A large “empathy gap” has opened up between Republicans and white evangelicals vs. other Americans.
Two-thirds of Americans (68%) say empathy is a foundational moral value that helps build a healthy society, compared with 27% who say it can become dangerous when it leads people away from building a society guided by God’s truth. The vast majority of Democrats (84%) and independents (70%) agree that empathy helps build a healthy society, compared with 54% of Republicans.
Republicans who hold a favorable view of Trump are split in their views on empathy. About half side with the statement that empathy is a foundational moral value (49%), and nearly as many believe empathy can be dangerous (48%). By contrast, nearly three-quarters of Republicans who view Trump unfavorably (72%) view empathy as a foundational moral value.
White evangelical Protestants are the only religious group in which a majority does not agree that empathy is a foundational moral value (42%). Instead, a majority (54%) say empathy can be dangerous. Views that empathy is dangerous are positively correlated with holding Christian nationalist views.
One of the more troubling aspects of the MAGA movement is that they have convinced (mostly) white men that empathy is a weakness. When it should be one of our wonderful strengths.
To the 54% of evangelical Protestants mentioned, how do you square the lack of empathy with the very teachings of Christ you claim to “live by”?
Note: I have “live by” in quotes there because I absolutely, unequivocally believe the majority of them don’t live by Christ’s teachings at all. Instead, they parade around as racist, bigoted hypocrites, hiding behind that abomination of a president shouting “America First” at the top of their lungs.
