Empathy and compassion should be the foundation of faith, right? So why are they suddenly treated like liabilities? In this episode, I break down the growing fear around "toxic empathy" and ask the bigger questions: Why are so many people—especially in religious spaces—acting like caring too much is dangerous? Why does faith seem to be turning into a fortress instead of a bridge? And if following Jesus is supposed to make us more compassionate, more willing to see the humanity in others, why is so much of modern faith rooted in fear and control instead?

We’ll dive into the parable of the Good Samaritan, unpack why Jesus made the most hated person the hero of the story, and ask—if he told this parable today, who would be the Samaritan? Immigrants? The LGBTQIA+ community? People from different faiths? And most importantly, if your faith is making you less willing to love, less willing to connect, and more focused on protecting yourself from the ‘wrong people’—then is it even faith at all? Buckle up for a deep, unfiltered conversation on what it really means to love your neighbor.

If you’ve ever wrestled with questions about faith, about empathy, about what it really means to follow Jesus—I see you. These conversations aren’t always easy, but they matter. And if this episode made you think, challenged you, or maybe even unsettled you a bit, I encourage you to sit with that. Wrestle with it. Ask yourself, Who is the Samaritan today? And what does that mean for me?

If you are a member, were a member, or know someone who was a member of the ICOC or ICC and would like to share your story about life in and out of the church, I’d love to hear from you. Together, we can continue exploring the question, “We were in a cult?”—and perhaps find some healing along the way. You can reach me via email at [email protected], or send me a DM on Instagram at the Clemenz With a Z podcast page.

As always, if you enjoy the podcast, please rate and review—it helps more people find these stories. And don’t forget: I’m just a channel, I ain’t the source.

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Until next time, take care of yourself, stay open, stay connected, and don’t be afraid to ask the hard questions. Peace!