Weaponized Compassion

[@ethanb2554]

"Compassion is something freely given, not compelled."

[@AusDenBergen]

Indulgence, not compulsion.

[@fr.timothycurren5592]

As I commented on Jonathan's last video with Paul Van Der Klay, anyone familiar with the recovery community knows how compassion can be weaponized to deadly effect, it is called "Enabling".

[@christianlacroix5430]

Based priest.

[@four-eight-zero5627]

It gets darker than that... I recently separated from a recovery group where the leadership displays quite a bit of cult-like behavior. Public ridicule, ostracism, and when they see someone pulling away from the group they love bomb on them to pull them back in. Truly demonic stuff.

[@mustangman776]

Oh! What a clarification! I remember this moment in high school where I read a book with an enabling character and I identified deeply with his compassion and accommodation in service of another. In my heart it felt sickly yet sweet at the same time, both persuasive and subversively tinted to misdirect. In the years since I’ve struggled between the two, like a battle of to discern the proper way to love, and often practicing enabling masquerading as compassion…oh boy. Thank you.

[@nicholasdonin1465]

Spot on. I'm a father of 4, if I didn't truly love my children, I wouldn't punish them for harmful behavior. I'm the end, enabling harmful behavior, sets up a terrible path for the present and future.

[@fr.timothycurren5592]

@@four-eight-zero5627 Right, as much as I love recovery and it's congruancy to the Desert Fathers, the safest money is still on the Fathers

[@orphanedhanyou]

There was a shift where Christians were made to feel bad by non believers so they started claiming being a Christian = being nice. God didn't call us to be "nice". Great if you can be, but He called us to be salt and light. They both can burn and preserve and cleanse. Doing what is right doesn't mean no discomfort will follow.

[@MrsDazl]

Say it louder!

[@lonedesertfox]

If you look up Fr.John Ricardo’s talks he says the same thing! Beauty in truth!

[@101Hiphop1989]

Amen!

[@danieltracy7136]

Yes, Amen!

[@MrDreadEnd]

I mean he did but the primary mission isn't being nice.

[@edujyoung]

This is so timely and so good. I realised I’d been doing this thing. Weaponising compassion. Once I realised what I was doing, I named it “broken bird syndrome”, coz it was like wanting to fix the broken wings of birds. But it was to get virtue (aka virtue signalling). It was to feel like a hero and special and significant. Once I realised it, and started to develop other frameworks or mental models for seeing this, I felt so disgusted by it and can see how it plays out in toxic relationships. Whereas sometimes people feel like they love someone. But really, they love the idea that they have of a person, that then gets overlayed on top of the person. It’s like a spirit, posing as someone. And it’s gross.

[@danieltracy7136]

Pride can push us to weaponize compassion. Jonathan provides insight that helps us to recognize it in ourselves.

[@prboddington]

This pattern of maximising social justice above all else is also plays out in a similar way in other spheres, where merely utilitarian ways of approaching morality fail to comprehend the importance of recognising and symbolising the value of individuals. Example: Josephine Butler was a social reformer in Victorian England who among other things campaigned on behalf of prostitutes, taking many women into her own home (she was a vicar’s wife). Many women were so poor that prostitution was their only means of survival and disease was rampant. One of the many women she nursed through terminal illness died in Butler’s arms, and at her funeral, she filled the woman’s coffin with camelias, which would have cost an absolute fortune in Liverpool in a freezing cold March. She has been criticised for this ‘waste’ but it symbolised in really concrete terms the value that she gave to the lives of these utterly despised women. The utilitarian approach which just wants to maximise outcome, has no way of including the value of individuals in its calculations. Weaponising ‘maximising impact’ of one’s deeds in aiming for maximum utility happens all the time but can end up losing sight of the reason for caring for others in the first place - each person’s absolute value. We see it too in maximising 'saving lives' with no concern for the quality and meaning of our lives. By the way, pity Marvel comics etc don’t ever feature true female heroines like Josephine Butler.

[@northernvibe4870]

Dr Paula that is spot on. Great to see you continuing to contribute, hope you're well, thanks for the comments on my other video (had to take down the facebook interview after getting legal advice, but have edited and its up on you tube now) I remain a fanboy of your work. God bless Doc.

[@shari6063]

What an excellent comment! So many unsung heroes, truly.

[@prboddington]

@OSC Worldview Yes, that's what brought the camelias story to mind

[@bradspitt3896]

Jonathan has the best comment section.

[@DeoCreative]

notice also how many people nowadays would rather be cremated or use for "science" and just disposed of. In other words make some use of my body and don't waste time on ceremonies and rituals.

[@CharlesVeitch]

Thank you Jonathan, I've been looking for a good term for this pathology. I couldn't use Ted Kaczinsky's "Over Socialised" and Weaponised Compassion fits the bill. During height of lockdown a security guard tied to stop me bottle-feeding my newborn as I hadn't booked the table at supermarket cafe. I said we'll be gone in a few minutes so chill, security lady said she was going to call the police on us "for everyone's safety". I called her bluff, my son drank his bottle happily and the woman was getting angry at my smile. I said "call the cops, we have a milk drinking baby threatening the cafe". I think she got fired as I did a KZbin video about it. It is WEAPONISED COMPASSION, this safety concern

[@enrater123]

"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty or safety" - Benjamin Franklin

[@paulfroelich1024]

That's a great line.

