With a one minute look at culture from a Christian worldview, I'm John Stone Street with the point.

Tough conversations on controversial topics don't have to be a disaster, even if had over holiday visits and meals.

The key to civil and productive conversation is to ask good questions.

The right question can turn monologues into dialogues, surface level questions,

into deeper ones and might even open a closed mind or two.

Here are six questions that I find helpful for creating good conversation.

First, what do you mean by that?

The definition of words shape the debate.

Don't assume you're always using the same dictionary.

And how do you know that's true?

Assertions aren't arguments.

This question takes you beyond comparing opinions.

Third, where did you get this information?

Fourth, how did you come to this conclusion?

Everyone has a story.

And the last two, what if you're wrong and what if you're right?

Ideas have consequences.

These questions take ideas to the logical conclusion.

From all of us at the Colson Center, happy Thanksgiving.

I'm John Stone Street.