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  • CF has always been a site that welcomes people from different backgrounds and beliefs to participate in discussion and even debate. That is the nature of its ministry. In view of recent events emotions are running very high. We need to remind people of some basic principles in debating on this site. We need to be civil when we express differences in opinion. No personal attacks. Avoid you, your statements. Don't characterize an entire political party with comparisons to Fascism or Communism or other extreme movements that committed atrocities. CF is not the place for broad brush or blanket statements about groups and political parties. Put the broad brushes and blankets away when you come to CF, better yet, put them in the incinerator. Debate had no place for them. We need to remember that people that commit acts of violence represent themselves or a small extreme faction.

DOJ Quietly Deletes Study After Charlie Kirk's Death That Says Right-Wing Extremists Engage in 'Far More' Political Violence

How close does the experience have to be to say that you empathise with someone?

Pretty close.

Many people have had loved ones unexpectedly die on them,

Yes, but many people have not watched their loved ones KILLED in front of them.

if it has to be exactly the same no one can ever empathise with anyone.

That's pretty close to what I believe.

I'll give you an example. I recently had to put my dog down. I had that dog for 14-1/2 years and he was a part of our family. Making the decision to put him down due to his old age and declining health was one of the hardest things I've ever done. It hurt me greatly.

Around the same time, the bass player on our worship team lost his dog. He had his dog for about 10 years, and putting his dog down was quite sudden. I can tell you that it hit him much harder than it did me. He was a mess for weeks.

Can I "empathize" with him? Maybe a little. But I still personally wouldn't choose that word. I don't know how he feels, and he doesn't know how I feel. We both lost a dog, but how it impacted us was different because we're all individuals. That's why I rarely, if ever, tell people I can "empathize" with them. We can "sympathize" with each other. We can have "compassion" towards each other. But neither of us knows how the other feels even though we experienced the same loss.

But I don't think that is how most people and psychologists understand the term.

But words have meaning,. When you say you can "empathize" with someone, you're saying you know how they feel.

To me it is actively putting yourself in the others shoes, and feeling it as you percieve they are feeling it.

But what good comesfrom that? Why is it important for me to say I can understand how you feel? Why is it not sufficient to just come alongside someone and support and grieve with them?

Of course there are no guarantees, the person might have a completely different emotional toolbox than oneself. Disclaimer, I'm no psychologist so I might completely off-base with my take.

I don't think you're completely off-base. I think that when most people use the word "empathize", they mean it sincerely as you've described here. But for me personally, I have a hard time telling someone I can understand how they are feeling, and that's what I'm saying to them when I say I can empathize with them.
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Citing Charlie Kirk murder, Tennessee pastor demands removal of 'Hate Has No Home' signs

No, it's just a dishonest marketing ploy.
I disagree.
If the sign said "Conservative views have no place in this home", then I would applaud them for saying what they mean, and meaning what they say.
Are "Asian hate", "science is wrong", "opposition to human rights", etc. representative of conservative views? Seems more reactionary than conservative.
A person's view on climate change isn't even linked to "hate". That's a policy disagreement.
I disagree that conservatives are necessarily ignorant or science-denying. Whether or not science is real - seriously? - is more than mere policy.
"Opposing the BLM organization" doesn't equal "hating black people"
Black lives do matter to many conservatives.
"Opposing abortion" doesn't equal "hating women"
Sometimes it does when it puts women's lives at risk. Women's rights are human rights.
"I don't agree all of the things the trans community is advocating for" doesn't equal "hating trans people"
"Trans people are sick, twisted lunatics" does equal "hating trans people".

It is you twisting the sentiments into something hateful.
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Citing Charlie Kirk murder, Tennessee pastor demands removal of 'Hate Has No Home' signs

When certain slogans become synonymous with certain ideas an political narratives ...there's not going to be much of a chance of another entity "reclaiming" the slogan for an isolated one-off purpose (especially when the the mainstream usage of the slogan is still in full swing)

"Love is love" is primarily an expression of values, not political policy.
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Trial of Ryan Routh, man accused of Trump assassination attempt at Florida golf course gets underway

Ryan Routh, accused of attempting to assassinate Trump on golf course, defends himself at trial

Closing arguments in the trial are currently scheduled for Tuesday.

Routh, who is representing himself despite lacking any legal education or experience, plans to call three witnesses on Monday -- a gun expert and two character witnesses -- as he tries to make a case why a jury should spare him from the possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison.

Routh has broadly described his defense strategy as emphasizing his "gentleness, peacefulness, and nonviolent caring for humanity," according to court filings.

Among the exhibits Routh plans to use are a design for a DIY skatepark, videos and photos showing him recruiting and fundraising for the Ukrainian military, a photo of a flash mob he organized, and a church bulletin from 1980 when he was awarded an Eagle Scout award.

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon -- who has repeatedly clashed with Routh over his unusual courtroom tactics -- has curtailed much of Routh's defense. She blocked many of his proposed witnesses, including an ex-girlfriend and several Palestinian scholars, and prohibited him from arguing that his actions were justified or that he would not have followed through with the assassination attempt.
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Charlie Kirk's Opinions Didn't Deserve Him Being Murdered

Let's see if you're different than most Left leaners online...
Show in context a video/article that prove your "racist, xenophobic, and transphobic stuff" claims.
Not one from the Left leaning have been able to show us in context any of those.

I'm not going to do your homework for you. Charlie Kirk's words stand on their own.
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French President Macron says France will recognize Palestine as a state (UK, Canada, Straya too)

UK, Canada, Australia formally recognize Palestinian state; Netanyahu vows ‘it will not happen’

The United Kingdom, Canada and Australia on Sunday announced the recognition of the Palestinian state, in the hope that a two-state solution will bring peace with Israel despite protests from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the move is intended "to revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis."

"Hamas is a brutal terror organization," Starmer said, adding that Hamas will have "no future, no role in government, no role in security," in a Palestinian state.
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List of our different views about the Antichrist

So your view is - "there is no such thing as the Antichrist person.... @ tranquil's view " ?

If so, I will add your view line to the list.
Why are you trying to misrepresent my view? There are many antichrists. You are oversimplifying things way too much.

And don't put me down as anything on your list.
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DOJ Quietly Deletes Study After Charlie Kirk's Death That Says Right-Wing Extremists Engage in 'Far More' Political Violence

Sorry, all those many people on the left celebrating Charlie Kirk's murder.

Not all, but way too many. More than enough to make the party look less appealing. Probably especially to young adults.
How many is "More then enough"? Seems I'm being painted as bad based on a very limited subset. How is this any different from those on the left painting all conservatives racist based on a very limited number of actual racists?
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Citing Charlie Kirk murder, Tennessee pastor demands removal of 'Hate Has No Home' signs

People who say that often mean they support that advocacy, but in the context of the church it seems more likely they're saying "all are welcome here" or at worst "hate the sin, love the sinner." Because, as a reminder, not hating people (even people who aren't living according to the Bible) is what the gold standard is.

Yes, that's usually that it means in the context of a church. It may be more likely to involve some accompanying cultural coding (use of inclusive language hymnals or worship) but it doesn't necessarily have partisan political coding, not unless you view gay people as inherently a political threat.
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