Luke 7:36-50
“Do you see this woman?”
What does it take to change your mind?
Political scientists at UCLA and Columbia University in the U.S. studied a fascinating case of voters changing their mind on a crucial issue, and the results surprised me. In 2008 California’s Proposition 8 passed making same-sex marriage illegal (overturning earlier rulings that had legalized it.) Proponents of gay marriage decided to try a novel strategy to change voters’ minds – they sent out canvassers door-to-door in those neighborhoods most against the issue.
Richard Joludow was one of those canvassers. He describes that in a typical interview, he would ask the voter how likely he would be to vote for gay marriage (using a one-to-ten scale – ten being most likely). Inevitably, at the beginning of the conversation, the voter would offer a low rating, but at the end of the conversation, his rating would change dramatically in favor of gay marriage. What made the difference?
Richard’s example as a canvasser sheds light on the situation. Take one particular encounter with a California voter who lost his wife after a long and happy marriage. When Richard went to this man’s door, he took the voter seriously. He really listened to him and to his concerns because he was genuinely interested in his views. He respected him.
Next, he appealed to the voter at the level of emotion and not at the level of abstract rights and duties. For example, instead of launching into a discussion of the rights gay people should have, Richard connected the happiness the voter had with his own wife to the happiness possible for gay couples. The voter agreed. Everyone deserves to have the same kind of contented marriage that he had.
Finally, Richard put a human face on the issue. He asked the voter how many gay people he knew. The voter called to mind gay people he worked with or who lived in his neighborhood – all good workers and good neighbors. Finally, Richard revealed to the voter that he himself was gay, and that revelation opened an honest conversation about Richard’s own experience and the voter’s reaction to it.
At the end of the conversation, Richard again asked the voter how he would vote. This time the voter gave a much higher rating.
Richard’s example is typical, according to the university researchers. In fact, this method actually changed the vote by twenty percentage points. The canvassers were successful because they engaged in genuine, personal encounters with voters.
I was amazed by these results. Of course, I realize that such a strategy is extremely expensive and cost prohibitive, not to mention that it could work just as well for canvassers who tried to convince voters to vote against gay marriage. But, what stands out is the power of human encounters.
Jesus is a master of the human encounter. In today’s story of the meal at the Pharisee’s house, Jesus’ host is appalled that Jesus allows the woman (“a sinner”) to interact with him. But then notice how Jesus responds. He takes the Pharisee seriously. He engages with him, calls him by name (Simon). He praises him for understanding the parable of the creditor.
Next, he appeals to Simon at the level of emotion. Jesus points out that the woman has actually been the better host. Jesus appeals to Simon’s sense of pride.
Finally, Jesus reveals the human face of the woman. He makes it personal. “Do you see this woman?” Jesus asks. She is capable of forgiveness and great love.
We don’t know what Simon’s reaction is. The text does say that those who were at the table reacted negatively to Jesus, but Simon is not named. Could it be that the story ends with Simon in deep thought, on the cusp of a transformation, a profound change-of-mind? Read the story meditatively, putting yourself in the place of Simon? How are you called to change your mind?
- David Shumaker
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