Against Empathy: When Christians Declare Compassion a Vice

Bo and I dive deep into a controversial AP article about Christian conservatives declaring empathy a vice – yeah, you heard that right. We unpack how figures like Ali Beth Stuckey and Joe Rigney are arguing that empathy has become a “cudgel for the left,” leading Christians to affirm sin and support destructive policies. But here’s where it gets interesting: Bo thinks this whole anti-empathy movement is actually a smokescreen for deeper issues around personal versus structural sin, and how progressive and conservative Christians are operating with completely non-overlapping theological frameworks. We explore how politics has gotten upstream of religion, the role of floating signifiers that muddy genuine dialogue, and why both sides seem to be talking past each other on everything from immigration to school lunches. Plus, I share some wild stories from the New England Cigar Expo (including knight fighting – seriously), and we announce some exciting changes coming to Theology Beer Camp 2025, including pre-recorded lectures and liter steins for the presenters. Spoiler alert: by the end, Bo’s feeling like a deflated balloon about the state of American discourse, and honestly, I don’t blame him.