Document Type
Honors Thesis
Publication Date
5-14-2024
Abstract
In many instances of conflict and confusion, effective communication can be a useful tool in solving problems. When individuals experience a breakdown in communication, it can be frustrating as well as harmful for everyone involved. This autoethnography seeks to explain and remedy issues of communication breakdown through the lens of religious theory, primarily with regard to Peter Berger’s ideas of world construction and maintenance. When once taken-for-granted “worlds” that provide stability become threatened, one way communities respond is by isolating themselves from ideas which pose a threat to their way of life. In a new age of pluralism, this isolation has resulted in difficulties in communication when opposing beliefs are brought into play. This phenomenon is not harmless. Once cemented within individuals, lack of openness to outsider views can result in the continuation of bigoted beliefs and behaviors that present real-world harm. However, greater understanding of the phenomenon can result in both emotional healing and different strategies to combat bigotry.
Recommended Citation
Richardson, Julia M., "Watering a Dying Canopy: How Peter Berger Can Help Us Understand Communication in a Modern Age" (2024). Student Scholarship. 37.
https://digitalcommons.wofford.edu/studentpubs/37