Seeing the Pope help strangers made me tear up. Later I learned why.

[yallerdawg]

By Daniel Burke, CNN Religion Editor

*****

As Francis approached the wheelchairs, a dark-haired man slowly uncoiled to meet his embrace. Francis touched the man's head, blessing him, said a few words and moved down the line.

Moments later, a small boy leaped from his chair to hug Francis. His mother wiped her hands on her pants before shaking the Pope's.

I was surprised to find my eyes tearing, accompanied by a short burst of benevolence. I felt a brief urge to hug everyone in the room. (I am not a hugger.)

*****

It wasn't the first time I'd felt like this. But still, it was a bit odd. Why would witnessing a moment of kindness between complete strangers move me to tears? Isn't blessing people what popes and other holy men and women are supposed to do?

*****

Psychologists call the emotion "elevation," and this is the story of what it does to us, whether you are Pope Francis or J.J. Abrams or Thomas Jefferson.

Yep, the man who "discovered" the feeling that makes us verklempt was the third president of these United States.

*****

"When any ... act of charity or of gratitude," he wrote, "is presented to our sight or imagination, we are deeply impressed with its beauty or feel a strong desire in ourselves of doing charitable or grateful acts also."

Observing good deeds, Jefferson continued, can "elevate" our bodies and minds, opening our chests and hearts.

*****

Jefferson had noted four major components of the emotion: a triggering event (you witness moral beauty), a physical sensation (your chest dilates), a motivation (you want to help others) and an emotional feeling (you are uplifted and optimistic).

That sounds a lot like psychologists' current definition of elevation: a warm, uplifting feeling that we experience when we see unexpected acts of kindness, courage or compassion. It often makes us want to help others and become better people.

*****

Read it all at: https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/06/europe/pope-elevation/index.html


The least of these my brethren.

[whathehell]

1. It's a good thing, whatever the scientific description. n/t

[yallerdawg]

2. It IS a good thing!

Experiments had found that elevation made people more likely or willing to volunteer for onerous tasks, donate to charity, mentor other people, register as an organ donor and cooperate with others.

In other experiments, elevation was found to reduce prejudice and negative attitudes toward "outgroups" such as LGBT people and African-Americans. One experiment even found initial evidence that elevation could lead nonreligious people to become more spiritual, mainly by fostering a sense that people are benevolent and life is meaningful.

"Elevation appears to lead to transcending the self -- psychologically, physiologically and behaviorally..."

[Voltaire2]

14. It is an entirely symbolic spectacle

that does no real good. Afterward the pope retires to his palace and the billions of poor people on this planet continue their struggles, some with cleaner and recently snogged feet.

[Ohiogal]

3. Are there people who are immune to this phenomenon?

I am thinking of someone who sits in the Oval Office.

[yallerdawg]

7. Lack of empathy...

is another telltale sign of a sociopath.

One of many, in this case.

[edhopper]

4. Sub headline

"Man falls for staged photo-op from RCC"

I am not saying that Francis is not a good man, unlike his Nazi predecessor, but this kind of Church propaganda has been going on for centuries.

[Cartoonist]

5. Jefferson has it right

And there's no mention of god or religion. Thanks for the post, yd.

[yallerdawg]

6. I hear you!

"The Pope" is just another deist like Jefferson.

[Cartoonist]

8. Boy, do you just not get it.

Here on DU we've had several such examples of elevation. The most recent being of some cheerleaders who were kind to someone from the other side. There was also a story of a dog (not god) performing a rescue.

In your example, the Pope gets the benefit without doing any work. As I said, God is not needed.

[yallerdawg]

10. "Without doing any work."

The Pope seems keenly aware of how many lives he can touch with simple gestures. He's done it too many times for it to be a coincidence: embracing a man covered with boils, washing the feet of inmates, personally escorting refugees to Vatican City, or the example that moved me, the simple act of paying attention to sick and elderly people.

Those moments speak volumes about the moral power of the papacy, but they also say something about us. We are hungry for such moments, even captivated by them; we want to rush off and tell others about what we've seen and, afterward, we want to become better people.

It's not a new thing under the sun, but maybe each generation needs to learn the lesson again: Edicts and rules may keep us from behaving like devils, but if you want us to be saints, it helps to show us how.

[Cartoonist]

12. Like I said

We are hungry for such moments, even captivated by them; we want to rush off and tell others about what we've seen and, afterward, we want to become better people.

The person who posted that dog story couldn't wait to share. Please tell me what God has to do with any of it.

In your OP you only gave the example of Frank just walking the line. Nice work if you can get it.

[guillaumeb]

15. The 11th Commandment in action.

It becomes more obvious every day.

[edhopper]

9. Are the beliefs that important to you

for an act of kindness.

Is it less "elating" if an atheist does it?

[yallerdawg]

11. Someone here bashing, ridiculing, disdainful, dismissive of Atheists?

I don't think so.

[Voltaire2]

13. Irony meter refund required.