End of Empathy: Why White Protestants Stopped Loving Their Neighbors

The End of Empathy by John W. Compton explores the changing values of evangelical voters over the last century, arguing that religious conviction is rarely sufficient to motivate empathetic political behavior. The shift away from mainline Protestant churches to larger evangelical congregations with conservative leaders explains the larger revolution in white Protestantism that brought us to this political moment.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 416 pages
\n Publication date: 08 October 2020
\n Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc
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When polling data revealed that an astonishing 81% of white evangelicals had supported Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election, commentators from across the political spectrum were left astounded. Even for a community that had been moving further and further right for decades, this level of support seemed decidedly out of step. How, after all, could an immoral, twice-divorced businessman from New York garner such devoted admiration from the most fervent of values voters? That this same group had, not a century earlier, rallied national support for such progressive causes as a federal minimum wage, child labor laws, and civil rights made the Trump shift even harder to comprehend.

In his book, "The End of Empathy," John W. Compton offers a nuanced portrayal of the shifting values of evangelical voters over the course of the last century. To explain the rise of white Protestant social concern in the latter part of the nineteenth century and its sudden demise at the end of the twentieth, Compton argues that religious conviction, by itself, is rarely sufficient to motivate empathetic political behavior. When believers do act empathetically, championing reforms that transfer resources or political influence to less privileged groups within society, for example, it is typically because strong religious institutions have compelled them to do so.

Throughout the previous century, citizens had sought membership in churches as a means of ensuring upward mobility. However, a deterioration of mainline Protestant authority that began in the 1960s led large groups of white suburbanites to shift away from the mainline Protestant churches. In their place, larger evangelical congregations with conservative leaders emerged, discouraging attempts by the government to promote a more equitable distribution of wealth.

The Trump election marked a significant turning point in the political landscape, as white evangelicals became a more politically influential bloc. While some analysts attributed this shift to a combination of factors, including economic anxiety, cultural resentment, and a desire for political change, Compton's analysis suggests that religious conviction played a significant role.

Compton argues that the rise of white Protestant social concern in the nineteenth century was driven by a combination of factors, including the growth of industrialization, urbanization, and the rise of evangelicalism. As the middle class expanded, there was a growing sense of social inequality and a desire for religious institutions to address these issues. Evangelical churches, with their emphasis on personal salvation and social justice, were well-positioned to meet these needs.

However, the decline of mainline Protestant authority in the 1960s led to a shift in the political landscape. As larger evangelical congregations with conservative leaders gained influence, they began to prioritize their own interests over those of the broader society. This led to a backlash against progressive policies, such as the federal minimum wage, child labor laws, and civil rights, which were seen as threats to the traditional values of the church.

The Trump election was a manifestation of this shift, as white evangelicals rallied behind a candidate who promised to protect their interests and promote a conservative agenda. While some analysts have argued that this support was driven by a desire for political change, Compton suggests that it was more deeply rooted in religious conviction.

In conclusion, the Trump election was a surprising and controversial event that highlighted the changing values of evangelical voters over the course of the last century. While some analysts have attributed this shift to a combination of factors, Compton's analysis suggests that religious conviction played a significant role. As evangelical churches continue to gain influence in American politics, it will be important to understand the underlying motivations of their supporters and the impact that their values will have on the broader society.

\n Weight: 690g\n
Dimension: 167 x 242 x 36 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780190069186\n \n