On Why Empathy and its Cousin, Compassion, Matter

A short while ago, one of the world's wealthiest of men, who bought himself a seat at the house of democracy with his billions, called empathy the fundamental weakness of western civilization. As he sees things, empathy, which the OED defines as the ability to understand and share in the feelings of another, is problematic. And not only is it problematic--he places it central in its role as supreme weakness in western civilization. And while perhaps, we might be tempted to dismiss these words as the obtuse remarks of an-out-of touch, narcissistic billionaire, the more disturbing trend in the wake of this declaration, was how others including American Christian pastors echoed this sentiment, going so far as to label empathy, of all things, a sin.

It feels strange to be living in a world so jarring, so alien--as to find oneself writing a piece in defense of empathy and compassion in 2025 to Christian pastors. Where are we? What is going on? How did we get here? Collectively, the first few months of this year have felt chaotic and regressive, as programs and infrastructures have been stripped down or canceled altogether. People with brown skin have been marginalized and disappeared. Immigrants often fleeing traumatic horrors elsewhere are suffering dehumanization. In the midst of all of this, life itself can often seem overwhelming, the future itself bleak, and hard to imagine. And while many of us wouldn't go so far as to think of empathy, as a sin, perhaps it's tempting to think of it as something superfluous, extra, or maybe just another thing contributing to our great, collective overwhelm.

And yet, now more than ever, we need to hold onto--even foster our empathy and compassion all the more, most especially for those caught in the crosshairs of what is happening. Now more than ever we need to keep this vital feeling called empathy alive--this ability to understand and share in the feelings of another--even in the midst of the ongoing political chaos around us.

It is hypnotically tempting to think of shutting empathy and compassion down, just for now--to think of drifting off to sleep for a bit, swallowing that blue pill and plugging back into the matrix just for a little while--to wake up later and deal with this attack on empathy and compassion, then.

But, the problem is, we are in grave danger if we allow this banishment of empathy and compassion from ourselves, our churches, or our country.

I am one who can tell you exactly where lack of empathy and its partner compassion gets you--and it is not a place any of us ought go. Without it, we render authentic connection with anyone--impossible. Without it, horrible things happen--crimes against humanity, indignities, and more--to name but a few. To be without it--we have no checks and balances upon greed. In medicine, we identify the complete lack of empathy in an individual as the single most important factor in diagnosing Narcissistic Personality Disorder. To be without it is a moral deficit.

The absence of empathy cripples humanity because it renders a wall between us and our fellow human being. It locks us off from harnessing the power inherent in community because the lack of empathy ensures the collapse of community--as the Have(s) become so busy keeping everything, money, power, land, food, resources, etc, walled off and separate from the Have-Nots. Without empathy and compassion we cut ourselves off from the power that arises in communion with others, the power of the whole, the creative synergy that comes forth when we are connected with otherness. Separating ourselves from empathy and compassion ultimately undermines and walls us off in relationships, in communities, in our countries, our civilization, and even from God, as well.

Pope Francis, one whom exemplified empathy and compassion.

And far from being fundamental weakness of any society these core essentials not only belong at society's center, they draw nigh unto the heart of exactly what it means to be human. Further, empathy and compassion define the heart of the Christian gospel as well. When Jesus was asked "What is the greatest commandment?" He responded, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself." In another instance in the parable of the Sheep and Goats in Matthew 25:40 where the King (Jesus) decides the fate of whom shall enter the kingdom of heaven, he explains, "Whatsoever you do unto the least of these, even so you do unto me." And then again in the book of James, "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit the widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unspotted from the world." One could go on and on with countless other examples but hopefully, you get the gist.

Consistently, the Christian message not only advocates for empathy and compassion--it might very well be the message. As in, if we were to sum up the message as succinctly as possible, it'd probably come out to something like God is love. And what is love without empathy and compassion? In short, it does not exist. And neither can we.