Have You No Compassion?

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Compassion was a big part of the Evangelical Christianity that I grew up with. Most of the time it was called a “Passion for the Lost.” Translated, that means your desire to try and get people saved.

I know, that doesn’t sound a whole lot like compassion, and sometimes it isn’t. There were plenty of people who tried to save other people because of pride, or because they needed to reinforce their own beliefs by convincing other people.

But there were some, I’d even be willing to concede a minority, that did it out of real compassion.

Put yourself in an Evangelical’s shoes for a moment. You truly believe that there is a hell, where people suffer eternal pain without hope of escape. And unless the people around you accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior, they will end up in that terrible place when they die.

I remember praying at camp once, during an altar call, and having some kind of vision/daydream about everyone I know who wasn’t a Christian burning in Hell. Screaming in agony. I wanted to help.

But I understood that it wasn’t simply a matter of presenting people with the opportunity. I was already filled with doubt, and accepting Christ as a personal savior simply for after life fire insurance (for those who prefer not to burn) wasn’t TRULY being saved at all. I concluded, therefore, that I had to emphasize the true benefits of becoming a Christian, while acknowledging the hang up and doubts.

This did contribute to me leaving the Evangelical sphere eventually as I spent a great deal of time examining and facing my own doubts until I realized I had nothing left but doubt.

I feel like there is some connection between this and Compassion in Buddhism.

Buddhists, in my limited understanding, have a slightly different idea of compassion. In their view, everyone is suffering because of their desire. The Buddhists who are closer to enlightenment become more and more keenly aware of the suffering of those around them. And everyone suffers until they reach enlightenment.

Now, while both Evangelicals and Buddhists have a solution to the suffering they perceive (salvation from hell, enlightenment from desire) Buddhists don’t feel the compulsion to “save” people. That’s because they understand that enlightenment is a personal journey that requires commitment and perseverance, and without that, all they can do is help to make things a little easier.

Or not.
Buddhists often feel compassion without the compulsion to do things. They simply perceive the suffering of someone else.

As you know, I don’t believe in enlightenment, but I certainly think everyone is suffering. Certain suffering is much more evident, and much easier to feel compassion in those situations. People who have their houses destroyed by hurricanes and starve because a stupid government won’t give them any food. But what about the moron in your office who parties every weekend, gets shitfaced drunk and brags about it Monday morning? What about the person who is always trying to shove some mantra about how to live down your throat? What about the asshole who cuts you off in traffic, or the gas mogul who has all the money he wants?

See, I think all these people are suffering and deserve compassion as well. I’m not going to send the gas mogul money to help him out. But then, I’m not sure how much money helps the crying woman who has lost her son under a collapsed house.

I really, truly, and honestly think it’s more important to recognize that people everywhere are suffering. Many, many, many people make poor decisions, and some people even make callous decisions that increase the suffering of others. But those people are still suffering, and I strongly believe that suffering of all kinds deserves a certain amount of compassion.