Empathy

The dictionary defines empathy as “the identification with and understanding of another’s situation, feelings, and motives.” It has also been described as the ability to put oneself in the other fellow’s place. So empathy requires first of all that we comprehend the circumstances of someone else and second that we share the feelings that those circumstances provoke in him.

Most everyone has a degree of natural empathy. But not all suffering is readily discernible. How difficult it is to comprehend the feelings of someone who is experiencing a problem if we have never had such problem ourselves.

The most powerful way to stimulate empathy is to ask ourselves: If we were in this situation, how would we feel? How would we respond? What would we need? According to the Bible, Job’s three false comforters proved incapable of putting themselves in his position. Hence, they condemned him for imaginary sins that they assumed he must have committed. As imperfect humans, we often find it easier to judge the mistakes than to understand feelings.

Empathy is invaluable in helping us overlook

the failings of others within the congregation. If we endeavor to understand the feelings of someone who has offended us, we will undoubtedly find it much easier to forgive him or her. Possibly we would have reacted in the same way had we been in the same situation and had we had his background.

We should also be able to view ourselves and the world through the eyes of others. This means examining beliefs and circumstances of

God Willing 22nd Annual Conference United Submitters July 27-29, 2007 Ontario, CA God willing mark your calendars and make plans for the 2007 Annual Conference of the Submitters. We set up a web page on the internet to circulate the conference information at www.masjidtucson.org/conference/ God willing, the page will be updated as more details become available.

others, keeping in mind the goal of enhanced understanding and appreciation. In this way, empathy is what allows us to treat other people as we ourselves would like to be treated—which is what ethics and morality tend to be about.

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[6:62] Then everyone is returned to GOD, their rightful Lord and Master. Absolutely, He is the ultimate judge; He is the most accurate reckoner.

[11:29] “O my people, I do not ask you for any money; my wage comes only from GOD. I am not dismissing those who believed; they will meet their Lord (and He alone will judge them). I see that you are ignorant people.

[39:46] Proclaim: “Our god, Initiator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of all secrets and declarations, You are the only One who judges among Your servants regarding their disputes.”

[22:17] Those who believe, those who are Jewish, the converts, the Christians, the Zoroastrians, and the idol worshipers, GOD is the One who will judge among them on the Day of Resurrection. GOD witnesses all things.