From Deseret News archives:
Discomfort zone: Breaking out of one's circle is key to bridging Utah's religious divide
Yet it is the timing, tone and temerity of the discussions and the range of participants involved that perpetuate a chasm; most believe only Utahns can truly understand.
For the most part, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints talk about religion with one another, in the safe zone that encompasses their neighborhoods and meetinghouses. Wary that they might create offense, many restrict their deep discussions of faith to those who believe as they do both religiously and politically despite urging by top leaders to share their beliefs. Some believe Utah would be a better place if those who believe otherwise would just "get on board."
Despite recent efforts by religious leaders, the Alliance for Unity and organizers of the Winter Olympics to bridge the ongoing divide, it persists for many in ways that have a dramatic effect on daily life.
So members of a task force formed by the Utah Psychological Association have made it their mission to not only tackle the divide among themselves but to form a nonprofit group dedicated to the premise that ordinary Utahns need to move outside their own comfort zones and learn to talk to each other.
Because they aren't willing to give a prescription they won't take themselves, several local psychologists who form the Utah Psychological Association's task force on Utah's religious divide gathered last week at Fort Douglas with a cross-section of other professionals, trying to create a safe space for dialogue.
Facilitated by the Utah chapter of the National Conference for Community and Justice, the daylong workshop's theme was "Facing Fear of the Other: Maintaining Respect and Understanding in the Context of Diversity." NCCJ executive director Kilo Zamora moderated the sessions with Joan Smith, former NCCJ director.
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