On Compassion

benedictaoo · Dec 1, 2015

LoAmmi said:
Thank you. As I said, I've spent enough time with these tales and their translations to know what's being said. What's curious, though, is that Jewish tradition dictates that the person who said it be credited by name unless the name isn't known and that should be mentioned. If it isn't mentioned, then it's typically a parable.

But it wasn't posted for the reason, is all I'm saying.

benedictaoo · Dec 1, 2015

LoAmmi said:
Don't you find it interesting that when asked what we could possibly learn from atheists, the only thing that was mentioned was that the ones that do charity don't do it because they are commanded to do it and we should take that to mean we should help people without consideration of religious requirements but because of compassion.

IF we're Christian, tell me why? Why do we need to learn from a person who disbelieves God? Because they are better at compassion then us? Really? I'm sick of these accusations... We learn from Christ on how to be compassionate. Is the OP saying Christ doesn't know how to be compassionate and how to teach it to us?

benedictaoo · Dec 1, 2015

Mikhael Disciple of Christ said:
I thought it was typical bad Christians this, bad Christians that, but to each their own.

YEP! this thread in OBOB (that's the amazing part) is to rip Christians to shreds!

benedictaoo · Dec 1, 2015

LoAmmi said:
So who here does answer the call to action to help their fellow human when they see them in need? Does anybody here think that praying for the person but taking no action when you could take action is the proper way to do things?

ARE YOU FOR REAL???????????? Of course I personally help anyone who is in need, whether they are a friend or if they hate me. I help and I can do it not imagining there is no God. I do it because God put what is right in our hearts. It's called the natural law that ST. Theresa said, even the "poor savages" have written in their hearts by God. So go ahead and think we can be good from our own source. Any good anyone does is because God wrote it into the heart of man.

benedictaoo · Dec 1, 2015

Mikhael Disciple of Christ said:
I typically only see "I'll pray for you" online because nothing else can really be done. You're at least letting the anonymous person know that you care and are doing *something*.

Exactly but let me say something... Praying is the BEST most beneficial thing we can do for another. More better then giving aid although if we can, we need to give aid as well. But here we go, OP spinning... we can not fall into the trap that we are being forced to defend what should not be on trail here and that is the POWER of prayer! There is nothing wrong with praying for a person. We pray FIRST and then do...

benedictaoo · Dec 1, 2015

This is ridiculous that the OP put us in a position of having to defend ourselves as Christians.

LoAmmi · Dec 1, 2015

benedictaoo said:
ARE YOU FOR REAL???????????? Of course I personally help anyone who is in need, whether they are a friend or if they hate me. I help and I can do it not imagining there is no God. I do it because God put what is right in our hearts. It's called the natural law that ST. Theresa said, even the "poor savages" have written in their hearts by God. So go ahead and think we can be good from our own source. Any good anyone does is because God wrote it into the heart of man.

Just trying to steer it toward the topic the OP seemed to be going for, but sure, take offense at that too.

I wrote a post a while back about people always assuming the worst of what people write here on OBOB and I am sad to see that trend continues.

benedictaoo · Dec 1, 2015

LoAmmi said:
That's exactly what the rabbi is saying. I can't even see how it's read any other way. But, again, I would bet a month's salary the translation is completely wrong.

maybe for a Jew that lesson is necessary but we learn all from Christ. We simply do not need to take lessons from atheists, Jews or Muslims. Our teacher is Jesus Christ. That's all anyone needs.

benedictaoo · Dec 1, 2015

LoAmmi said:
Just trying to steer it toward the topic the OP seemed to be going for, but sure, take offense at that too.

I wrote a post a while back about people always assuming the worst of what people write here on OBOB and I am sad to see that trend continues.

I apologize if I directed anger towards you. It's meant for the OP. I just know the OP and the history and yeah, I'm angry.

LoAmmi · Dec 1, 2015

benedictaoo said:
I apologize if I directed anger towards you. It's meant for the OP. I just know the OP and the history and yeah, I'm angry.

I was simply trying to explain the quote used. I'm not interested in the way it was used.

