Faith and feelings: Difference between revisions
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* '''Act.''' Because of [[Original Sin|fallen nature]] and our [[Sin|personal sins]], it often happens that our feelings are unbalanced, irrational, disproportionate, and misleading. We are not victims. We have choices. It may be difficult and an uphill struggle, but the fact of the matter is that we do ''not'' have to do what we feel like doing. We grow in [[virtue]], the power to do the right thing in all circumstances, by habitually making good choices. No matter how strongly I feel inclined to shoplift, the intensity of that feeling does not justify theft. | * '''Act.''' Because of [[Original Sin|fallen nature]] and our [[Sin|personal sins]], it often happens that our feelings are unbalanced, irrational, disproportionate, and misleading. We are not victims. We have choices. It may be difficult and an uphill struggle, but the fact of the matter is that we do ''not'' have to do what we feel like doing. We grow in [[virtue]], the power to do the right thing in all circumstances, by habitually making good choices. No matter how strongly I feel inclined to shoplift, the intensity of that feeling does not justify theft. | ||
== Feelings are not infallible == | |||
People sometimes think that their feelings are a direct indication of how God views them. | |||
* "If I feel guilty, then I am guilty. My feelings of guilt prove that God has not and cannot forgive me my sins. If I was forgiven, then I would never feel guilty or ashamed of anything I've already confessed." | |||
* "If I loved God, then I would never feel what I am feeling (proud, greedy, lustful, angry, gluttonous, envious, or lazy). The fact that I am feeling this 'bad' feeling proves that I am not a good person." | |||
This is insane thinking. We don't have to do this to ourselves. Because we have a fallen human nature, our feelings often run contrary to the reality of God's mercy and love. | |||
== Particular kinds of feelings == | == Particular kinds of feelings == | ||
Revision as of 22:17, 16 July 2011
Feelings are part of our nature
God designed us to be moved from within by our emotions. In order for us to act, we have to want to act.
The authors of Star Trek fantasized that the ideal human being would be a Vulcan, a person without any emotions at all. It is conceivable that this is what angels are like, although I have not met enough angels in person to feel confident that I know anything about angel psychology. It may well be that their emotions are stronger, purer, and more powerful than ours because the good angels are free from the consequences of Original Sin and do not have the kind of unconscious that humans do.
I do know what humans are like. We do not have angelic knowledge of God, other spiritual beings, or even ourselves. Our feelings help to inform us about the interior and exterior world.
Feelings are meant to be felt
Feelings are neither right nor wrong. They just are.
I am not a good person when I have "good" feelings.
I am not a bad person when I have "bad" feelings.
God judges us on our behavior, not our moods.
Feelings are not moral choices. If I had power over my moods, I would choose happiness, joy, and the peace that passes understanding all the time. I would not touch that dial or ever let it slide away from 100% bliss.
RRAA
I heard a man give this advice at a Twelve Step meeting one night. I don't know who coined this aid to memory, but I think it is the right approach to take with our feelings:
- Recognize the feeling. For some of us, this can be hard. At times in my life, it has taken me as many as three days to realize that I was feeling angry at someone. Some feminists say, "Name it and claim it." I don't want to endorse everything feminists say, but this does seem to be good advice about our interior life.
- Reflect on the feeling. What does it tell me about myself? What does it reveal about how I see reality? Where is it coming from? What action am I being prompted to take? Is the action wholesome or not?
- Accept the feeling. Denying that the feeling exists is not helpful. Feelings can be messengers from our subconscious. They have work to do. We can find out what our feelings are saying and can listen to the message they bring.
- Act. Because of fallen nature and our personal sins, it often happens that our feelings are unbalanced, irrational, disproportionate, and misleading. We are not victims. We have choices. It may be difficult and an uphill struggle, but the fact of the matter is that we do not have to do what we feel like doing. We grow in virtue, the power to do the right thing in all circumstances, by habitually making good choices. No matter how strongly I feel inclined to shoplift, the intensity of that feeling does not justify theft.
Feelings are not infallible
People sometimes think that their feelings are a direct indication of how God views them.
- "If I feel guilty, then I am guilty. My feelings of guilt prove that God has not and cannot forgive me my sins. If I was forgiven, then I would never feel guilty or ashamed of anything I've already confessed."
- "If I loved God, then I would never feel what I am feeling (proud, greedy, lustful, angry, gluttonous, envious, or lazy). The fact that I am feeling this 'bad' feeling proves that I am not a good person."
This is insane thinking. We don't have to do this to ourselves. Because we have a fallen human nature, our feelings often run contrary to the reality of God's mercy and love.