Affective Divides, Conflict in Gaza, and Reformed Public Theology: How the Practice of Confession Could Bring Healing at Home from a Conflict Abroad

Abstract This article examines the phenomenon of affective polarization in the West in the aftermath of the October 7th attacks. It explores how the Middle Eastern conflict has impacted the West, including political unrest, social cleavages, and even extremism and violence. Employing the See-Judge-Act methodology, the article adopts an interdisciplinary approach, integrating insights from Reformed public theology, political science, and social psychology to analyse the dynamics of affective polarization. The spiritual exercise of confession, rooted in the Reformed tradition, is proposed as a tool for depolarization and social cohesion. By stressing its penitential, public, and prophetic dimensions, the article offers a theological framework to aid in depolarization and reconciliation between fragmented communities.