I've read plenty of stuff from Catholic sources that are very similar in calls for action. That chastise those who pay lip service to their faith but don't take the action necessary to show it is real. That's really all this quote is. Sure, you say Jesus teaches you and that's fine BUT there are plenty of Christians out there who don't walk the walk, you know?

benedictaoo · Dec 1, 2015

LoAmmi said:
Yes, you could probably sum it up as "you should feel ashamed that you with a mandate from the divine don't help while these people who don't even believe are helping others". Just said nicer.

So the OP is accusing us of not helping and atheists are so much better... a slam against Christians, that's what I thought.

benedictaoo · Dec 1, 2015

LoAmmi said:
I was simply trying to explain the quote used. I'm not interested in the way it was used.

I've read plenty of stuff from Catholic sources that are very similar in calls for action. That chastise those who pay lip service to their faith but don't take the action necessary to show it is real. That's really all this quote is. Sure, you say Jesus teaches you and that's fine BUT there are plenty of Christians out there who don't walk the walk, you know?

and that's what the OP is accusing us of... thank you. And yeah, Obama is so much better then Christ because he helps... (not directed at you, but the OP)

One Voice Among Many1 · Dec 1, 2015

Fantine said:
How can this be so controversial?

Colin said:
It's beyond me , Fantine .

Like you I found the OP a beautiful story .

It's a story , not teaching some dogma , but , like a parable , a simple story used to illustrate a moral .

Don't be deterred by the negativism , but keep up the good work .

I agree with Colin, @Fantine. I am also grateful to @LoAmmi for sharing and explaining the history behind the story.

LoAmmi · Dec 1, 2015

benedictaoo said:
and that's what the OP is accusing us of... thank you. And yeah, Obama is so much better then Christ because he helps... (not directed at you, but the OP)

I'll point out that there's a reason if I ever post a Jewish story like this here, I rewrite it to make it less... Jewish. When we get into this kind of stuff, Christians don't have the necessary cultural background to "get" it. That's not a slight, mind you. I don't "get" Catholic things as I lack the cultural background.

benedictaoo · Dec 1, 2015

I'm going to sum up this thread real quick... Humanism. Lets focus on the body and forget about the soul. "Look at the atheists, how they love one another"... they'll know were are atheists, by our love... (sarcasm)

benedictaoo · Dec 1, 2015

One Voice Among Many said:
I agree with Colin, @Fantine. I am also grateful to @LoAmmi for sharing and explaining the history behind the story.

Yep, we can go on, be atheists, feel good about helping the material needs of a person, heck with their soul, cuz they have none and sleep well at night. Don't give God any credit for the good we do, be amazed and in awe at the good an atheist can do. Great thread!

One Voice Among Many1 · Dec 1, 2015

With all due respect, there is a much better way to discuss any objections to the content of the OP other than being sarcastic and disrespectful.

Sword of the Lord · Dec 1, 2015

benedictaoo said:
This is ridiculous that the OP put us in a position of having to defend ourselves as Christians.

Not only that, but also that a few others willingly hopped on board with OP.

Sword of the Lord · Dec 1, 2015

LoAmmi said:
Just trying to steer it toward the topic the OP seemed to be going for, but sure, take offense at that too.

I wrote a post a while back about people always assuming the worst of what people write here on OBOB and I am sad to see that trend continues.

The way you describe the story is fine in my opinion, a few of us have agreed with that. It's the defense of the atrocious wording by OP and followers that is shocking on this forum.

LoAmmi · Dec 1, 2015

Mikhael Disciple of Christ said:
The way you describe the story is fine in my opinion, a few of us have agreed with that. It's the defense of the atrocious wording by OP and followers that is shocking on this forum.

There are far better stories about compassion in Jewish literature too. This one seems shallow. Also, many of them actually are a story such as:

There was a rich man who lived in... which takes the focus away from the person reading it and puts it onto this (potentially fictional) person. Much like the New Testament parables.

On Compassion

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Dispassionate

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Dispassionate

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In need of a physician.

Dispassionate

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