Judge Not Lest Ye Be Judged

 Judge Not Lest Ye Be Judged

The Empathy Gap. Victims of Circumstance. We rarely judge victims of circumstance harshly.

 Imagine a friend trapped in a toxic relationship, manipulated and controlled. We offer support, not scorn. We recognize they are victims, not villains.

 Similarly, consider individuals caught in the clutches of a cult. Although their distorted, manipulated worldview may appear foreign to us, we are aware that they have been brainwashed. In the context of politics and culture, this empathy that is so easily extended in personal situations frequently evaporates.

 We encounter differing viewpoints, not as opportunities for understanding but as threats to our own beliefs. The Battlefield of Beliefs, where Judgment Thrives. Political and cultural debates often devolve into battlefields.

 We arm ourselves with facts and figures, ready to vanquish opposing viewpoints. Judgment becomes our weapon of choice, wielded with righteous indignation. This judgmental approach ignores a crucial element, the role of misinformation and manipulation.

 Just like the manipulated partner or the cult member, individuals with differing viewpoints might operate from a place of distorted information. Their perspective is partly shaped by their experiences, education, and upbringing. Their reality, shaped by circumstances outside of their control, may be what we consider ignorance.

 Lessons from Stoicism: Ancient Wisdom for Contemporary Discord.  Ancient Roman Stoic philosophers provided timeless guidance on how to control our tendency toward judgment. In his Meditations, Marcus Aurelius challenges us to think about the possibility that people who wrong us are ignorant.

 Another Stoic master, Epictetus, echoes this idea when he says, "Do not be angry with the one who is mistaken." He reminds us that those who cling to their convictions do so because they believe them to be true. These ancient teachings highlight a fundamental truth.

 People rarely hold beliefs that are known to be incorrect. Even if they are wrong, their beliefs are based on what they believe to be the truth. A Connection Between Condemnation and Understanding Empathy.

 Rather than condemning those who disagree with us, let us work toward empathy. Remember that every person's views and beliefs are the result of their own experiences, which have shaped and influenced them. This is a call to approach disagreements with understanding and acknowledge that our own opinions are merely pieces of a larger truth, not to compromise our own values or support false beliefs.

 "Do not judge, lest you be judged," said Jesus. Let empathy lead the way rather than passing judgment in a divided world. Only then can we hope to remove the obstacles that separate us and create a more understanding and compassionate world.

Here’s to love and light.

Rev. Leslie C. Bonner

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Rev.-Leslie-C.-Bonner/author/B0DGFRMZK8