Episode 459 - The War on Empathy and Vertical Imagination in the Soul

Update: 2025-10-29

Digest

This podcast delves into the concept of "vertical morality," often found in Christian and conservative circles, contrasting it with Jesus's teachings of love and mercy. It argues that a historical shift towards dualistic thinking, particularly after the Council of Constantinople in 869 AD, has led to the loss of the soul as a unifying element, contributing to societal polarization and a "war on empathy." The episode champions "vertical imagination" as a crucial lost soul quality that reconnects individuals to inspiration, genuine feeling, the cosmos, and the pulse of nature. It highlights the soul's historical role as a unifying force, a "betwixt and between" entity connecting spirit and matter, and advocates for its revival to bridge divides and foster empathy. The discussion touches upon the Renaissance's renewed connection to the world's soul and suggests that great crises can awaken inner resources, leading to renewal and a deeper understanding of life.

Outlines

00:00:00

The Decline of the Soul and the Rise of Vertical Morality

The podcast introduces "vertical morality" as a divisive force prevalent in some religious and political spheres, contrasting it with Jesus's emphasis on love and mercy. It traces the historical roots of dualism, stemming from the Council of Constantinople in 869 AD, which diminished the concept of the soul as a unifying element and contributed to societal polarization and a "war on empathy."

00:09:20

Reclaiming Vertical Imagination and the Soul's Unifying Power

The episode advocates for "vertical imagination" as a vital lost soul quality that reconnects us to inspiration, genuine feeling, and the living world. It emphasizes the soul's historical role as a unifying principle, essential for bridging divides and fostering empathy, drawing parallels to the Renaissance's holistic worldview and the concept of the "anima mundi" or world soul.

00:19:01

The Soul's Journey: Unity, Renewal, and Finding Meaning in Crisis

The podcast explores the soul's journey through ascent and descent, its role in bringing "heaven to earth," and its capacity to foster unity and renewal. It suggests that profound crises can unlock hidden inner resources, leading to genuine change and enlivening experiences, ultimately guiding us toward redemption and a deeper connection to life.

Keywords

Vertical Morality

A moral framework emphasizing adherence to divine commands or authoritarian dictates, often leading to division and a "war on empathy." It prioritizes obedience over compassion and is contrasted with horizontal morality's focus on community well-being.

Vertical Imagination

A lost quality of the soul that reconnects individuals to heights of inspiration and depths of genuine feeling. It fosters a sense of wonder, connection to the cosmos, and an understanding of life's mysteries.

Soul

The unifying element between spirit and matter, mind and body. Historically viewed as a subtle body, it's the connecting principle of life, fostering empathy, spontaneity, and a connection to the living world (anima mundi).

Dualism

A philosophical or religious concept that divides reality into two fundamental, often opposing, principles. In this context, it refers to the historical rejection of a three-part human nature (body, soul, spirit) in favor of a two-part view (body, spirit).

Anima Mundi

Latin for "world soul." It represents the animating force of natural life, the living, breathing soul of the world, connecting all existence and providing a pulse of life.

Council of Constantinople (869 AD)

A historical church council that decreed humanity is composed of only two parts (body and spirit), rejecting the ancient view of body, soul, and spirit. This decision is seen as a significant point in the historical loss of the soul concept.

Christian Nationalism

An ideology that conflates Christian identity with national identity, often promoting policies that align with a specific interpretation of Christian values. It can lead to exclusionary practices and a "war on empathy."

Empathy

The capacity to understand or feel what another person is experiencing from within their frame of reference. It's described as a soulful quality that instinctively connects one person to another, often undermined by vertical morality.

Q&A

What is "vertical morality" and how does it differ from traditional teachings of Jesus?
Vertical morality measures righteousness by adherence to a higher power's commands, often leading to divisive judgments. This contrasts with Jesus's teachings of love, mercy, and care for the oppressed, emphasizing goodness to others.
What is "vertical imagination" and why is it considered important?
Vertical imagination is a lost quality of the soul that reconnects us to inspiration and genuine feeling. It allows us to see the world with wonder, feel connected to the cosmos, and understand life's deeper mysteries.
How did the Council of Constantinople in 869 AD influence the concept of the soul?
The council decreed that humans are composed of only body and spirit, rejecting the ancient view of body, soul, and spirit. This dualistic view obscured the soul's role as a unifying element.
How does Christian nationalism contribute to a "war on empathy"?
Christian nationalism, often intertwined with vertical morality, can lead to the demonization of those deemed "other," justifying cruelty and a disregard for the suffering of immigrants, LGBTQ+ individuals, and political opponents.
What is the significance of the "soul" in bridging societal divides?
The soul is seen as the unifying element, the "third thing" that connects opposing forces. Reconnecting with our own souls can foster empathy and a sense of shared humanity, essential for healing divisions.
How does the concept of "ascent and descent" relate to the soul's journey?
The soul's journey involves both ascent (rising) and descent (falling). This dynamic process keeps heaven and earth connected, fosters empathy for others' struggles, and allows for renewal.

Show Notes

This episode begins by examining the rise of "vertical morality" that appears in both Christian communities and conservative politics and has given rise to a "war on empathy." Whereas Jesus famously preached love, mercy and care for the oppressed, vertical morality measures righteousness, not by goodness to others, but rather by something more simplistic and more divisive.

Vertical morality declares that human behaviors are right or wrong based upon what the higher power says. As proponents put it: "Our ethics and behaviors have a duty to please God alone. We must obey by furthering the will of God, no matter the cost to other people." In a religious context, the higher power is God, in politics, it can become an authoritarian leader. As this viewpoint desensitizes people, true believers can justify demonizing all immigrants as criminals, defaming gay and trans people as predators, and condemning political opponents as, not just wrong, but evil.

In direct contrast to vertical morality, Michael Meade proposes vertical imagination as a mostly lost quality of the human soul that would reconnect us to the heights of inspiration, but also keep us connected to the depths of genuine feeling. For the issue is not simply making a steady ascent on the ladder of morality. Rather, the point is for the soul to fully awaken to the process of ascent and descent that keeps Heaven and Earth connected, while it also connects us to the suffering souls of other people and to the all-embracing Soul of the World.

When oriented from the deep sense of self and soul within us, our choices can become truly meaningful and our experiences genuinely unifying, rather than be divisive and traumatizing. In extraordinary times the soul expects to find extraordinary and enlivening experiences, not some final salvation based upon the ladders of morality, but rather many little redemptions found in moments when Heaven and Earth, the eternal and the time bound meet in the wisdom of our waking souls and merciful hearts.

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