Deep Dialogue is one of the concepts that the GHFP has been developing. It features the following:
- Deep Dialogue is valuable in itself which means that it is not instrumental.
- Deep Dialogue contains an implicit commitment to the equal value (and reality) of all persons.
- Deep Dialogue requires being willing to enter this space of the other.
- Deep Dialogue processes are aimed at transforming the basic self-identifications that would otherwise permit the formation of antagonistic social identities. It can enable the person to self-identify non-derivatively in more spiritual ways, that is as human.
- Deep Dialogue consists in transformative sharing, and the aim of such listening and sharing is that people can transcend the victim and aggressor dichotomy as part of a healing process. If it is successful, this may express itself as some form of forgiveness, but it need not. Entering a deep dialogue doesn’t require the powerless to deny these injustices nor to forgive them.
- Deep Dialogue makes spiritual ‘we’-ness possible which can engender a deep connection with one’s own and the others’ common humanity.
- Deep Dialogue processes can enable people to explore together the roots of violence at micro and macro levels.
- Deep Dialogue can encourage people who were formerly in antagonistic relations to explore violence as symptoms of deeper systemic causes, and imagine institutional, cultural and even structural shifts toward positive peacefulness.
