We know hobbies’ benefits: they cultivate shared loves and gather people to enjoy whatever activity is at hand. Those at the bowling alley or in a pottery class are rebuilding their minds and bodies, and in the process, they are suspending their judgements about someone who might believe something different about the world. They have just created a moment of shared unity as they do the activity together.

Bonding over shared passions can help dissipate political divisions, but only if we don’t let our hobbies become politicized.