I love disputation (that tries to be fair). When in the heat of generating ideas and arguments you sometimes do not ascribe rectitude to someone who disagrees with you. The power of positive dialogue lies in your willingness to listen and not just hear what someone else has to say after you pontificate.

Saying, “I think” is helpful instead of implying, “what ‘I’ think is just the way It is”. This is particularly true in Bible Study which is called Ruach (“spiritual matters”) where I am almost every Saturday morning before morning services.  Today we went to Ruach where a “layman” led our class with a great deal of preparation and trepidation; for, we are a disputatious and difficult group. But, participating in discussions such as we hold, is a model for other, larger groups (such as governments, courts and nations) to follow.

I find it interesting that our lay leader chose to look at verses that carried contradictions if you really study text and the notions of commentators such as medieval Rabbis glossing on translations of ancient texts. This morning, our Rabbi chose a different selection from the same portion but centered on it being a feminine tractate. This involved five sisters who asked the patriarchy to let them have land owned by their deceased father. They did not want it given to males in other families.  Both segments are found in the same weekly portion of Numbers 25. Arguments about the content of each ranged over earlier portions and disputation over translations from early times to what they might mean in today’s world. Actually, almost any word as well as any individual might drive the dialogue into a multitude of directions.

And, it doesn’t really matter where the dialogue goes. We cover the same material each year and it goes richly everywhere each and every time. It is rancorous rarely. The group has a mind that appears in each session and does not let an extreme become too vigorous.  I have dwelt with the group mind on several robust sessions where I found that I had crossed some line that was unseen by me but was invoked when I had gone too far beyond the group’s tolerance.

We should give ourselves permission to dissent and disagree. If we are the least little bit agreeable, however, discussion can continue as discussion should. When discussion degenerates into something disagreeable it becomes something far different and it should stop for you are not discussing but disputing.  I know for I have been there. Dispute is good when injustice is perceived.

The power of positive dialogue lies in its creative aspects. It enables learning.