by E. B. Smith

Created on: June 04, 2010

Compassion is a spiritual challenge for many because some have a superior view of their religion. Sounds abstract?, Its not. People who coin themselves as devout, often view themselves as religious. The religiousness makes them view others outside of their religion as inferior. When this occurs the person can't see the pains of another. For example, If a neighbor stayed next door to a Christian, Muslim, or a Jewish person. If the neighbor has a house party that last late in the hours of the night. The music's loud and it seemed to be a bunch of unwanted visitors. The next day the neighbor went to the religious person's house to ask to borrow aspirins because they have a headache. Would the religious person oblige them or send them away? The answer should be obvious but its not.

By subscribing to the view that a certain practice of religion is the only way to the Deity can create a state of mind that only wants to accommodate "like people". There is nothing wrong with being a devout person of any faith, but it shouldn't contradict the tenants of their faith. In basically every religious practice in the world teaches compassion yet,it's not what is often heard coming out if many religious leaders mouth or sermons.

Compassion admits to the person giving it,  that they are equal and not superior to the recipient. Compassion forces people to have to admit their own limitations and faults before showing understanding for someone else's. A lot of people enter religion searching for a way to rid themselves of guilt and build their confidence. Unfortunately, some become too confident.

In the Christian Bible there is a passage that says "what is man that God would be mindful of him"?. What a poignant question. The question implies that all people are inferior to the Deity, all people. One attribute of compassion is the ability to be able to empathize. Many can't or won't. Another attribute is unconditional love, which a numerous amount of persons do not practice. It's almost taboo. Can their ever be true compassion from a spiritual person? Maybe.

Unfortunately, many devout people are also rigid and probably won't change much, believing that they would be compromising their principles. The best to hope for is that they don't experience great tragedy in their lives that causes great emotional pain. Because then they have to pray for compassion.

Learn more about this author, E. B. Smith.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.