Seven Deadly Sins

The Decline of Moral Community and the Rise of Public Corruption

2013-14 Dinner Season

Seven Deadly Sins

The Decline of Moral Community and the Rise of Public Corruption
Date and TimeTuesday, April 8, 2014 @ 6:00 pm
LocationSt. John’s Episcopal Church

Why don’t liberals seem to care about moral behavior and the moral communities that support it? Why don’t conservatives seem to care about rampant public corruption at the heart of our political system? If we care about doing the right thing, can’t we care about both? There is perhaps nowhere in our civic debate where the conversation has grown so calcified as the one about morality. (Event photos.)

We’ve long since stopped any form of real communication, instead hurling accusations at each other across what seems to be an impossible – and ever-widening – divide. But if you take a fresh look at the best case each side makes, they each have a real argument, in fact we think each sees an “asteroid” coming our way – with the problem getting bigger over time and the longer we ignore it. And until we cross the partisan divide and realize that team effort can solve both problems – as we would behave if they were real asteroids we must deflect to protect life on earth, we’re stuck in a do-loop of failure to communicate.

Panelist

Lucy Morgan

Tampa Bay Times Pulitzer Prize winning journalist
Panelist

Bill Shiell

First Baptist Church Pastor
Facilitator

steve seibert

The Village Square, Chair Facilitator
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Join the Asteroids Club

Imagine there is a giant asteroid heading to earth, expected to destroy life as we know it. There’s no question we’d stop the incessant partisan bickering and do everything within our power to deflect the asteroid. Right?

In partnership with Dr. Jonathan Haidt

Village Square launches “The Asteroids Club”

The Asteroids Club is a new approach to communicating about the civic problems that polarize – and paralyze – us. (You know, the ones which are hurtling toward us through space and time at an alarming rate of speed.) The concept grew out of the field of moral psychology, which tells us that people are more likely to find common ground when they unite to fight common threats. Like any good club, we’ve got a motto: “I’ll help you deflect your asteroid, if you help me deflect mine.”