Why Are We So Divided?

BY Karen Tibbals

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I’ve read various explanations of why we are so divided and they all have a bit of truth in them. Let me summarize what I think I have learned.

First, we always have had and will continue to have a broad variety of experiences and beliefs in our humanity. Cross cultural research confirms this. According to one analysis (Heinrich, “The WEIRDEST People in the World”), the actions of the Roman Catholic Church in the 13^th century in outlawing marriage between cousins had a major impact weakening the familial ties required for the continuation of extremely close cults and thereby creating a greater emphasis on individuality. That event is one cause for why ethics in the developed world are so different from the rest of the world. (The results of this split are what I addressed in my book, Persuade, Don’t Preach)

Second, according to the research done by Marsha Pally, the effects of the history of the US in terms of political and social beliefs are also contributing. The US was founded by people fleeing overbearing authorities, which contributed to the individuality emphasis in the US. Living on the frontier also meant self-reliance.

Third, the stresses placed on people by loss of jobs, loss of status, inadequate healthcare, inadequate housing, has led to resentment. I would add the isolation and stress of the pandemic and from the US being attacked on 9/11.

Fourth, social media has taken these divisions and magnified them. It has brought those differences to the forefront, putting us into conflict when we hadn’t been before by elevating content that gets attention, which tends to be either misinformation or divisive content. Engagement farming is exacerbating our pre-existing divisions.

These faults are deep and aren’t going to be fixed easily. According to Pally, her suggestion is to start coalitions to address the issues that cause stress. I’ve written about how to address social media on an individual level (it’s tough) and about how to understand others. I think we need to address all of the issues.

Which one are you going to pick?

Quaker Karen left a career in corporate America to go to seminary to study religion. Since then she has written a book on how we can talk to each other in a new way that is more respectful and can help us solve our political differences: Persuade, Don't Preach.