Empathy

[rambot]

Then what function does it serve?

It fosters connection.

 

[essentialsaltes]

If you didn't bother to find the source and context for the quote, then no one should be taking you seriously.

Kirk genuinely said these words during an Oct. 12, 2022, episode of "The Charlie Kirk Show." A longer clip of the same remarks also circulated on the same day in a popular post (archived) on X, then known as Twitter. (The remarks begin around the 36:40 mark of the full episode of Kirk's show, hosted on Rumble.)

Charlie Kirk once said empathy was 'made-up, new age term'​

 

[rambot]

Kirk genuinely said these words during an Oct. 12, 2022, episode of "The Charlie Kirk Show." A longer clip of the same remarks also circulated on the same day in a popular post (archived) on X, then known as Twitter. (The remarks begin around the 36:40 mark of the full episode of Kirk's show, hosted on Rumble.)

Charlie Kirk once said empathy was 'made-up, new age term'​

OOPS! Please don't bring him into the thread. I don't want to talk about Chuck more.

The topic is empathy.

 

[Servus]

It fosters connection.

Which leads to what?

 

[rambot]

Which leads to what?

Stronger communities?

 

[Larniavc]

To incentivize empathy, our brains evolved to layer the empathetic experience with sadomasochism. Where the suffering of another isn't so raw, but instead sweetened.

Rubbish.

 

[rambot]

To actually empathize with another in pain in a literal sense you are subjecting yourself to emotional pain. Engaging in empathy in such a raw way is unpleasant and a turn off, so much so that people will be less willing to engage in empathy.

And yet we are called to "weep with those who weep, and mourn with those who mourn".

Why?

 

[Larniavc]

He said for someone like narcissism they have to be left totally without "supply"(everything they do is fake) to then have a mental collaps and rebuild from there turning bi polar instead from there you might be able to treat them.

That bit makes no sense.

 

[Servus]

Stronger communities?

So empathizing with sin, self gratification, worldliness, and ungodliness builds stronger communities. Keeping in mind that empathy means the ability to share in the feelings of another.

 

[Hans Blaster]

Here's a question all.

Do we think God, ultimately is sympathetic or empathetic?

No.

IMHO I'd say the latter
Because he turned into a human..
A fragile baby. He didn't need to do that. For an omnipotent being, that seems like pretty much the most empathetic thing He could do.

Oh, you wanted a choice between them.

I'm still going with "no". I don't see empathy or sympathy in the character of the biblical God as portrayed in the text.

 

[Servus]

No.

Oh, you wanted a choice between them.

I'm still going with "no". I don't see empathy or sympathy in the character of the biblical God as portrayed in the text.

Certainly not the kind the religious left wants to apply God to.

 

[partinobodycular]

Of the highly highly empathetic people I've met in my lifetime (most of whom are pacifists...though perhaps thats unrelated), BECAUSE they feel people's brokenness and grief and they know that it has come from the cruelty, negligence or hatred of others.

How can you possibly know this? You seem to be identifying one particular type of emotional response... sympathy/compassion, and only associating that particular response with empathy. Have you considered the possibility that other emotional responses might be reactions to empathy as well, not just the ones that you find admirable.

Empathy allows you to build an emotional connection with others, there's no reason that that connection has to be positive. Some people feel sympathy for the people sent to 'Alligator Alcatraz', while others feel satisfaction, to the point that they may wish that the conditions were even worse.

Those are both responses to empathy. You've simply mis-defined empathy as sympathy. Correct that mistake and you'll understand why empathy may not be the wonderful thing that you think it is.

 

[partinobodycular]

My apologies for butting in, but ............... compassion isn't a byproduct of empathy.

Could you expound upon this? I'd love to hear your thoughts on the matter. Forgive me if you've already stated them in this thread... I haven't been paying attention.

 

[rambot]

So empathizing with sin, self gratification, worldliness, and ungodliness builds stronger communities.

Those are behaviours.
Come on guy. Are you trying?

 

[rambot]

No.

Oh, you wanted a choice between them.

I'm still going with "no". I don't see empathy or sympathy in the character of the biblical God as portrayed in the text.

What about Jesus?

 

[Hans Blaster]

What about Jesus?

