What books/other resources have you found helpful in learning to see the world/people in shades of grey, rather than black and white?

First of all, I will admit to having a religious worldview (in my case a theologically conservative Christian who is well read on theology, philosophy and apologetics). Because it is objectively true, it has natural implications for the whole of life, including dealing with others who do not share my worldview. 

This has made the prospect of entering in the workplace challenging where companies vocally champion social causes such as transgender and same-sex marriage which conflict with Christian (and dare I say, also orthodox Jewish and Muslim) understandings of sexual ethics and biological sex, and get employees to disclose gender pronouns in email signatures and wear rainbow lanyards. I get that some think this is just being diplomatic and nice (or possibly also meaningless virtue signalling), but much of it has implications on free speech for the rights of others. It seems to be a choice between living with integrity OR not working at all. I find it quite uneasy in telling little white lies all in the name of convenience. 

I think it additionally doesn't help that I perceive comments made by others and their behaviour (employees, line manager, board of directors) as very absolutely assessing everything against the one true framework, and it feels morally wrong and disruptive to me to say/think anything differently, even though I wish I could correct them. 

Again it feels like a choice between affirming others unconditionally, therefore ditching my own beliefs, or holding my own beliefs, and creating as much distance from co-workers as possible. I've seen many in church who have changed their beliefs not for theological reasons, but for relational reasons similar to these  - and I certainly don't want to go down that route. Possibly these are people who never had boundaries in the first place. 

I know the generic response is to think of a radical third way, but even this feels like compromise, and it sounds nice in practice, but haven't a clue what this is supposed to look like in reality. It all sounds really abstract. Whereas neurotypicals have well developed situational awareness/cognitive flexibility,

Parents
  • The christian bible is made up of a collection of books and themes that were cobbled together in the first few centuries of the common era by men to organise a religion. Many other gospells were not included, why? Because they did not fit with the thinking at that time.

    So take everything with a pinch of salt. Believe what you want to believe and be true unto oneself. If you cannot find a way to fit in with the world then I suppose you have a life on benefits to look forward too.

    I do not want to cause offence or be argumentative but you have to understand that you cannot and should not force your views on anyone else. Humans have the gift of intelligence and thought. If some do not think things your way it is their problem not yours to control.

    In the past I have asked myself one question and come to the conclusion that religion has been the cause of so much suffering and war over history.

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  • The christian bible is made up of a collection of books and themes that were cobbled together in the first few centuries of the common era by men to organise a religion. Many other gospells were not included, why? Because they did not fit with the thinking at that time.

    So take everything with a pinch of salt. Believe what you want to believe and be true unto oneself. If you cannot find a way to fit in with the world then I suppose you have a life on benefits to look forward too.

    I do not want to cause offence or be argumentative but you have to understand that you cannot and should not force your views on anyone else. Humans have the gift of intelligence and thought. If some do not think things your way it is their problem not yours to control.

    In the past I have asked myself one question and come to the conclusion that religion has been the cause of so much suffering and war over history.

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