[@corinnemuir1542]

Ehh. What you described; you’re almost there, still at self defense compassion. To get to weaponized compassion you need a dash of premeditated, and two sifted cups of malevolence.

[@notaboutit3565]

@@corinnemuir1542 you think the security guard wasn’t practicing in the mirror for an interaction like that? And most security guards have 6 sifted cups of malevolence at least ready in the wings. The only problem for them in this scenario was usually the mirror doesn’t talk back.

[@corinnemuir1542]

@@notaboutit3565 😕 Sustained.

[@kateruterbories2692]

This is why God instructs us to keep our "good works" to ourselves, pray in our secret place and not seek approval or back patting from the crowd. God says when we seek the crowd, there is our reward. This is why we are saved through grace and not works, we fall short everytime and you are correct it turns in to pride!! We are compromising our souls for recognition of our "caring" for others becoming ill or dying.

[@regpharvey]

Excellent point!

[@M-i-k-a-e-l]

Isn't such insight you have arrived at a kind of good works? Isn't good works and grace one? The works is to set sails for grace to bless with the wind of God.

[@Renaevannatta]

I like this. It’s got me contemplating what the word ‘care’ means. Quo thinking out loud rambling: ….. I feel like ‘care’ without the ‘caring’ (nurturing) part is smoke. Without the action behind it, the word ‘care’ is empty. But it gets thrown around so much. ‘I care about the poor’ I ‘care about the environment’ ‘I care about my health’ ‘I care about OTHER people getting it’. You would never have to say these things if you were actually caring because that is who others would see you as inherently if you truly were because that is what you embody through your actions. Actions speak louder than words right. Like the story he shared about how the lady used the expensive ointment on Jesus’s feet… she was physically caring for him. While the other guy saw it as an ‘opportunity cost’ veiled as ambiguous ‘care’ for non-specific ‘poor people’. And let’s say his intention was ‘good’ and he wasn’t a selfish thief lol.. and let’s even say it wasn’t Jesus.. he is basically saying this one guy shouldn’t be cared for because there are others who also need to be cared for. But that logic doesn’t stand because if you lined everyone up who needed care you’d keep going to the next person because there is always someone else so no one would ever be cared for in the end. Whereas I feel like Jesus wants us to meaningfully care for at least one other person because if you do that, everyone can be cared for.

[@ChristAliveForevermore]

But James, brother of Jesus, points out that faith without works is dead. Good works in the spirit of Righteousness comes from true faith first, but works on their own for the benefit of one's pride is empty.

[@TheB1nary]

So it’s doing those things (acts of compassion for example), “but in secret”, so that they cannot be claimed as in any way something that makes us better than we are, or increases the danger that is pride?

[@zacharycable7018]

That moment where Christ tells Peter "Get thee behind me, Satan" is when Peter denies that Christ must die which is also demonstrating weaponized compassion pretty clearly.

[@luxyluz2442]

WOAH. Thank you for sharing.

[@nbinghi]

Thank you for this much needed video, the subject needs to be discussed. In the 90s Camille Paglia called it Coercive Compassion. I was thinking of how that 90s wave of political correctness, with it's Coercive Compassion, got the wind knocked out of it (for a period of time at least), after 9-11, when actual compassion resulted in how Americans came to help each other.

[@umiluv]

Very interesting that the term anti-Christ would mean that it would come out of a perverted version of Christianity or from Christianity itself. I always thought it would be an opposite place but it makes more sense that it would be masked as something from Christianity or principles of Christianity.

[@regpharvey]

I think it is in accord with the idea that Satan has no creative power in himself and that he can only pervert what God has created. "Weaponized compassion" is a perfect example of that, actually.

[@johntadigiri8106]

Absolutely, worth a watch! Especially, in this age where many growing number of _pseudo christians_ and the _self-saving secularists_ claim that they're wiser than God, the Creator Himself and more compassionate than Christ, the Sacrificial Saviour & more humble than our Servant King! It reminded me of Jesus's admonition to Martha: *One thing is NEEDFUL!* An excerpt from C. H. Spurgeon's sermon on this topic: "As for missions: we appoint our committees, we amend our plans, and suggest schemes.. All very well and good; but missions will never flourish till the church, with regard to missions, sits at Jesus' feet. She will never convert the heathen in her own way: God will give success only when we work in his way."

[@Helicopterpilot16]

I've been using the term "weaponized compassion" in regards to America's psychiatric practices in modern times. Most specifically for the diagnosis of Aspergers in the 90's of which now of course has been relabeled Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). I was diagnosed at 7 and it changed my social environment. Children are quite apt to spot sociological differences between them (especially in a financially wired society) and it shouldn't be a surprise that children placed in special education aren't treated well. Both because of the special treatment but also the social repercussions. It's like a feedback loop that instils a sense of other into these children. Psychologically, this inhibits emotional growth and often causes them to repress from social environments. However, it doesn't kill the human need for community. Depending on many variables; the sociological environment, their family structure and financial stability, it can really effect how well they adapt to humanity. Oftentimes, it just leaves them feeling alien and very emotionally undeveloped. After a long life, I learned that label did nothing for me but gave a word to behaviors I'd had that'd manifest because of my family structure (which was asymmetrical). What did it take to properly socialize myself? 26 years of introversion, 1 year of socializing with a persona (acting). A motorcycle accident and finally being happy about life caused me to bathe in the hell social media has created. People really never do say what's on their mind; there's always an ulterior motive. I speak truth and it frightens people. Only because life took my on a path to find myself, but only at America's bottom. People tend to say nice things or to give advice but their actions never reflect such values. Labeling children at young ages is my definition of weaponized compassion. They don't comprehend how their mind words thus have rather disastrous practices in place that only destroy the individuals sense of self.

