Chapter 97
Faith, Doubt, and Family Tensions
It was getting dusk when Prince Andrew and Pierre drove up to the front entrance of the house at Bald Hills. As they approached the house, Prince Andrew with a smile drew Pierre’s attention to a commotion going on at the back porch. A woman, bent with age, with a wallet on her back, and a short, long-haired, young man in a black garment had rushed back to the gate on seeing the carriage driving up. Two women ran out after them, and all four, looking round at the carriage, ran in dismay up the steps of the back porch.…
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Critical Thinking Exercise
Rewrite the Conversation
Imagine you're Pierre in this scene. Rewrite the conversation with the pilgrims, showing how you could express skepticism about miracles while still treating them with respect. Focus on the specific words and tone you'd use to disagree without destroying dignity.
Consider:
- •Consider how your tone and word choice affect the listener's feelings
- •Think about what you're really trying to accomplish in the conversation
- •Notice the difference between correcting information and attacking the person
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when someone used their education or expertise to make you feel small. How did it affect you? Now write about how you want to handle disagreements with people who have different beliefs or less formal education than you.
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