What about him?

 

[Servus]

Those are behaviours.
Come on guy. Are you trying?

You're trying to be clever by editing out half of what I said. Which was:

So empathizing with sin, self gratification, worldliness, and ungodliness builds stronger communities. Keeping in mind that empathy means the ability to share in the feelings of another.

Trying to separate feelings from behavior doesn't really work. People have immoral sex because it feels good. People are into self gratification because it feels good. People are into worldliness because it offers enjoyment. People are into ungodliness because they find it satisfying, and feel that obedience to God would rob them of that satisfaction.

 

[rambot]

What about him?

Do you think He shows or encourages empathy or sympathy?

 

[rambot]

You're trying to be clever by editing out half of what I said. Which was:

So empathizing with sin, self gratification, worldliness, and ungodliness builds stronger communities. Keeping in mind that empathy means the ability to share in the feelings of another.

Trying to separate feelings from behavior doesn't really work.

That's pretty simplistic. Are you suggesting that every feeling you have ever had you immediately have acted upon? Because that's not true for me at all. In fact, separating feelings from behaviour isn't too hard at all.

People have immoral sex because it feels good.

Yes...THEY think it feels good. That doesn't mean empathetic people will ALSO think it feels good.

Out of curiousity, when you speak about "immoral sin", are you talking about that as if you'd be addressing a secular person or a fellow christian?

People are into self gratification because it feels good. People are into worldliness because it offers enjoyment. People are into ungodliness because they find it satisfying, and feel that obedience to God would rob them of that satisfaction.

So then, you are suggesting that, because I'm an empathetic person, I'm more prone to immoral sex because you believe "empathy", something that allows me to connect with other people, will eventually make me want to have gay sex or immoral sex?

If I'm understanding that correctly, it seems silly.
I'm not having immoral sex because I'm not interested in it. I'm also not having gay sex because I'm not attracted to men (though there are certainly handsome men).

It seems so strange that so many folks are choosing to only represent empathy in the context of it leading to sinning.
Honestly, in my mind, this whole line of questioning seems totally misguided as I have NEVER EVER felt empath in this context. Outside of with my wife or intimate partner (before) I have NEVER felt "empathic sexual feelings" toward someone who was behaving super sexily; toward me or otherwise.

I've also NEVER been more inclined to sin because I saw a sinner doing it. I can acknowledge that I've felt the same things a sinner feels....just like YOU have (since we are all sinners).
Temptation.

But I've never been inclined to copy someone else's sin because of it.

 

[Servus]

That's pretty simplistic. Are you suggesting that every feeling you have ever had you immediately have acted upon? Because that's not true for me at all. In fact, separating feelings from behaviour isn't too hard at all.

No I'm saying the kinds of behaviors I'm describing are indulged in because of how it feels.

Yes...THEY think it feels good. That doesn't mean empathetic people will ALSO think it feels good.

They'll share that in that sentiment.

Out of curiousity, when you speak about "immoral sin", are you talking about that as if you'd be addressing a secular person or a fellow christian?

Both.

So then, you are suggesting that, because I'm an empathetic person, I'm more prone to immoral sex because you believe "empathy", something that allows me to connect with other people, will eventually make me want to have gay sex or immoral sex?

If I'm understanding that correctly, it seems silly.
I'm not having immoral sex because I'm not interested in it. I'm also not having gay sex because I'm not attracted to men (though there are certainly handsome men).

It seems so strange that so many folks are choosing to only represent empathy in the context of it leading to sinning.
Honestly, in my mind, this whole line of questioning seems totally misguided as I have NEVER EVER felt empath in this context. Outside of with my wife or intimate partner (before) I have NEVER felt "empathic sexual feelings" toward someone who was behaving super sexily; toward me or otherwise.

I've also NEVER been more inclined to sin because I saw a sinner doing it. I can acknowledge that I've felt the same things a sinner feels....just like YOU have (since we are all sinners).
Temptation.

But I've never been inclined to copy someone else's sin because of it.

But you think it's all okay because they do. If you empathize with someone who tortures animals for fun, you share in their feelings about it. While you won't get into the practice yourself, you're okay with it and won't pass any judgement against it.