[@stingra8]

Thanks for sharing your story Tyler 🙏

[@benjaminvandervoorn8963]

Hey could you elaborate on what you said about your family structure being assymetrical? What does that mean? How did that lead you to display Aspergers-like behaviour?

[@Helicopterpilot16]

@@benjaminvandervoorn8963 Single parented, mother raised. Without a masculine person to learn from, I adopted my mothers traits. Being raised in a chaotic family caused my mind to focus outside of the social "realm" if you will. I was hyperactive, hyper focused, and obsessively interested in machines and physics. Treating me as other through my younger years kept me introverted as the social treatment I received only instantiated the idea. In short, the treatment exacerbated the issues. Most of the time, people don't think about the after effects of what happens when they do such. So it's no surprise to me why such individuals that are diagnoses find it hard to socialize which effects everything in life.

[@benjaminvandervoorn8963]

@@Helicopterpilot16 Thanks for the insight :)

[@Helicopterpilot16]

@@benjaminvandervoorn8963 No problem, I'm working on my means of articulating what I've learned about it through video. In hopes I can finally reach someone that desires a conversation about this. Because I know very well the pain I lived with for 27 years, and I know how to help many out of the same issues.

[@06rtm]

The kiss of Judas as a symbol of weaponized compassion is brilliant

[@annawray2220]

This is it! Weaponised compassion is what I have felt for the past two years, we sacrificed our children, our businesses, our bodily autonomy, our freedom all for ‘compassion’, if we don’t comply we are called selfish and punished. Urgh, it’s been so horrible.

[@gregorymoats4007]

@Phlebas And matters of personal conscience isn’t automatically in violation of that calling to Christian community

[@bradspitt3896]

@Phlebas We're being called to give up our ability to participate in the Logos by not going to church, but this is the end of what had already been the case. The pronoun issue also asks that you live in a different reality.

[@bradspitt3896]

@Phlebas Using someone's preferred pronouns is forcing someone to live in a different ontology.

[@bradspitt3896]

@Phlebas You don't even know what I'm saying.

[@bradspitt3896]

@Phlebas That's not what I said.

[@rmk3020]

When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, he said "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and might;" the second, "love your neighbor as yourself". Both are commands of God; between both all the law and prophets are undergirded. Our culture wants to put the second before the first. It's remarkable how a simple matter of misplaced priority can undermine everything.

[@blairkristi8178]

+1000

[@Arete1977]

This is the most important video you have ever made in terms of needful, timely, practical help to the church in this difficult time. Thank you, Jonathan!

[@nicholasdonin1465]

I wish churches did a better job of teaching discernment And when churches closed, I learned a lot. People abandoned their faith in God, in order to hold self righteous can compassion and/or fear above that faith.

[@deirdrefleming9935]

Great insights, Jonathan. You have given a name to something I have sensed but for which I have not had a label. There are so many areas where the compassion trope is trotted out (apart from Covid measures): euthanasia, same sex marriage, abortion, etc.

[@akernelfromthecatacombs7169]

Man exists to worship God.

[@macksonamission1784]

I remember being surprised at the hidden cross in the Andrew Garfield's hand at the end of Silence. The most meaningful consequence of his treading upon the fumie was that he spent the rest of his days as a gate-keeper, repelling all christian literature and symbols from Japan. The voice of Jesus saying to "tread" and the hidden cross suggest that compassionate betrayal was what the Lord would have wanted, but the missionary's lifetime of slavery to evil work suggests otherwise.

[@doulos44]

Excellent.. I think of this as sort of an institutionalized form of codependency, where people use their presumed virtue as a way of gaining status and or power, and making others indebted to them, emotionally or otherwise.

[@kevinhughes3477]

I always think of this every time I hear puritan types saying, "we shouldn't build cathedrals, all that money should go to the poor."

[@carolina_grace5721]

Yea no they're right on that one

[@the2ndcoming135]

That’s what Jesus said to do before even considering following him. But, oh well😂

[@niccolop.carlyle4621]

@@carolina_grace5721 No, they're not.

[@danrocky2553]

As a Catholic, I’d like to thank you for articulating the natural order of worship and alms giving. Worship comes first.❤️

[@Viz-Jaqtaar]

Amen brother, this spirit has been in our church from the beginning of the scourge among us. Many of us have been told we were being extremist or uncaring for those around us if we questioned the measures in place for worship. I believe the Orthodox faith is the faith taught by Christ to the apostles passed down to us from the church fathers; the church of the first millennia, their response to actual plague and pandemic was not like ours.

[@Arthur.404]

Also, what you said about Benedict XVI and Francis is absolutely spot-on.

