THE COMMON GROUND INITIATIVE
Our Mission
To create spaces where diverse perspectives can meet, share, and grow together in the pursuit of truth.
OUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE
​​​​​​​We envision a world where people engage in peaceful, conversations with those who disagree with them. A world where misconceptions and prejudice no longer act as barriers to truth and genuine relationships.
Our vision is not to create a narrative that all religions and cultures are the same, but rather to better people's understanding of them. We hope to uncover the shared values that exist between the different worldviews of communities around the world.​
Together we can cultivate a world where finding common ground is second nature.
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Who We Are
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Educators & Thinkers – We are a team of educators & lifelong learners who are dedicated to encouraging open-minded inquiry.
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A Community of Bridge-Builders – We are individuals from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and worldviews united by a shared commitment to respectful dialogue.
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Seekers of Common Ground – While we acknowledge differences, we also recognize the shared values that connect people across cultures and beliefs.
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Explorers, Not Enforcers – We aim to create a space for exploring different beliefs not to impose any single worldview.
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What We Believe ​
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Dialogue Over Division – Honest conversations, even with those we disagree with, lead to greater understanding and stronger communities.
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Intellectual Humility – No single person has all the answers; growth comes from questioning our assumptions and learning from others.
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The Value of Worldviews – Every culture, religion, and belief system has insights worth exploring, even when we don’t fully agree.
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Honest Inquiry Matters – Truth-seeking requires curiosity, critical thinking, and willingness to challenge our own beliefs
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How We Work​
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Facilitate Honest Conversations – Our gatherings encourage deep dialogue, helping participants uncover shared values and address challenging topics.
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Encourage Active Learning – Our programs provide tools and resources that help participants think critically and engage with different perspectives.
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Host Engaging Events – We organize classes and seminars where people can come together and explore ideas in an open and respectful setting.
Our View on Truth
At The Common Ground Initiative, we believe that truth is real and exists independently of our personal opinions. However, we recognize that as humans we can never fully know the objective truth and that every worldview has its own unique strengths when it comes to understanding truth. That is why, while we may never be able to fully grasp the truth, we strive to create a diverse community of different worldviews where we can move towards truth together.
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We are not saying that all opinions are equally true, in fact we recognize that some worldviews better reflect certain aspects of reality than others. For example, while there are many ways to build a house, some ways are better than others. Keep in mind though, the best houses are built using building practices that have been tested and refined over time and with the collaboration of several people. In the same way, when exploring life’s biggest questions, we encourage thoughtful conversations between those of different backgrounds in hopes of moving toward a deeper understanding of the truth.