I sat in for Scott Simon on NPR’s Weekend Edition this Saturday - the first time in awhile, as I’ve been guest hosting a little less often over the past year, while promoting The Exvangelicals (which turned one this past week and is now out on paperback
Been talking about this a lot in relationship to my forthcoming book on men and boys. A big part of my argument is that the idea of empathy being weakness has deeply harmed men and boys and led to long-standing consequences for their relationships and susceptibility to violence and radicalization.
Sarah very kindly came on my podcast - Conflict of Interest - to discuss her great book. I’d drop it in here except I can’t find it. But it’s out there. 😁😁
I listened in rigid fascination and repugnance. Not for you, but for the white males who still, after a hundred years of women's suffer age, seem to hold women in contempt.
Great overview of the biblical patriarchy anti-empathy script--of course women are more susceptible, (but not Alllie). I'm torn between whether to laugh or cry that they chose anti-empathy as their new headliner, a trait that Jesus modeled so profoundly.
Wow, thanks to the story on “too much empathy” I finally have the words to describe what I’ve been experiencing for several years. After my pushing back on homophobic comments and bigotry, and trying to turn it into a “teachable moment” by bringing in concepts of compassion, inclusion, loving kindness, etc., my extremist Christian mother claimed I only felt that way because I was weak minded and had been brainwashed by liberals. Any attempt I made to refute this only further proved her claim (according to her logic). My entire extended family backs her up. We have been fully estranged for nearly 3 years now; although, she occasionally lets me know that she is still praying for me.
Exactly! That’s why this reporting really hit the nail on the head for me. She literally said to me that, “It’s because of people like you (people with too much empathy = relaxed moral standards) that the world is in the horrible state it’s in.” Sadly, she is the one who has been brainwashed and fallen deeply into the cult of extreme right wing Christian nationalism.
Hi Sarah, heard your NR Empathy piece. We have done a lot of work on empathy. Perhaps you would like to take part in a Empathy Circle with the authors your mentioned? That would make a good follow up.. to bring the authors into a recorded dialogue with some experts in the field like myself. We are building the empathy movement. We find that empathy can bridge the left v. right divide.
In their total disregard of Jesus's empathy, I'd say that they are guilty of extreme cherry-picking of the bible. Maybe they don't take the New Testament into consideration at all. I have read that Christian Nationalists are adherents to "Old Testament" religion because it fits with their patriarchal beliefs. This was a great news piece. Thanks.
Been talking about this a lot in relationship to my forthcoming book on men and boys. A big part of my argument is that the idea of empathy being weakness has deeply harmed men and boys and led to long-standing consequences for their relationships and susceptibility to violence and radicalization.
Sarah, this was an excellent show. It’s always great to hear you in the host’s chair.
I’ve had bouts of involuntary rage come over me every time I come across one of these titles. Look forward to listening.
Excellent reporting as always.
I have a really hard time believing empathy is a ‘bad’ thing. That said, anything taken to extremes can be a bad thing
Sarah very kindly came on my podcast - Conflict of Interest - to discuss her great book. I’d drop it in here except I can’t find it. But it’s out there. 😁😁
I listened in rigid fascination and repugnance. Not for you, but for the white males who still, after a hundred years of women's suffer age, seem to hold women in contempt.
Great overview of the biblical patriarchy anti-empathy script--of course women are more susceptible, (but not Alllie). I'm torn between whether to laugh or cry that they chose anti-empathy as their new headliner, a trait that Jesus modeled so profoundly.
Wow, thanks to the story on “too much empathy” I finally have the words to describe what I’ve been experiencing for several years. After my pushing back on homophobic comments and bigotry, and trying to turn it into a “teachable moment” by bringing in concepts of compassion, inclusion, loving kindness, etc., my extremist Christian mother claimed I only felt that way because I was weak minded and had been brainwashed by liberals. Any attempt I made to refute this only further proved her claim (according to her logic). My entire extended family backs her up. We have been fully estranged for nearly 3 years now; although, she occasionally lets me know that she is still praying for me.
I am so sorry. It is good you can see this for what it is. Silver lining?
OMG 😳
Exactly! That’s why this reporting really hit the nail on the head for me. She literally said to me that, “It’s because of people like you (people with too much empathy = relaxed moral standards) that the world is in the horrible state it’s in.” Sadly, she is the one who has been brainwashed and fallen deeply into the cult of extreme right wing Christian nationalism.
Omg, Sarah! And I really thought I’d heard it all! 😮
My teachers drilled into us that women were “more easily deceived”, but at least we imagined that compassion was still a virtue.
And then we have Ayn Rand, who set the Depleted Uranium Standard for Callousness.
Hi Sarah, heard your NR Empathy piece. We have done a lot of work on empathy. Perhaps you would like to take part in a Empathy Circle with the authors your mentioned? That would make a good follow up.. to bring the authors into a recorded dialogue with some experts in the field like myself. We are building the empathy movement. We find that empathy can bridge the left v. right divide.
see this article that featured our work.
Scientific American: The Science of Empathy
October 2024By Elizabeth Svoboda
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/being-empathetic-is-easier-when-everyones-doing-it/
https://static.scientificamerican.com/dam/m/470f55b756955b54/original/SciAm_10_2024.pdf
Audio: https://drive.google.com/file/d/16SGDDvbPHmEf2acfs-YfIXwsDpTpKjwX/view
Edwin Rutsch
EdwnRutsch@gmail.com
510 685 2621
Director: The Empathy Center
Building the Empathy Movement
http://TheEmpathyCenter.org
http://EmpathySummit.com
Connect /Friend Me:
Facebook: http://Facebook.com/edwin.rutsch/
Linked-In: http://Linkedin.com/in/edwinrutsch/
In their total disregard of Jesus's empathy, I'd say that they are guilty of extreme cherry-picking of the bible. Maybe they don't take the New Testament into consideration at all. I have read that Christian Nationalists are adherents to "Old Testament" religion because it fits with their patriarchal beliefs. This was a great news piece. Thanks.
Laura Belin of Bleeding Heartland https://open.substack.com/pub/laurabelin/p/iowa-house-republican-admits-rookie?r=accxi&utm_medium=ios captures the essence of Christian Nationalist booklet distributed by Capitol Ministries in the Iowa legislature recently.
Iowa House Republican admits "rookie mistake" over extremist handout. Did not apologize for distributing.
Laura states that…
“The assessment of “Women’s Liberation” is among the most bonkers passages in the twelve-page pamphlet.”