By Andy Hale
This week on the CBF Podcast Conversation, we sit down with Dr. Kurt Gray, professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (and soon to be at Ohio State University), to talk about his timely and thought-provoking new book, Outraged: Why We Fight About Morality and Politics and How to Find Common Ground. In an age when moral outrage seems to dominate every corner of society—from social media to school board meetings—Gray invites us to look beneath the surface of our polarized debates and explore the deep psychological forces driving our moral disagreements. Drawing on his research in the science of moral understanding, Gray explains how our desire to protect the vulnerable often leads us to vilify those we disagree with, not because they’re evil, but because we perceive them as harmful.
In this episode, Gray explores everything from our evolved sense of morality to why we misjudge the intentions of others through the lens of the “Fundamental Attribution Error.” He unpacks how perceptions of harm, assumptions of vulnerability, and even victim mindsets shape not only our politics but also our personal relationships. Though Outraged wasn’t written specifically for the church, Gray offers insight into how pastors and congregational leaders can use these ideas to cultivate healthier conversations and bridge divides within their communities. If you’ve ever wondered why moral arguments so often become moral battles—or how we might begin to find a path forward—this conversation is for you.
Listen to the conversation here
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Andy Hale is the creator and host of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Podcast. Hale is the Associate Executive Coordinator of CBF North Carolina. He’s also served as CBF’s Church Start Specialist, the founding pastor of Mosaic Church of Clayton, and the senior pastor of University Baptist Church of Baton Rouge. Follow on Twitter @haleandy.