S2. Ep 8. Empathy in Christian and Public Life

EPISODE DETAILS

This week on the Empathy Table, Ideos’ Amar Peterman is joined by Dr. Vincent Bacote, Professor of Theology at Wheaton College. 

Vince and Amar talk about the theological grounding for empathy in Christian and public life. They also discuss the work of “Reckoning with Race and Performing the Good News” and the importance of Jesus’ call to love our neighbors.

At the conclusion this episode, Vince offers a robust understanding of empathy that goes beyond merely “feeling with.” By way of story and theory, he and Amar argue that empathy requires both a physical and cognitive move towards another that is both emotional and intellectual. In other words, it requires us to not only bear one another’s’ burdens emotionally, but also understand the complex realities behind the burden itself.