Compassion Quote by William Sloane Coffin
““And if God is a suffering God, if this whole universe is borne on a heart infinite in compassion, then the more we suffer in his name the closer we come to him.””
About This Quote
Source Sermon: “Suffering and Compassion” 1975
Proposing that divine compassion is reflected in shared suffering, bringing believers closer to God through empathy.
In simple terms: Suffering for God draws us nearer to Him.
Key Takeaway
Empathy in suffering connects us to the divine.
Themes
compassion
suffering
theology
empathy
Mood
reflective
solemn
Type
theological
inspirational
When to use this quote
- social justice work
- personal loss
- community service
Key Concepts
divine love
human solidarity
spiritual growth
Questions to Reflect On
- How does shared pain foster compassion?
- What actions reflect divine compassion?
A Different Perspective
May romanticize suffering without addressing healing.
![“Learning, and especially unlearning, can take place only in the absence of defensiveness… [W]e can drop our defenses only when we love and are loved.” quote by William Sloane Coffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4c4/william-sloane-coffin-4839_defensiveness_learning-and-especially-unlearning-can-t_396751.jpg)