[@alicebaird7764]

In the original novel on which the movie is based, Silence, by Shusako Endo, Rodriguez does not go to his grave clandestinely clutching a cross, symbolizing, I suppose, that he did not really renounce his faith, despite the yearly public ceremony that he has been forced to perform. In the book he goes to death an apostate, his true motivations hidden. The novel leaves the reader to be his final judge. Perhaps Scorcese added this twist to assuage his own conscience. It certainly makes the ending ambiguous, muddling the essential moral dilemma at the heart of the book. You describe this dilemma with great clarity, Jonathan. Thank you for your insights.

[@todaysmartyrseditor3112]

It should be noted that the ploy of executing the followers of a Christian evangelist a la Silence was not limited to the Japanese. The Romans did exactly the same thing, most famously in the case of Justin Martyr, who didn't deny Christ while watching his friends die.

[@paquitojhs]

Jonathan you speak with authority. You have power in your words. God is using you in ways that will have an impact in the future. Thank you for offering light in these times of darkness. God bless you brother you have my respect, for whatever is worth.

[@harleyseelbinder]

Thank you for what you do, Jonathan. You and Peterson have brought me back to Christianity.

[@nicholasdonin1465]

Jonathan helps my walk. Peterson only gave me a reference to rehab.

[@annawray2220]

Me too! Especially Jonathan

[@Alritealritealrite]

@@nicholasdonin1465 whatever works

[@ghostgate82]

Check out the work of Dr. Michael Heiser. It pairs well with Jonathan.

[@leondbleondb]

@@ghostgate82 how

[@stephenmerritt5750]

After thinking about CS Lewis' essay on subjectivism, it's easy to see the Christian community itself can be lured into different forms of subjective thinking about their own faith. Subjectivism creates division, while the focus solely on certain true values leads to ignorance of the absolute values. The absolute value in Christianity is Christ, himself.

[@nonordinaryreality2686]

I am not a christian but i hope you guys are allowed to congregate again soon. Best of luck 👍

[@conantheseptuagenarian3824]

most insightful video you've ever made.

[@pchee]

Judas: I'm an empath, give to the poor Also Judas: trades Christ, who was healing the poor, for money

[@pianolady19]

I just got kicked out of my church for exactly this reason - someone cloaked their power with gentle words of compassion and unity, and when I would not humble myself and submit to their idea of compassion I got the boot. You are right to call it weaponized, because it is absolutely being wielded like a battle mace. And you are also right to call it Antichrist, because it is a lying spirit, and that can never come from God.

[@CScott-wh5yk]

Kudos on standing tall in the face of this.

[@gman2010puck]

@Phlebas probably the 'procedure' pass

[@isaiahxp9185]

@Phlebas I think we should respect the privacy of the reason.

[@timoteosoares3118]

what happened?

[@MrDreadEnd]

This is a virtue signal which isn't always wrong but whenever I see posts like this I feel weird. Defiance is necessary sometimes but none of what is here differentiates your defiance as virtuous as opposed to just being rebellious. I know it might be a private matter but some details and circumstances would help. Particularly what makes you think its a battle mace approach and what exactly was their idea of compassion.

[@williampotter1004]

The "weaponised compassion" has been manifest in much of the degradation of liturgy in the modern chruch (Judas aspect of antichrist). However, this very breakdown is a type of death, the denial of which could lead to the "Peter" like aspect of antichrist, which would shown in anyone who disobeys or defames bishops not on board with traditional liturgy. The TLM is being restricted because "God chastises those whom he loves", and we must thus accepting the death, (war agaisnt tradititon from bishops) while retaining a traditional faith, so as to avoid schism, disobedience and slander.

[@anewagora]

I have experienced weaponized compassion up close and personal. And no, I would not use that label flippantly for the occasional naive do-gooder who wants to start a nonprofit. That phase is natural for anyone entering the nonprofit world or pursuing their highest good, their mission. You become refined over time on the path to mastery. Weaponized compassion is absolutely some serious soul-level corruption I've witnessed and experienced. It is often entangled in a mess of psychological problems, and poor coping mechanisms for personal suffering that leaves a person trapped. It's also often used as part of a theatrical show of virtue, revolution or savior-ship. It's extremely toxic and nefarious in cults, and in my case I witnessed it in a social justice cult. And no, I do not say that about any old social justice group. Nonetheless, I've been learning so much about Christianity's history that provides a remarkable context for social justice as the pathology it is today. Nietzsche's Master-Slave Morality was mind blowing and one of the most illuminating pieces of philosophy regarding social justice.

[@umiluv]

I used to be a lefty and many of the people I know who are lefties are extremely compassionate. It’s sad to see their compassion being manipulated for terrible deeds. It’s why I don’t like seeing how people on the right “other” lefties as well. Othering each other means evil wins. I will say that I do know some on the left that use the guise of compassion as a mask for their hate or superiority complexes. There are definitely two types of people on the left. Those who are truly compassionate and those who pretend to be compassionate.

[@dpskatoo75]

Either way, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

[@HeadstrongGirl]

I agree with this, having been raised by one of those compassionate lefties. What I have learned, though, is that the the objects of the compassion, and even the compassion itself, become idols and there are power-plays made in an attempt to compel service to the idol. It's still destructive, even if done unwittingly and with good intentions.

