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<p>In light of the Covid-19 pandemic as a global test which revealed the vulnerability of the world and the interconnectedness of peoples and places, the paper discusses the need to reintroduce sympathy and other similar values through Religious Education&#xa0;(RE). This prospect is based on Wendell Berry’s concept of a <i>Sympathetic Mind</i>, which he promotes over <i>The Rational Mind</i>; a rationalistic mindset of the industrial economy. It thus connects his holistic vision to the content and role of RE. Berry’s agrarianism leads us towards wholeness with all things that exist and meets his concept of the comprehensive <i>Great Economy</i>, while his Sympathetic Mind makes participation in the latter possible. His sympathetic approach to life entails the perception of imagination as <i>felt</i> knowledge, love, compassion; stances which are exemplified in his interpretation of the parable of the lost sheep. Therefore, one is inclined to challenge the solely statistical approach to the Covid-19 losses and consequences, as it runs the risk of devaluating human life. Thus, Berry’s Sympathetic Mind may inspire RE to cultivate an all-embracing approach to humans and nature, expanding on the incarnational humaneness of his vision in the post-pandemic era. Students would learn the importance of localised sympathy, which does not disappear into the abstract globalisation of the digital era.</p>

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Making a case for sympathy: Wendell Berry’s Two Minds and RE in a (post) pandemic world

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月7日

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  • Panayiotis Thoma

摘要

In light of the Covid-19 pandemic as a global test which revealed the vulnerability of the world and the interconnectedness of peoples and places, the paper discusses the need to reintroduce sympathy and other similar values through Religious Education (RE). This prospect is based on Wendell Berry’s concept of a Sympathetic Mind, which he promotes over The Rational Mind; a rationalistic mindset of the industrial economy. It thus connects his holistic vision to the content and role of RE. Berry’s agrarianism leads us towards wholeness with all things that exist and meets his concept of the comprehensive Great Economy, while his Sympathetic Mind makes participation in the latter possible. His sympathetic approach to life entails the perception of imagination as felt knowledge, love, compassion; stances which are exemplified in his interpretation of the parable of the lost sheep. Therefore, one is inclined to challenge the solely statistical approach to the Covid-19 losses and consequences, as it runs the risk of devaluating human life. Thus, Berry’s Sympathetic Mind may inspire RE to cultivate an all-embracing approach to humans and nature, expanding on the incarnational humaneness of his vision in the post-pandemic era. Students would learn the importance of localised sympathy, which does not disappear into the abstract globalisation of the digital era.