Divine Epiphanies
How choosing God helped me adopt and recognize empathy.
Story by Elizabeth Hall
H e said it would mean a lot to him if I went, so I did.
It was late summer, and my boyfriend and I were 17. It was the first time I had experienced leftover ash and smoke from forest fires drifting through Seattle, Washington. They said it was equivalent to smoking several cigarettes a day.
Still, we boarded a bus and headed to the dry side of the state. I turned in my phone for the full Foursquare Camp experience through New Life Church, which believes in evangelism and creating disciples across all nations by preaching the gospel.
I wouldn’t even see birthday wishes from my family in Europe who were visiting Scotland for the yearly World Pipe Band Championships. It was my 18th birthday, but some things were more important.
I would soon find out how much camp that summer shaped me.
The next step for growing my faith was getting baptized, an integral part of Christianity which signifies the forgiveness of sins.
When I stepped into the warm water a few weeks later, ready to be baptized, I felt nerves of excitement. Then I was submerged, and as I felt the wake of water break on my way back up, I knew I was finally accepting God completely.
Growing up, I always heard the Bible scripture John 15:12 which said, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you,” and Matthew 7:12 which said, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
These simple words take intention to live out.
Western Washington University religion professor Carrie Frost said practicing empathy opens up the ability to communicate with other people and listen to different perspectives, as well as have a more compassionate and respectful mindset to simply get along with other people.
Frost recognizes the lack of opportunities to have a safe space for discussing religion. These conversations can be weighted and have pressure attached to them, which Frost explained as a sense of doing or not doing something right, or belonging or not belonging within a family or community.
According to research by Barna, an organization that provides knowledge and data about the role of faith in America, 44% of Christians would avoid spiritual conversations if they knew non-Christians would reject them. However, another study shows that 55% of Christians reported feeling comfortable sharing their faith by making friends with people of different backgrounds, and 57% felt comfortable listening to questions about their religion.
“Just culturally, I don’t think we’re great about talking about religion,” Frost said.
Frost said that in the U.S., there are particular perceptions of Christianity and religious practices that people have, and she believes those have become less positive over time as fewer people are religious.
Another study reveals that 45% of atheists or religiously unaffiliated people in America agree that “Christianity is extremist.” Even those hesitant to agree still harbored negative perceptions toward Christianity.
In one instance, Frost was working on a school committee that her children attended, and wasn’t able to schedule a committee meeting on Sunday because she would be at church. It was a conversation stopper, and immediate assumptions were made about her being superstitious.
In similar words, a woman from the committee said to her, “I’m so shocked to hear that you would go to church, Carrie. I just never would have thought that of you.”
“Why?” Frost asked.
“Well, I just never would have assumed that you would be one of those people who would be religious.”
Frost felt there was negativity and a lack of cultivated empathy or understanding of what it means to be a Christian. Practicing empathy can help us become aware of these preconceived notions.
There are also assumptions that Christians don’t accept science. My boyfriend studies at the University of Washington Bothell, and had to read a study on the effectiveness of prayer. When asked what issues people of faith could have with the study, common responses from classmates were that Christians reject science and will not tolerate any disputes on scientific ground.
I even hear “Jesus freaks” in association with human rights or pandemic guidelines like wearing a mask or limiting who you see, because it is a common belief that Jesus will protect us.
Though I believe he protects us, we still need to think about what puts others in danger. This is why I still listen to medical experts and science.
I also have a friend who struggles with anxiety, and she once shut down prayer as a healing mechanism before I could respond. While it wasn’t a big issue, I felt there were assumptions made about how I would support her when I knew she wasn’t religious to begin with.
These comments and assumptions aren’t always direct. Some of the most popular perceptions of Christians by non-Christians are that they’re narrow-minded, uptight and uncaring, which makes me feel like I’m stuck in a box.
I feel that I won’t be accepted as an understanding and supportive individual if I bring up my faith.
Yet, my experience that summer helped validate my beliefs. I choose to be open about religion and differing perspectives, while maintaining respect for those around me by never passing judgement or rude comments. Shutting down views different from my own would not only make me an insensitive person, but would go against God’s command for me to love my neighbors and treat them fairly.
As I leaned against the bus window on our way home from camp, sun peeking through the finally-clear sky, I felt hopeful and alive.