Empathy Deemed 'Toxic' by Christians Advocating for... More Christ?
The mainstream media breathlessly reports that conservative Christian figures like Allie Beth Stuckey and Josh McPherson are branding empathy as a 'mess,' 'dangerous,' or even 'toxic' in new books and podcasts. Elon Musk, ever the contrarian, somehow links Western empathy to 'civilizational decline.' Conveniently, this newfound aversion to compassion surfaces precisely as calls for immigration
reform, racial justice, and LGBTQ+ rights gain traction. It's almost as if 'empathy' becomes a weakness only when applied to inconvenient populations. History, however, tells a different story. Conservative movements have a long, storied tradition of reinterpreting 'virtues' when they clash with policy goals. Remember when 'family values' didn't quite extend to welcoming refugees, or when
'Christian charity' somehow excluded guaranteed healthcare? This isn't a theological revelation; it's a strategic rebranding of indifference, masking overt policy preferences under a veneer of spiritual insight. The historical record shows the loudest calls for 'toxic empathy' often parallel increased political polarization and efforts to marginalize specific communities. Funny how that works.