This is one of the most profound pieces of writing I’ve read in a long, long time. It brought me to tears. Empathy, unquestionably the key to conscious living and life. Thank you. People who instill empathic ways in their children are changing the world family by family.
A friend shared this Substack with me, and I am very grateful. We have a little group that meets weekly and society's lack of empathy is often a topic of discussion.
I range between feeling helpless, feeling angry, and feeling an urge to connect with these folks. To somehow bridge that gap. It is a difficult time we are living in, and I appreciate voices such as yours. It does help me look at this all from a more thoughtful lens rather than reacting from my gut. Peace.
Thanks Gary. Of course, one does generalize when we use the term 'evangelical' in a negative manner. Not all are hateful. Thus the inadequacy of labels. I really appreciated the connection with the holocaust mindset and empathy.
Agree. It’s hard to pinpoint the exact terminology when over 80% support this madness. I continue to seek the best ways of identifying the malignant parts of the community without lumping the good ones together with the bad. Thanks for your words!
Very well done. I never thought I'd see the day that empathy was a bad word to Christians. Then again, I never thought I'd see much of anything I'm seeing today.
Thank you. I agree with your statement regarding the cruelty of evangelicals, as I have been at the receiving end of much cruelty during this past year. I was shunned and kicked out of our evangelical church for simply asking questions and making suggestions. Although it was very painful, I’m now thankful to be free of that toxic culture. I am resolved to never attend an evangelical church ever again.
Ninth commandment integrity necessitates recognition [may we say, ‘confession?’] that great swathes of Christagelical Evanjihadists remain in a pre-converted condition and are essentially untouched by the Gospel.
The suppressed premise here? Jesus erred fundamentally when the Satan offered him the world only to be told, ‘get lost!’
Is it any wonder that we have no clue as to what is normative to Christian existence?
The central image of the apocalypse is the lamb that was slain; that image stands in contrariety to that of the beast — a point that just might reveal a thing or two about John’s theological purpose.
As a primer for counter-imperial theology, may I suggest [for readers … I’m sure you’ve read it] Richard Bauckham’s ‘Theology of the Book of Revelation.’
Once one perceives John’s use of parallels re: God’s kingdom of Glory and Satan’s domain of Grunge, it isn’t nearly so difficult to see where stuff … ‘fits.’
In my prayer group this morning, we talked about our difficulty in empathize with those who seem callous and are inflicting all of this real pain on our nation. I don't have an answer, but it is certainly true that if we choose peace, we should not be having unloving thoughts. I will do the practice you recommended.
The best thing I have read so far that explains the current Trump Era in America. I have sent links to all my friends and posted a link on my Facebook page. I hope everyone who is worried about the Trump Era will read it. You should arrange to get a copy to every member of Congress.
This is one of the most profound pieces of writing I’ve read in a long, long time. It brought me to tears. Empathy, unquestionably the key to conscious living and life. Thank you. People who instill empathic ways in their children are changing the world family by family.
Thank you Bonnie! Gary Alan
Thank you! I am unable to articulate how this has created a deepening within me but know that I am grateful for you and for your writing.
Thank you Cindy!
A friend shared this Substack with me, and I am very grateful. We have a little group that meets weekly and society's lack of empathy is often a topic of discussion.
I range between feeling helpless, feeling angry, and feeling an urge to connect with these folks. To somehow bridge that gap. It is a difficult time we are living in, and I appreciate voices such as yours. It does help me look at this all from a more thoughtful lens rather than reacting from my gut. Peace.
Thank you Curtis. I’m feeling similar emotions about it all. Gary Alan
Thanks Gary. Of course, one does generalize when we use the term 'evangelical' in a negative manner. Not all are hateful. Thus the inadequacy of labels. I really appreciated the connection with the holocaust mindset and empathy.
Keep writinng.
Agree. It’s hard to pinpoint the exact terminology when over 80% support this madness. I continue to seek the best ways of identifying the malignant parts of the community without lumping the good ones together with the bad. Thanks for your words!
Thanks. Keep writing.
I am passing this on to others....
Peter
Very well done. I never thought I'd see the day that empathy was a bad word to Christians. Then again, I never thought I'd see much of anything I'm seeing today.
Thank you. I agree with your statement regarding the cruelty of evangelicals, as I have been at the receiving end of much cruelty during this past year. I was shunned and kicked out of our evangelical church for simply asking questions and making suggestions. Although it was very painful, I’m now thankful to be free of that toxic culture. I am resolved to never attend an evangelical church ever again.
Dear Holy Heretics:
Ninth commandment integrity necessitates recognition [may we say, ‘confession?’] that great swathes of Christagelical Evanjihadists remain in a pre-converted condition and are essentially untouched by the Gospel.
The suppressed premise here? Jesus erred fundamentally when the Satan offered him the world only to be told, ‘get lost!’
Is it any wonder that we have no clue as to what is normative to Christian existence?
The central image of the apocalypse is the lamb that was slain; that image stands in contrariety to that of the beast — a point that just might reveal a thing or two about John’s theological purpose.
As a primer for counter-imperial theology, may I suggest [for readers … I’m sure you’ve read it] Richard Bauckham’s ‘Theology of the Book of Revelation.’
Once one perceives John’s use of parallels re: God’s kingdom of Glory and Satan’s domain of Grunge, it isn’t nearly so difficult to see where stuff … ‘fits.’
In my prayer group this morning, we talked about our difficulty in empathize with those who seem callous and are inflicting all of this real pain on our nation. I don't have an answer, but it is certainly true that if we choose peace, we should not be having unloving thoughts. I will do the practice you recommended.
The best thing I have read so far that explains the current Trump Era in America. I have sent links to all my friends and posted a link on my Facebook page. I hope everyone who is worried about the Trump Era will read it. You should arrange to get a copy to every member of Congress.
Thank you for your thoughtful article. I’ve been watching all this happen with great alarm.