[@sliglusamelius8578]

Studies have shown that lefties are personally not very charitable, while conservatives are personally charitable. That’s what I’ve seen: lefties call for the government to do what conservatives want citizens to do, including themselves in the word “citizen”.

[@siwardwoudstra1751]

@@sliglusamelius8578 True point, but as a Dutch citizen in a town which has a lot of volunteers because of the churches I would say that it doesn't always have to be or citizens or government, but it can be and citizens and government working together. And participating citizens controlling the local government. Abuse of power is a lot more difficult if the level of participation is high on the side of the citizenry. I think this is true in any given situation. Big government with apathetic non interfering citizens is, in my opinion, to be feared most.

[@bradspitt3896]

True empathy is unconditional; they would be able to empathize with those they accuse. What I see is a desire to protect their own identity (pride) rather than take care of the poor, otherwise they wouldn't scapegoat. Always for power, as the solution is state coercion.

[@samuelfreeman2452]

It's about making Christianity without Christ and History without God. Neither is achievable. And both are pridefully evil.

[@IVespidI]

You knocked it out of the park with this one.

[@AkraticElitist]

When the Temple, the center of worship, was used for something else, Christ whipped them and drove them out. The test of faithfulness to God was seen in Abraham, the willingness to sacrifice one’s own son. Christianity starts and ends at the altar of sacrifice. Anything else is idolatry.

[@Nemija]

Magnificent topic!!! Paraphrasing what Christ Himself has said: "If you love your family more than you love Me, you are not worthy of me!" There it is, He laid it out plain and clear, if anyone has ever wondered why He had ever said these "cruel" words. The hierarchy is clear, so worry not what the world says about this topic.

[@madego]

Man this is amazing and put into words the way i am feeling these days. I used to call it manipulation but weaponized compassion is precisely what is going on.

[@TT-tx5ng]

Today is Sunday, July 17, 2022, and the gospel is about Mary and Martha. I was uneasy listening to the sermon today by our deacon. He said that the church is both Mary and Martha in that prayer and service are equal. He even mentioned that 12 verses down, Jesus identified himself in Martha. The only reason Jesus said that Mary did the better part was because Martha served without love. However, I was immediately reminded by a quote from St Mother Teresa where she said, "though we are involved in social work, our goal is to be contemplatives at the heart of the world". I think she was the perfect model for the balance between Mary and Martha.

[@Tyler_W]

Hearing you describe this, my immediate thought is that's exactly what social justice is at its core. Weaponizing compassion for others for the purpose of acquiring more power. While not Eastern Orthodox, I first recognized this when I saw what I would greatly consider to be weaponized compassion when the "racial reconciliation narrative/movement popped its head up among various Reformed communities (that's where I first noticed it, but I'm almost certain it exists elsewhere among many groups who claim Christ and the desire to follow him). While not the same thing, is there a direct relationship between weaponized compassion and pathological altruism? I ask because there seems to be a great deal of both in social justice movements both inside and outside Christian communities.

[@tinsaemengistieanagaw1367]

But what about if we help the poor by believing that we are doing it for Christ? Because He says, 'That which you have done for one of the little ones, you have done unto Me.' This would mean that when we help one in a problem, we are helping Christ. Now, I would like to ask, is it a correct thing, say, to beautify and add non-compulsary decorations on the altar, while Christ is being hungered, or is naked? He Himself said, 'I will have mercy, and not (burnt) sacrifice.' Were not the Jews also being constantly accused of neglecting the weightier matters (mercy, love, faith, etc.) and focusing, as it were, on beautifying the outside, while leaving the inside with filth? Of course St. Mary the sister of Lazarus is freed from this blame because her intention was holy and for this reason also, says Saint John Chrysostom, He suffers her. Indeed, helping the poor can also incur blame if the intention is not a correct one (it is always the case that it is the intention, rather than the action which is liable to blame or honor). But, as I said, if by helping the (faithful)poor we believe that we are doing it for Christ Himself, then it is also a form of worship and can be put somewhere around the top of our hierarchy.

[@DeoCreative]

A very important video. Reminds me of The Great Divorce and blackmailing people via pity.

[@1walkerw]

This is literally Ibram X Kendi. He follows the pattern of Judas and the anti-Christ (not saying he is those things).

[@randyhall7650]

I think social justice is used as a means to justify ourselves, "salvation through works". It frees us from submitting to God. We can live in rebellion to God and yet feel justified by our deeds. Christ is the only source of justification. It is reminiscent of the Pharisees who sought a justification by works through adherence to the law, yet, as Christ revealed, their hearts were evil.

[@kimmieb2u]

"If you focus on secondary goods as the highest good it will ultimately lead to a breakdown." That's worth chewing on.

[@puddleglumswager]

God is One. Compassion divorced from Truth is the very devil.

[@patricknaughton9322]

I've been saying people's compassion has been weaponised against them over the course of the whole pandemic thing..

[@thebamboozlerette1824]

I miss Pope Benedict XVI

[@JosephHMama]

Very helpful video, Jonathan, many thanks - Silence is one of my favourite novels and I have to say that I'm not with you on your point about that story, even as Scorsese portrayed it. Ultimately, the missionary steps on the picture of Christ because Christ says "it is to be trampled on by men that I was born into this world," and I think the subsequent stripping of his identity actually makes it a story of cruciform sacrifice. The story of Silence is that the missionary experiences God as silent throughout these horrible persecutions and cries out for God to not be silent, until he makes this compassionate sacrifice in the manner of Christ for his flock, at which moment he realizes that God is not silent because he is speaking through the witness of his own actions. This self-sacrificial sort of compassion is actually contrasted by the continual weaponizing of the priests' mercy by Kichijiro, the Judas figure of the story. I (obviously) find it quite profound and rich, if a bit scandalous.

