Dr. Joe Rigney, a Fellow of Theology at New Saint Andrews College and author of 'The Sin of Empathy,' explores the pitfalls of unanchored empathy. He argues that empathy can become manipulative when divorced from truth, pushing emotional validation over genuine care. Rigney critiques how many Christians adapt their beliefs for societal acceptance and discusses the importance of resilience over a victim mentality. He highlights Christ-centered compassion, emphasizing the need to align emotional responses with biblical truth and nurturing authentic support.
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insights INSIGHT
Empathy Becomes Sinful When Untethered
Empathy becomes sinful when it detaches from truth and biblical standards of compassion.
Untethered empathy shares excessive emotions with the hurting, which can be destructive.
insights INSIGHT
Empathy as a Moral Problem
Moral frameworks define empathy as sinful, not just 'toxic' as modern therapy states.
Allowing emotions to control you or others is a sin against God.
insights INSIGHT
Difference Between Pity and Empathy
Pity historically involved asymmetry with truthful compassion.
Empathy now encourages immersion into pain, losing tether to truth, which can be harmful.
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In this book, Joe Rigney argues that while empathy is often seen as a virtuous trait, it can also be a tool for manipulation and a source of harm. Rigney distinguishes between empathy and sympathy, suggesting that empathy involves joining people in their darkness and distress without making judgments, whereas sympathy involves showing compassion while maintaining a sense of boundaries and truth. He discusses how unregulated empathy can lead to emotional blackmail, selectivity, and cruelty, and how it has been exploited in various contexts, including under the progressive gaze and within feminist and church settings. The book emphasizes the importance of genuine compassion that is grounded in truth and justice.
Live Like A Narnian
Joe Rigney
Shepherds for Sale
Shepherds for Sale
Megan Basham
Toxic Empathy
How Progressives Exploit Christian Compassion
Allie Beth Stuckey
In 'Toxic Empathy', Allie Beth Stuckey explores how progressives exploit Christian compassion by using empathy as a tool of manipulation. She delves into five heated issues: abortion, gender, sexuality, immigration, and social justice. Stuckey argues that progressives use catchy mantras to present their perspectives as empathetic, while ignoring the other side of the moral equation. The book is about submitting empathy to God’s definitions of love, goodness, and justice, equipping Christians with research-backed, Biblical truths to dismantle progressive lies that have permeated culture and the church.
A Failure of Nerve
Friedman
Against Empathy
The Case for Rational Compassion
Paul Bloom
In 'Against Empathy: The Case for Rational Compassion,' Paul Bloom challenges the conventional wisdom that empathy is a moral guide. He argues that empathy, defined as feeling what others feel, is a capricious and irrational emotion that can lead to poor decision-making and even cruelty. Bloom contends that empathy distorts our judgment in various aspects of life, from philanthropy and justice to medical care and education. He advocates for a more distanced compassion based on rational, deliberative reasoning and a utilitarian approach to moral decisions. The book is grounded in scientific findings and explores the limitations and biases of empathy, suggesting that clearer, fairer, and more moral decisions can be made without relying on it.
Dr. Joe Rigney is a Fellow of Theology at New Saint Andrews College. In his controversial bestselling book "The Sin of Empathy" (Canon Press) he argues that empathy becomes sinful when divorced from truth and biblical standards.
In our conversation, Dr. Rigney explains how weaponized empathy manipulates through emotional validation demands rather than genuine care. He describes how many Christians have internalized a "progressive gaze" that judges their faithfulness by secular approval rather than biblical standards.
The episode explores practical alternatives to toxic empathy, including Christ-centered compassion that stays anchored to truth while genuinely caring for hurting people.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Empathy becomes sinful when untethered from truth and biblical standards of compassion.
Weaponized empathy manipulates through emotional blackmail, demanding validation over truth-seeking.
Christians must resist the progressive gaze that judges faithfulness by secular approval.
True compassion involves staying anchored to reality while helping those who suffer.
Playing the victim differs from being a victim - Christ suffered without self-pity.
Good pretending means acting as your Spirit-filled self would in difficult situations.
The Will Spencer Podcast is a weekly interview show featuring extended discussions with authors, leaders, and influencers who help us make sense of our changing world today. I release new episodes every week on Friday.
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