Finding peace in common truth

It has been said that the polarization of our society is an epistemological problem: intellectually, we disagree; so an objective person doesn’t know who is telling the truth.
One legal standard of determining truth is “evidence verified beyond a reasonable doubt.”  So for instance, if I told you that I own an acre of land in Hancock County Mississippi (which I do), you would tend to believe me because of my good moral character, and more so, if I verified my claim by showing you a legal deed of ownership. You would be even more convinced if I took you to Hancock County where the records at the courthouse again confirmed my claim. My presenting evidence verified beyond a reasonable doubt, justifies your believing I am telling the truth.

If, on the contrary, you continue to doubt, how do I convince you?  Since your mind is already made up, such that it won’t accept verifiable evidence, I cannot appeal to your intellect. Instead, I must appeal to your will.  I must ask you to decide to be open-minded.  This means that you honestly admit that you could be wrong.  It means you sincerely attempt to be objective, recognizing your biases and putting them aside.  Objectivity gives equal weight to those arguments and evidence that contradict your position as it does to those that confirm it.  So an open mind is willing to change if evidence and reason require it.  All I can do is ask; it is you who must choose.  
But why would you even consider such a request? You would consider such a request if you are a person of good will.  

The polarization of our country is also an affective problem: we hate each other; we distrust each other; we have made our neighbor an enemy, contrary to the teachings of Christ.  If we intellectually disagree but bear good will toward each other, we can seek common ground and compromise.  But if we bear each other ill will, we will never agree. Finding common truth comes down to this: the choice, the decision to have good will and open-mindedness. 

Father Stine is a retired priest in the Diocese of Baton Rouge.