[@umiluv]

I just recently found an article about a 1963 congressional hearing about the 45 communist goals in America. Making art ugly in America was 2 of those goals. I finally felt some comfort in knowing I wasn’t going insane because I had thought that the art scene was just absolutely hideous for the last few decades and I couldn’t understand why anyone thought this stuff was worth looking at.

[@ghostgate82]

The satan of YHWH always perverts and distorts. We are to be the satan of this evil distortion. We are to be the adversary of evil.

[@nbinghi]

The "art world" is so nihilistic and depressing, those it promotes and champions are so shallow, pretentious and wearysome. Artists with their own niches who pay the "art world" no mind, are the ones who are most interesting and of substance.

[@honeeuh16]

can you share the article?

[@AusDenBergen]

The art world is (one) deliberately garbled and (two) nothing but a money laundering scheme. It's just to move globalist blood money around.

[@bradspitt3896]

Art critiquing is simply apologetics. The form the art takes is almost never considered. All about intent, no execution.

[@elizabethyoung3061]

"Wear a mask... take the jab..." = weaponised compassion.

[@Simon-ts9fu]

The current conflict in Ukraine is perhaps the strongest example yet of how compassion for the Ukrainians is used as a weapon with which to condemn Putin.

[@TheMeaningCode]

I was thinking about this the other day, and the verse came to mind, He crowns us with love and compassion. It occurred to me that a crown is a sign of royalty, and that a crown of love and compassion is a sign of who is the ruler of my life and of my kingdom.

[@ScottAT]

This reminds me of every leftist Astro-turfed organization out there.

[@nathangale7702]

Great video. In my church, it is easy to worship from home (it's a lay-ministry, so families can often administer the sacraments in their home), so my sister was a bit surprised that so many Christians preferred congregating to worship instead of self-isolating. I pointed out that for other Christian churches, communing in person is a much higher priority as the church is often the only place where it is available. I sensed her parsing out which compassion should take priority...

[@bmobasco]

Commenting for support. Keep going. This is good work.

[@Spiritual_Alchemy]

Great explanation Jonathan thank you 🙏

[@SprayJones]

Worship displaces sickness. In God's presence is nothing broken / nothing missing. Sick should worship and they will walk in health. Brazen serpent in the desert is a testimony to afixing eyes upward and receiving health.

[@Meoli55]

Oh man! This elucidation was A M A Z ING!!! It's exactly what I've been intuitively feeling these two years and now that you've showed me tha frame in scripture in the biblical narrative, I finally understand. Such a revelation. thank you Jonathan, this is priceless wisdom.

[@jonathanreeve7823]

Great courage to offer this challenge in these days bro

[@martymckerry5444]

Weaponised compassion is right up there with weaponised mental health.

[@blairkristi8178]

+1000

[@Baiyu83]

Ultimately, from what I understand, I think, for Christ, Freedom (true Freedom) is a bit more important than Justice. People can decide for themselves, - some are also will be willing to sacrifice. It all will shake down, by the Grace of God. Thank you, Jonathan, great work, as usual.

[@JackPitts]

The so-called “effective altruist” movement has even declared as a point of pride that they would make backwards moral judgments for the sake of their own efficacy. For example, one has said that he would rescue a valuable painting from a fire instead of a young girl, if the sale of that painting could save the lives of 2 girls.

[@JackPitts]

I don’t think they realize the destruction which this kind of reasoning can bring to the soul.

[@MARK-gp9hb]

It's not a big deal for true Christians, Matthew 6:5-8 "And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him." Matthew 7:21-23 "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

[@_abracadabra]

Jesus looks so annoyed in the thumbnail.

[@ardaorhan]

So Judas was the first socialist...

[@FrJohnBrownSJ]

I watched Silence with a Jesuit from Aleppo, Syria. He was appalled that a movie like that would ever be made and called "Christian" in any way. He's right.

[@MarcumDavid]

Hello again Fr. Brown Have you seen A Hidden Life? It covers the same thematic ground. I think it's one of if not the best films I've seen.

[@FrJohnBrownSJ]

@@MarcumDavid I have seen it. I loved it! Blessed Mother, preserve us!

[@northernvibe4870]

Fr Brown, I do hope this doesn't sound insubordinate, but I disagree. I think Silence is profoundly Christian. While that one Priest (probably) gave up his faith, there are others that didn't and this point is made. Its about how we go when faced with real tribulation. Not all make it. Just my interpretation Sir, happy to be corrected.

[@FrJohnBrownSJ]

@@northernvibe4870 You are right about the book, which didn't include the hidden cross at the end. That was a powerful story about the tragedy of martyrdom and weakness. But the movie made it appear that it's possible to be privately a Christian while outward it's all apostasy, as if we should cheer because he hadn't really lost his faith.

[@Stella-uy6gx]

@@MarcumDavid I agree! I have watched it many times. It is so current and so catholic! Beautiful made!

