One of my favorite things to do is to listen to people. What’s their story? What makes them tick? What are things that they find interesting or important or invaluable? In a world that is obsessed with “content channels,” it is really people who are the ultimate providers of stories. With them, there’s always a surprise, always something to learn. I am endlessly trying to create or put myself in situations where I can interact with more people. Encounters are what feed me.
Recently, I came across an article in the Wall Street Journal by Emily Bobrow about Father Joseph M. McShane, the recently-retired president of Fordham University. The article notes, “[Father McShane] believes that colleges and universities are well placed to promote what he calls a ‘culture of encounter,’ rather than a culture of pronouncements.”
This really resonated with me, especially as I spent the last week in Rome, sometimes called The Eternal City.
“Culture of encounter” is a concept Pope Francis has talked about for several years, which is probably how it got to Father McShane. John L. Allen Jr. wrote in the National Catholic Reporter in 2013,
Like many sound bites, the “culture of encounter” is elastic enough to embrace a wide range of possible meanings, but in general Francis seems to intend the idea of reaching out, fostering dialogue and friendship even outside the usual circles, and making a special point of encountering people who are neglected and ignored by the wider world.
The idea has taken root at Georgetown University at the Culture of Encounter and the Global Agenda project. On the project website, they observe:
“Encounter, for Pope Francis, goes beyond dialogue to engaging difference with a stance of humility, generosity, and patience towards those who think and live differently, drawing on the fundamental human unity that lies behind our political, social, and religious divisions.”
Fundamental human unity. What if, in our encounters with people who have a different worldview than our own, we started there? Even better, instead of waiting for those encounters to randomly or spontaneously occur—something that has become increasingly unlikely with remote workspaces and algorithm-designed digital echo chambers—what if there was still a place to “bump into” different people?
I believe there is. I like the description of media as a public square, a place where a variety of viewpoints, perspectives, priorities, and personalities should be featured. What if that public square rededicated itself to being a space that encouraged a culture of encounter? More specifically, what if we were regularly exposed to the stories of people who lead with their faith and who are deeply committed to creating a kinder, safer, more just world for everyone?
Of course, the instinctive response is often, “The religion beat doesn’t sell subscriptions or drive clicks.” I might respond, “Really, what has media got to lose?” Gallup reported that “Just 16% of U.S. adults now say they have “a great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in newspapers and 11% in television news.” Maybe a new angle, a regular respite from this endless cycle of bad news is exactly what the doctor ordered.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m well aware of the common belief that faith and values don’t mix with a robust bottom line. It is a talking point that people are quick to brandish, especially when they feel uncomfortable in either newsroom or prayer room. But is it true? Perhaps it is time to set aside that perception. During Father McShane’s 19 years as president, the WSJ article notes, “Fordham increased enrollments, diversified its student body, expanded its footprint and quadrupled its endowment to more than $1 billion.” Further, “The class of 2025 is the largest and most diverse class since Fordham was founded in 1841.”
By embracing faith along with a commitment to openness, they have hit on a formula for success. This is replicable across industries.
In fact, the article goes on to say:
“… Father McShane worries about the country’s fissures, and laments that both civic virtue and civil discourse are in decline. ‘It’s going to take a long time for people to get out of their echo chambers and listen to each other,’ he says.”
This is what I know: you can’t listen to something you can’t hear, and you can’t appreciate something you don’t understand. If we believe it is important in our deeply polarized world to counter misperception and misunderstanding, amplifying stories that center on faith and the faith-fueled is one place to start.
I’m reminded of a movie where aliens came to Earth and where neither side could decipher the other’s motives or next moves. After much terror and military posturing, it was discovered that it was possible for us to communicate with them through the universal language of music. This is a stretch, but I say it’s time for a sequel to this idea, where people whose faiths might be alien to one another are given the chance to find the shared language between them through nuanced storytelling, positive spotlights of good works, and examples of values-driven leadership.
We can call it Close Encounters of the Fourth Estate. And it will be an encounter of the very best kind.
