Geoff-Allen
Resident megalomaniac
Wondering what people think of this passage -
This raises an important issue. Over the centuries, many violent deeds have been done in the name of religion. People often wonder how this can be. From a psychological perspective, it seems clear that it occurs when religion exists as a set of doctrines, ideas, rituals and experiences divorced from any deep and expansive sense of empathy or compassion. Without empathy, people's religious ideas become yet another means of seeing others as "different" and of distancing oneself psychologically from them. Feeling disconnected in this way, people devalue others, leading to intolerance and the tendency to inflict their views on others. When this happens, even the most beautiful doctrines become like poison, serving as causes for prejudice, anger, oppression and even violence.
By contrast, when religious ideas are conjoined with a deep sense of empathy and compassion, they can serve as a bridge, allowing people from different backgrounds to connect and to share the best of themselves. When we have empathy and compassion for others, we honestly respect each other's differences. And from a feeling of compassionate responsibility, we can share the best of ourselves with others and encourage others to find and share the best of themselves as well.
Comes from "The Lost Art of Compassion" by Lorne Ladner
Cheers.
This raises an important issue. Over the centuries, many violent deeds have been done in the name of religion. People often wonder how this can be. From a psychological perspective, it seems clear that it occurs when religion exists as a set of doctrines, ideas, rituals and experiences divorced from any deep and expansive sense of empathy or compassion. Without empathy, people's religious ideas become yet another means of seeing others as "different" and of distancing oneself psychologically from them. Feeling disconnected in this way, people devalue others, leading to intolerance and the tendency to inflict their views on others. When this happens, even the most beautiful doctrines become like poison, serving as causes for prejudice, anger, oppression and even violence.
By contrast, when religious ideas are conjoined with a deep sense of empathy and compassion, they can serve as a bridge, allowing people from different backgrounds to connect and to share the best of themselves. When we have empathy and compassion for others, we honestly respect each other's differences. And from a feeling of compassionate responsibility, we can share the best of ourselves with others and encourage others to find and share the best of themselves as well.
Comes from "The Lost Art of Compassion" by Lorne Ladner
Cheers.