Compassion - What does it mean?

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naz
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Compassion - What does it mean?

Post #1

Post by naz »

Why would it be expect and did Jesus say it is expect? He says to treat others how you would like to be treated yourself. Does that mean you should go around feeling sorry for people so maybe one day they will feel sorry for you? Does that make any sense?

Have people built a misconception of love to say it can be regarded as compassion?

Wiki:
Compassion (from Latin: "co-suffering") is a virtue —one in which the emotional capacities of empathy and sympathy (for the suffering of others) are regarded as a part of love itself, and a cornerstone of greater social interconnectedness and humanism —foundational to the highest principles in philosophy, society, and personhood.

.. or Is this all a bunch of moogley googley?

If this is true(meaning if compassion is expect) then why do Christians not feel sorry for murderers, rapists, thieves, abortions, criminals and so on? Jesus forgave sinners left and right and taught people how to live better lives. He was so full of mercy he forgave the thief that was next to him while they were both on the cross.

Should mercy not be confused with compassion?

Murad
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Re: Compassion - What does it mean?

Post #2

Post by Murad »

naz wrote: Have people built a misconception of love to say it can be regarded as compassion?

Wiki:
Compassion (from Latin: "co-suffering") is a virtue —one in which the emotional capacities of empathy and sympathy (for the suffering of others) are regarded as a part of love itself, and a cornerstone of greater social interconnectedness and humanism —foundational to the highest principles in philosophy, society, and personhood.

.. or Is this all a bunch of moogley googley?

If this is true(meaning if compassion is expect) then why do Christians not feel sorry for murderers, rapists, thieves, abortions, criminals and so on? Jesus forgave sinners left and right and taught people how to live better lives. He was so full of mercy he forgave the thief that was next to him while they were both on the cross.

Should mercy not be confused with compassion?
Well i think its difference in terminology.
You dont really need compassion to have mercy, so yes they are not the same.

naz wrote:He says to treat others how you would like to be treated yourself. Does that mean you should go around feeling sorry for people so maybe one day they will feel sorry for you? Does that make any sense?
No, i think Jesus is emphasizing that the respect and humility you show towards other people should be the same that you would like to receive.
It makes complete sense

Its a very wise quotation and has become a cliche
Do the people think that they will be left to say, "We believe" without being put to the test?
We have tested those before them, for GOD must distinguish those who are truthful, and He must expose the liars.

(Quran 29:2-3)

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Why Jesus is NOT God
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cnorman18

Re: Compassion - What does it mean?

Post #3

Post by cnorman18 »

naz wrote:Why would it be expect and did Jesus say it is expect? He says to treat others how you would like to be treated yourself. Does that mean you should go around feeling sorry for people so maybe one day they will feel sorry for you? Does that make any sense?

Have people built a misconception of love to say it can be regarded as compassion?

Wiki:
Compassion (from Latin: "co-suffering") is a virtue —one in which the emotional capacities of empathy and sympathy (for the suffering of others) are regarded as a part of love itself, and a cornerstone of greater social interconnectedness and humanism —foundational to the highest principles in philosophy, society, and personhood.

.. or Is this all a bunch of moogley googley?

If this is true(meaning if compassion is expect) then why do Christians not feel sorry for murderers, rapists, thieves, abortions, criminals and so on? Jesus forgave sinners left and right and taught people how to live better lives. He was so full of mercy he forgave the thief that was next to him while they were both on the cross.

Should mercy not be confused with compassion?
The Golden Rule has nothing whatever to do with how one feels. It's about what one does. "DO unto others as you have them DO unto you." One may follow that standard while feeling no empathy or sympathy at all, by merely choosing one's actions by objectively judging them as one would if they were directed at oneself. It's a standard of action, not emotion.

Compassion, on the other hand, IS about feeling -- as in the definition you posted; it entails "empathy and sympathy (for the suffering of others)." And, if this question is flowing from the "Last Acceptable Bigotry" thread, it seems to me that an essential indicator of "empathy and sympathy for the suffering of others" would be not making light of it or mocking it with jokes.

Just my opinion, of course, but I'd be willing to bet that it's an opinion rather commonly held.

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