[@Undermarysmantleforever]

Agreed , the opposite of the movie Silence would be in the Old Testament with the woman and her 5 sons ....they are all killed however she encourages them ...they will eventually see each other in Heaven but at least they won’t offend the Lord ... who has spiritual fortitude for that. I am Catholic and you are absolutely correct , worship is more important than false compassion. God Bless.

[@Torgo1969]

This should be good. It is a major tactic used by those that seek to rule our souls.

[@brianbaldelli8055]

Hopefully this sentiment is passed upward to our hierarchs and they can see through the spirit of the age.

[@regpharvey]

Unfortunately most at the upper levels of our hierarchies are completely beholden to the spirit of the age and obtain and maintain status by embracing the type of "compassion" discussed here.

[@rafaelsakarya]

It's also only by putting Christ first that we get the principle to put others first or to fight for social justice, for example. We must always keep God first or else, like Jonathan said, we will break down. Christ will no longer guides us if we put other values above him.

[@daves-c8919]

Putting forward expensive, beautiful and valuable things to the worship of the highest ideal is good, but what Pope Benedict needed to watch out for was stumbling into the garish and the excessive. His outfits, sometimes, were like a knight who went into battle without believing in his skill. He wore battle armor to look imposing, or rather he wore gold to look sublime, and in the end was playing a role that he did not truly embody. And his entire church, all of Catholicism in those years, was playing the role of moral leader while in no way embodying it. If you’re the Pope, are you in the role of the woman washing Christ’s feet, or are you in the role of Christ?

[@wesleyhuseman2677]

We as Christians are given commandments about how to live, not to change the world except by cumulatively living better. Do not exchange being someone who lives right for being someone who wants to make everybody else live right. See beauty and truth; make Christ known.

[@thattimestampguy]

1:57 St. Peter "Christ will not die on the cross." "Get behind me Satan." 3:15 Attend to the margins. 3:45 Judas' weaponized compassion and betrayal 7:00 Man can use good values to win power 8:55 (A Hostage Situation) Denied Faith to Save Lives out of Compassion 10:10 Compassion for weak, for sinners. Compromise in the name of Compassion. 12:20 Pope Benedict and Pope Francis 16:24 Selfishness and Power against Compassion. 17:26 Compassion is Freely Given, not imposed. It is a disposition of the person.

[@christophermorris1060]

Jon, Have you watched or heard about the recently new Netflix show 'Midnight Mass'? I would be curious to hear your thoughts on it as I have loved your videos analyzing other cultural media/stories. I am not sure if the creators have an actual anti-Catholic/Christian bend (given Hollywood, its a high probability), or if they just saw an opportunity to use the faith in their story telling. My feelings are divided, as I could see us replacing the antagonists with today's 'social justice' advocates/CRT theorists. Thank you, and keep up the good work.

[@johnnytass2111]

I've heard the writer-director of Midnight Mass is an atheist. The show literally makes the viewer watch a Satanic Mass, in the guise of critiquing religion or Christianity more specifically. And it ends with a lame monolog of life as a return to platonic forms.

[@Cyrus_II]

Thank you for this video. Clearly worshiping God is the highest value or very related to the highest value, but it seems trickier to understand how the lower things compare with each other in the hierarchy. Clearly worshiping in church is very important and trumps compassion, but what about wearing face coverings during worship? Or having fewer services than normal? Or fellowship after church service? Or a simple social gathering in context of this particular plague at this time? Should I buy my kids a treat or use the money to feed the poor? I don't expect there is an easy answer.

[@fakename3208]

It’s videos like these that I wish everyone could watch. Well said.

[@heatherwhitehead3743]

After all Abraham was asked to understand the hierarchy in the worst way.

[@brandnew4451]

This is very important topic considering our times and what's happening to the church, thanks Jonathan for your guidance and wisdom 🙏

[@raisingtheconch6730]

By compromising your faith in God by not singing/ congregating you are usurping Gods authority as creator and controller over everything to say 'the virus' is outside of Gods control. That denying Worship is an admittence of your real inward vs public belief. Says your more concerned with what People think..not what you think about God. These words by Jonathan show how 'arum'/ subtle the weoponized compassion can be with ideas. Note Bene 1 Timothy 4:3

[@truantj]

Wow! Powerful, Jonathan! Thank you for this extremely timely word.

[@alr12]

wow, amazing video. I really like your videos even though I am not religious. I wish I was but I really lack faith. I was always fascinated by your carvings. They look beautiful.

[@josepharnett7256]

Amazing Jonathan. This is what is needed now in these times, explanation of what is innately felt, but hard to verbally explain. It helps us to understand ourselves, situations we find ourselves in, and how to defend the faith. Jonathan has a great gift for doing this. Thank you and please do more.

[@nikob381]

I don't know if you go into it in any of your other videos, but this is exactly what's described in The Grand Inquisitor chapter of The Brothers Karamazov. If you haven't already, could you come back to the subject and dive into that a bit? Reading it now and it's blowing my mind.

[@christopherb5840]

Beauty is a GIFT of God! And in my perspective it can be so misrepresentative in our definitions of scripture today. It's more important than anything that any of us humans can even come close to down here! Money is... well monetary, and in our days, I feel, we are more like Judas now than ever. I think of the chapels in Europe with beautiful paintings on the ceilings and unimaginable price tags, and think back to the story of the oil on the feet, wiping her tears away, with her hair. SO BEAUTIFUL, ultimate sacrifice, and was with generations for eternity.

