The lack of empathy is not limited to those "who spew hate in Jesus' name." As a matter of personal experience, quite a few of the people I have met spew hate and have no reverence for Jesus or any other deity, nor is that their reason.
Since the link you provided isn't working for me, I am only going on what is posted. Perhaps, there is more, but I can only address what I read here, so, Feagin and Vera are not very savvy. "Sympathy" is not "feeling sorry for someone," that is "pity!" Although 'pity'
can be a synonym for 'sympathy,' it usually describes a mutual understanding between someone and another's issue/concern. More correctly, "sympathy" is understanding another's problem without actually experiencing it. Whereas "empathy" is understanding through an actual experience shared with another.
An example: You hear that a friend's sister dies suddenly.
Sympathy, as pity: "Oh friend, I am so sorry for your pain! I hope you feel better and have the love and support you need." (Thoughts are about your friend.)
Sympathy, as sympathy: "Oh friend, it pains me at your loss. I can only imagine what that pain must be like. You have my love and support. I will share your pain to the best of my ability. (Thoughts are about how you would feel in the same circumstance.)
Empathy: "Oh friend, I am feel your pain as I, too, lost my sister. Let me share your pain.
Another example (considering the authors are talking about race (not religion)): Your friend, who is African-American is called a "nigger."
Sympathy, as pity: "Oh friend, I am so sorry for your pain! That was mean of that person to say and I don't think that way!" (Thoughts are about your friend and exonerating yourself.)
Sympathy, as sympathy: "Oh friend, it pains me you endured that slur. I can imagine what that pain must be like, as I have been called a "faggot." You have my love and support. I will share your pain to the best of my ability. (Thoughts are about how you would feel in the same circumstance. While 'nigger' and 'faggot' are both slurs, the implications are different, and sometimes, the reactions are different.)
Empathy: "Oh friend, I am feel your pain as I, too, have been called a nigger (and you are African-American). Let me share your pain.
So what does the aforementioned even mean? Well, one does not have to be a part of a group in order to feel their pain. They may not understand the full ramifications because they are not of the group being 'attacked,' but they are doing the best they can do to understand. That is true sympathy. Although, I sometimes believe that someone who can experience real, unadulterated sympathy, may actually be experiencing empathy.
My best friend is an African-American woman. I am not AA, nor am I a woman. But, when I hear her tell me about her struggles on the job, I can relate. I can't relate in the "exact" same way, but I can 'identify' with her pain. I know what it is like to be treated differently because I am gay; however, I am still white and male, and so I still have some privilege she will not see until we are all "truly" sympathetic or empathetic.
Finally, the paragraph chosen for quotation....SUCKS!
“Empathy is an essential component of human social life. It tells us that a child’s cry means discomfort or hunger or allows us to relate pleasure to a smile and pain to lament. Empathy permits us to come together and communicate, and it requires significant personal effort. Most importantly for our arguments here, empathy is essential for the resolution of racial oppression and conflict.”
"Empathy" is
not an essential component of human social life,
understanding is! One can 'understand' another by experience of the same thing or something similar, or even, imagining oneself in the same position. A "child's cry" may not be about discomfort or hunger, it may be fear or anger. If you "understand" that, then you will be better able to address the needs of the child. Furthermore, a "smile" doesn't always mean "pleasure." If you really understand a person, you will know if the smile is one of pleasure or embarrassment, pain, nervousness, or humility.
The authors' assert that "(e)mpathy permits us to come together and communicate..." and they are almost correct. Empathy is an important component, but, understanding is what will really allow togetherness and honest communication!
So, I have a question for the original poster (and a few others), why post
this topic with a subject line that singles out one specific group, almost as if to imply that those who claim themselves followers of Jesus spew hate that is the root of the problem? Why not simply say..."
Empathy ....it's what's missing in those who spew hate...?"
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