JOE RIGNEY - The Dark Side of Empathy: When Victims Become Manipulators

The Will Spencer Podcast

Dr. Joe Rigney is a Fellow of Theology at New Saint Andrews College. In his controversial bestselling book "The Sin of Empathy" (Canon Press) he argues that empathy becomes sinful when divorced from truth and biblical standards.

In our conversation, Dr. Rigney explains how weaponized empathy manipulates through emotional validation demands rather than genuine care. He describes how many Christians have internalized a "progressive gaze" that judges their faithfulness by secular approval rather than biblical standards.

The episode explores practical alternatives to toxic empathy, including Christ-centered compassion that stays anchored to truth while genuinely caring for hurting people.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Empathy becomes sinful when untethered from truth and biblical standards of compassion.
2. Weaponized empathy manipulates through emotional blackmail, demanding validation over truth-seeking.
3. Christians must resist the progressive gaze that judges faithfulness by secular approval.
4. True compassion involves staying anchored to reality while helping those who suffer.
5. Playing the victim differs from being a victim - Christ suffered without self-pity.
6. Good pretending means acting as your Spirit-filled self would in difficult situations.

CONNECT WITH DR. RIGNEY

• "The Sin of Empathy" - https://a.co/d/fKGbwti
• "Leadership and Emotional Sabotage" - https://a.co/d/9C2obRX
• "Live Like a Narnian" - https://a.co/d/bFfV1rD
• "Lewis on the Christian Life" - https://a.co/d/bKPdHea
• https://canonplus.com/ - use code WADE for $0.99 first month

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

• "A Failure of Nerve" by Edwin Friedman - https://a.co/d/iOlbrzf
• "Against Empathy" by Paul Bloom - https://a.co/d/2gTyntc
• "Toxic Empathy" by Allie Beth Stuckey - https://a.co/d/2gTyntc
• "Shepherds for Sale" by Meg Basham - https://a.co/d/aD7uiLy

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The Will Spencer Podcast is a weekly interview show featuring extended discussions with authors, leaders, and influencers who help us make sense of our changing world today. I release new episodes every week on Friday.

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