[@bradicas5359]

This is crazy a priest I watch on KZbin just posted a video full of neo Marxist talking points. Comparing white people to the Pharisees then gaslighting saying we don’t understand church teaching and he didn’t say the things that he clearly said In the video.

[@christopherlamanna2501]

My natural inclination is ‘liberal’, that is I’m far more open than conscientious, I was never interested in politics, until Trump came along, which oddly forced everyone, it seems, to think about politics more and ironically? pushed me more to the ‘right’ only because I see this weaponized compassion so clearly and it’s disgusting really and so obvious to me that I’m really surprised at the people who don’t see it…it’s clear that the “antichrist” is going to come in this weaponized compassion form…the hunger games series got it right…I’m not afraid of Trump, I’m afraid of the more “sophisticated” people who aren’t aware of the ‘shadow’….Aleister Crowley and ayahuasca seem to be leading me back to Christ against my will 😤😌😇

[@luffyd.monkey7171]

Jonathan, respectfully i disagree that following social distancing and mask mandates within churches is complying with weaponized compassion. Didn't Jesus say "render unto Caesar"? Effectively, covid guidelines are the government equivalent of telling you to wear your seatbelt. There is no power being gained there that was not there already. Wearing your seatbelt, wearing a mask, and paying your taxes are all part of rendering to Caesar in my opinion.

[@Eudamonia-123]

Agree, however, how do we respond to the ‘Churches’ response to Covid? Every Christian sect, faith and denomination closed its doors to show ‘compassion’ to others. Christ and communal worship was put on hold until the government or church elites decided it was now okay to worship in mass. 🤷‍♂️ This was a black eye on the churches response to ‘fear’. Personal sovereignty is paramount in faith and behavior.

[@markcounseling]

Interesting to sense CRT, symbol of our times, as Judas. Anti-Christ, in the sense of overturning the hierarchy; a quest for power hidden in a plea for the poor. Or it could be that I've listened to too much James Lindsay :)

[@chrisc7265]

Is that analysis of Silence based on something Scorsese (or anyone associated) said explicitly? Seems like a jump to claim that the movie represented the missionary as the ultimate Christian ideal. I haven't read anything about it, but artistically I felt the way the flames dramatically enveloped everything were strongly implying the flames of hell, while the hidden cross added some nuance and open-endedness to a complex situation. Certainly didn't get anything preachy or "Christianity is xyz" from it. I love the movie, but it's dark as hell (for lack of a better word). People are comparing it to Hidden Life, a great movie, and there are interesting comparisons to be drawn in what is hidden in each film, but ultimately they are very different. There is no Christ-like hero in Silence. Silence is not a movie to live by, nor does it claim to be (at least in my viewing, though again I haven't heard Scorsese talk about it).

[@ahobimo732]

I think we become evil when we convince ourselves we are righteous. Compare Matthew 12: 9-13 God is love. Love is the highest good. Love cannot be in conflict with itself.

[@edwardo737]

Nailed it! All of scripture comes to your aid in this distinction, Jonathan. On Ash Wednesday, three days ago, an alter server fainted. Several of us laity cared for the server, while the priest didn’t miss a beat.

[@EastoftheDanube]

Thank you for putting a name to this medical tyranny. It really does help and in itself is an act of true compassion.

[@j.douglasraines7279]

I equate, maybe not equate, maybe relate compassion to shame in the sense of how you, Br. Pageau, talked about compassion as a (deeply) personal and inherent thing that cannot be usurped from the Godly person by another. It is very much like shame, in that shame is about a personal and intimate relationship with God. It is such a societal perversion, indulgence and sin to think we can shame others. This is not true. Shame is God's business. The phrase, "Shame on you" is a contortion (eg slut-shaming, which caused 15 year-old Amanda Todd's death, for one. She could not feel shame because in her heart she knew she did not sin. There was no guilt. And so, I believe, she felt she must be corrupt/defective/evil because she did not, could not, feel shame because God had no reason to shame her. This beautiful 15 year-old child could not 'reconcile' this in her heart and so she killed herself). It is a perversion of the sentiment, " if I were you, I would feel shame" which is about empathy, which is the door to proper compassion without the condemning of another of God's children. Similarly, with blame. Blame is to be laid at the feet. Guilt is on the person because he/she is found responsible for the bad behaviour. We blame the behaviour, not the person so we do not condemn the person. And the guilty person can then feel shame (and it happens immediately; God doesnt waste time with us and for us, even though in our death to Him we try to deny our trespass, which is just more death). We protect the person so she/he can make amends and be redeemed in the eyes of the people in the presence of God. This is how God protects our souls. We can speak about grief in a similar way but may I leave it for another time? Thanks, again!

[@TheCatholicGirl]

I think this analysis is very good but lacks some much needed clarity. First, denying your faith is not Christian no matter how you can justify it. The end does not justify the means. Obedience is the virtue on which all other virtues lay. We obey God even when we don’t understand. Second, Nationalism is Christian. You do not enable others by saving them from the consequences of their own choices. You do not love people into hell.

[@petervandolah5322]

Just outstanding