Open Blogging
Among the many damnable positions of Christians Nationalists, one in particular galls me…that being the demonization of empathy.
If one claims to follow Jesus, one should be praying for more empathy, not mocking it.
“Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins!”
(Isaiah 53:4 NLT-SE)
“This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.”
(Hebrews 4:15 NLT-SE)
It has always been both a burden and a privilege for me to be deeply empathetic…I can’t even watch a movie unless I know that it has a happy ending…so I watch very few movies.
I have constructed elaborate emotional defenses to cope.
It is a good and holy work to feel another persons emotional pain…in fact, we would be even better off if we could also, even for a second…feel another persons physical pain.
Most people don’t want to complain about being in pain, especially if it is a constant in their lives.
What if we could take someone’s hand and for a moment feel what they feel?
Would we be kinder and gentler, more understanding of others situations if we could?
Perhaps…but it wouldn’t be long before we were kinder and gentler to the wrong person and then we would be “woke” and scorned by other Christians.
Now, it’s all yours today…
Michael , I hear you with movies . It has to end right or I will never watch it again .
Sometimes I find myself wishing to be like the empaths we sometimes find in movies – where they take your hand and a tranference seems to occur, they can feel what you’re going through . I mainly wish I had this ability when I am around someone who is hiding their pain, sadness , anger etc behind whatever mask they have on. Although not sure I could handle it, with some of them…..
How anyone call call themselves a follower of Jesus but mock those who empathize with others escapes me.
Owen,
Well said, my friend…
Mocking empathy; gloating over the bad fortune or death of one’s enemies; verbally degrading and demeaning those one dislikes or disagrees with; embracing violence as entertainment fit for the celebration of a country’s 250 “birthday”: all these and more are the opposite what it means to follow Christ. And yet, all these and more are embraced by the current administration of our country and all those Christian nationalists who faithfully support it. We are living in the time of a powerful antichrist.
A federal judge ordered the removal of Trump’s name from the Kennedy Center. LOL!! Now Trump will have to have his name added to Kennedy’s gravestone!
Robert F,
I believe the Congressional law that named it the Kennedy Center was specifically due to his tragic assassination. I suppose the only legit way Trump could have his name on the building is if something similar happens (and next shooter doesn’t miss, unlike and unfortunately what happened in PA). In which case, I am sure many others are happy to add his name to building (they will be too busy reading his obituary with great pleasure to care). As it is, I will be opening up the bottle of Bollinger, along with many others.
“Mocking empathy; gloating over the bad fortune or death of one’s enemies; verbally degrading and demeaning those one dislikes or disagrees with; embracing violence as entertainment fit for the celebration of a country’s 250 “birthday”:”
“I suppose the only legit way Trump could have his name on the building is if something similar happens (and next shooter doesn’t miss, unlike and unfortunately what happened in PA). In which case, I am sure many others are happy to add his name to building (they will be too busy reading his obituary with great pleasure to care). As it is, I will be opening up the bottle of Bollinger, along with many others.”
In a post about empathy, these two, separated by one post… how ironic… You are what you say you hate.
Everstudy,
Bur UNLIKE all those MAGA Christians and their leadees who denigrate empathy I never claim to be a Christian or have any any religion or claim any sort piety. I have stated many times on this site that I am very much an atheist. Bur at least I am not a hypocrite or a poser.
R’as…
“Bur at least I am not a hypocrite or a poser.”
Don’t be so sure of yourself. The internet and its faceless ability to be a tough guy or gal personality tends to not be the same in a face to face encounter.
Based on your chosen handle modeling a DC Comic book villain and Ancient Arabic demon, it would appear you see yourself as an anti-Christian/religion persona.
I once worked with a man who hated religion, especially Evangelical Christianity, and considered it his mission to inform such how wrong they were for following such foolishness.
We had a lot of very good conversations and eventually they led to him explaining his views of spirituality and a possible afterlife. The irony was this; he was convinced he was right and when confronted with the fact he had zero basis for his beliefs he stated, “I have the right to believe what I want to believe.”
Looking directly into his eyes, quietly I smiled at him and after what seemed like a long moment of silence he smiled back and said, “I get it.”
We got along very well and he acknowledged that he really was no different than those he was so passionate about challenging and destroying what they believed in.
Here’s a little bit about myself:
Growing up I loved watching the old BW TV show “Superman.” All of that “faster than a speeding bullet…” and “Truth, Justice and the American Way” stuff was just inspiring as a child.
And then years later I heard my superman hero, George Reeves the actor, committed suicide. A man who had seemingly everything, but in real life felt empty and worthless. How could this be!
And now in my 70s I can’t tell you of the number of men I have known who decided life was over and did the same thing. Which leads me to my life motto, “Don’t Quit.”
Everyday is worth it, even just quietly enjoying moments between storms.
R’as, good luck in your quest against the Heroes of the universe. try not to let it define who you really are.
This sounds about right.
“FCC To Investigate TV Shows Where The Mom Has Job”
https://theonion.com/fcc-to-investigate-tv-shows-where-the-mom-has-job/