forgotten Freedom of Assembly (Yale University Press, 2012) and Confident Pluralism: Surviving and Thriving Through Deep Difference (University of Chicago Press, 2016; paperback 2018). Inazu is the special editor of a volume on law and theology published in Law and Contemporary Problems and co-editor (with Tim Keller) of Uncommon Ground: Living Faithfully in a World of Difference (Thomas Nelson, 2020). His articles have appeared in a number of law reviews and specialty journals, and he has written broadly for mainstream audiences in publications including the Atlantic, USA Today, the Los Angeles Times, and the Washington Post. Prior to law teaching, Inazu clerked for Judge Roger L. Wollman of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit and served for four years as an associate general counsel with the Department of the Air Force at the Pentagon.

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