Preliminary communication

Empathy, compassion, and mercy: psychological and theological perspectives

Davor Vuković orcid.org/0000-0002-3496-2334 ; Catholic Faculty of Theology in Đakovo, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Đakovo, Croatia
Josip Bošnjaković orcid.org/0000-0002-2324-8717 ; Catholic Faculty of Theology in Đakovo, University of Josip Juraj Strossmayer, Đakovo, Croatia

Abstract

Empathy and compassion are central topics of contemporary psychology and psychotherapy, while mercy is one of the central Biblical concepts, but also current reality in contemporary theological discourse. Hence, in this article the author will analyse these significant and current realities. The goal of the article is to present essential traits of empathy and compassion from the psychological perspective and mercy from the Biblical-theological perspective, as well as to show complementarity, but also specificities of these three realities. In the first chapter the author will provide terminological explanations in which he will analyse the meaning of empathy and compassion, on the one hand, and mercy, on the other. The second chapter, then, analyses the issue of sources of empathy and mercy. When it comes to empathy, the conclusion is that its source is of neurological, experiential, and interpersonal nature. The source of mercy is to be
found, primarily, in God; however, the human being is also capable of mercy in the perspective of the Christian faith. The last chapter analyses empathy, compassion, selfcompassion, and mercy in their essential interpersonal and relational perspective. The presupposition of the ability of quality emphatic and compassionate relation towards the other is a stable relation towards oneself. Mercy is also realised in relation towards the other and it is closely related to loving others, but also to loving God and oneself.

Keywords

empathy; compassion; mercy; love; person; integration; relation

Hrčak ID:

170885

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/170885

Publication date:

17.12.2016.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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