Indifference

[superblue]

When does indifference in ones life ( or religious life ) become a problem.

 

Personally I have noticed I don't notice the news anymore, the most sympathy / empathy I have felt in awhile was for Robin Williams. But how much should one feel or care for others in their time of grief . ?

 

Or are we supposed to just go oh how sad, ill say a prayer, and move on . ? An if so, is that really enough ?   I think for myself I can see how absorbing so much violence from television to the movies I have watched probably have desensitized how I react to hearing real events on the news. I don't really remember being heart struck or every upset even on 9/11 ,  I was more shocked and amazed than sobbing and grieving.  Then for the recently the events taking place in Ferguson , again I am more puzzled by the event, than emotional or sorrowful.

 

I can't say I just don't care, because I do, or else I wouldn't be praying at some level for those involved in situations as these or rather events. 

 

Or is indifference a problem when one barely notices some major event, or someone in pain, and not only does nothing , but doesn't have a second thought about it, nor bothers to even offer a simple prayer towards it or the person ?

 

Then it also comes to well, I am sorry for everyone going through what they are going through, but I not only can I not change it , but I am dealing with my own pile of pain and misery,  kind of the taking the beam out of ones eye before I can remove the splinter from another....

 

When does indifference become sinful in ones life ?

[CatherineM]

I think we are exposed to more things than we are capable of absorbing at times. Indifference is a way to self protect.

[truthfinder]

While I can't answer your question about sinfulness, I'd also repeat Catherine's sentiment.  More often than not, the news tries to dictate to us how we are to feel.  Death is something that is bad and scary and when it happens to someone, we freak out (because apparently we're all immortal or something).  There is such as thing as empathy exhaustion, but some people also just grieve differently.  I think it *may* become sinful if you callously dismiss someone's grieving. Hmmm, will have to see how this thread continues.  

[Credo in Deum]

When indifference leads to complacency, then, IMO, it becomes sinful.

[maximillion]

I agree, we hear so much bad news on a regular basis (I avoid the news now, listen once every other day, and I listen rather than watch.) that we can quickly become immune to horrible things just out of self preservation.

 

I think since you care enough to post this and are clearly thinking about it, it is a sign you are not indifferent, otherwise it wouldn't be a concern for you.

 

I tend to adopt the same attitude as I do towards global warming.....act local. I cannot do more than to hold the damaged world before God in prayer, so I tend to take notice of things very local to me, a neighbour just returned from hospital (care package), a food bank drive at the supermarket, etc.

This does not mean I don't care about the rest, but I have limits because I am human.

[dUSt]

Meh.