The day's headlines are a roll call of violent acts that make no sense. Is the world going mad? No, say psychologists, we are simply losing the ability to empathize.
Throughout the world, teachers, sociologists, policymakers and parents are discovering that empathy may be the single most important quality that must be nurtured in order to give peace a fighting chance.
As the world grapples with violence that plays out in public and personal domains – in battlefields and on playgrounds – the challenge is to reinstate and reaffirm values of tolerance, cooperation and respect. It is becoming increasingly evident that the ability to identify with others, and hence to respond appropriately to them, is crucial.
It's a lesson that human beings are continually challenged to relearn. The concept of empathy has been around for a long while. Most of the ancient religious systems such as Christianity, Buddhism, and Hinduism are imbued with it. In nature-centered systems like that of Native Americans based on interconnectedness of everything, animate and inanimate, the guiding principle for righteous action is empathy.
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Feelings-Based Education:
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