The Science of the Good Samaritan: Thinking Bigger About Loving Our Neighbors

The Science of the Good Samaritan: Thinking Bigger About Loving Our Neighbors - Dr. Emily Smith
Read March 2024 - Books With Friends

The Science of the Good Samaritan

This was a fantastic book - and it made for such good discussion as a group.  We all appreciated the author's conversational style and felt we were at our kitchen table with her in our group.  She is smart, curious, informed, funny, and has a world view that very much matches ours... a desire to truly be the hands and feet of God.  In many ways, we find ourselves not in alignment with some of the ‘modern’ christian movements.  We absolutely believe in science AND in God and do not feel there is anything incompatible about that.  In fact, they go together perfectly.  We so appreciated her detailed and nuanced observations about what it truly means to be a neighbor to others... and how Jesus truly did show us the way. The horrible pandemic highlighted how many ways ‘well meaning christians’ can get it all wrong.  :(  And the horrific damage that can be (and was) done.  

Dr. Emily Smith talks movingly about community.  That is something that has always been at my core - so close to my heart.  Post 2020 I have had to take another look at that concept and have had to make some (sometimes painful) changes in order to ensure that the communities I build and am a part of are welcoming and safe for all and not just some.  I identified with her so deeply on so many topics and felt ripples of some of that old pain rise up as I was reading her experiences.  But reading this book, with people in one of my ‘communities’ that came together even stronger in hardship (rather than busting apart) was a powerful reminder that it all worked out for the best.  And that we are more able to be who we are meant to be, for ourselves and for the world.  This book helps give me courage to center myself more fully on neighboring... with compassion and openness - and with the love of Jesus flowing through me. 

I am now a paid subscriber to her Substack (and highly recommend doing that).  

https://emilysmith.substack.com 

On the free portion of her Substack she offers a bonus chapter to the book... linked here.  

https://emilysmith.substack.com/p/a-thank-you-bonus-chapter-of-my-book 

We all appreciated reacquainting ourselves with this beautiful Norman Rockwell image that she references.