How might we respond?
This is the sixth and final of a series of postings that relate to a research project I’ve been conducting on using a model of practical theological reflection in relation to the independence question that is being put to voters in Scotland on 18th September this year. You can read about the project in more detail – including an explanation about the model of reflecting here.
I’m going to share, suitably anonymised, some of the observations made by the focus participants. You’re invited to take part too – online – as the series of posts unfolds.
In the first posting I presented some of the stories that participants told when I asked them to start off the group conversation by giving an example of their own independence. In the second posting I reproduced some examples of how the participants described what’s been going on in terms of the debate. In the third posting we saw some participants’ analysis of why the debate is like it is. The fourth posting included some of the bible passages brought by the participants, and part of their explanation of why they made that choice. The fifth posting had few examples of what participants thought the bible might be saying to the debate and what the debate might be saying to the bible and our reading of it.
Here, in this final posting in the series, are some of the responses that the participants voiced at the end of their respective day-long focus group.
I want to delve a bit more you know to look at it, maybe to research a bit more…look more at the interviews that the politicians have had, or the documentary programmes about independence – for and against. Whether that would muddy waters even more or that would be make things any clear – I don’t know. Abbi
What I think it’s about for me is debate with other people and just continuing that debate with other friends. Adele
Maybe I’m a bit more resolved to do more of what I’m already doing, which is doing more yoga which offers a place of consciousness, or non-reactive space for prayer and contemplation and allowing the body to move into that space of groundedness. Penny
[My] own personal thing to take away is to carry on challenging people who are going to vote ‘no’ not to be dismissive of the ‘yes’ camp. Edwin
Certain colleagues could be really interesting to see what their perspective is; that sort of personal journey to understanding. Edna
I think I need to spend time trying to find a way of articulating my own position a bit more clearly and in a lot more nuanced fashion than I’ve managed to up to now. And also to work out how I would relate as a citizen to the society around me, whatever the outcome. Matt
Questions to ponder, and perhaps post a comment:
- What has struck you most from the comments, in previous posts as well as this one?
- In the final days before the referendum, what steps do you want to take?