Do you value truth over feeling ?

I really wouldn’t call it emotional denial but more emotional control. The early Christian writers and theologians weren’t against feelings but they were against us being driven by our feelings.

 

Disbelief is a logical escape but not nessecarily a conclusion, unless you feel your faith should be for sure preventing your relapse, which is not the case for me.

Addiction is illogical in my experience and it can also be devoid of feelings too. Some addicts in my SAA group describe their acting out as robotic and driven seemingly from no internal feelings at all. Some cant resist and act out through tears of sorrow and desperation. People like me do mental gymnastics to make my acting out seem logical even though it is insane seen through the eyes of a sober person.

I dont know man...I'm just rambling. My faith is that I simply try to stay sober...just for today, feelings or no feelings. That's at least one measurable truth, even if nothing else makes sense.

 

On the whole "Does good action produce good feeling?" conflict-- read a book by Aristotle called Nichomachean Ethics. A highly influential book throughout the entire history of Christianity, and Western culture in general. It addresses this question directly, it's an amazing read and it has led me to a more virtuous life in general. I am personally not very familiar with Christianity like some, though I really value and think highly of Christians, and Aristotle takes a very cold, scientific, and reasonable (in the sense of-- Aristotle uses reason) to arrive at similar ethical conclusions.

His conclusion is: Yes. Happiness (eudaimonia) is the product of good action. This is not to be confused with base fleeting pleasures. It's not a long book but it's very concise and hard to summarize, but ever since I read it I developed a very deep love of virtue and a truly virtuous life, even if it's a daily struggle.

 

I heard a good quote recently. "If you seek wisdom, you will find comfort. If you seek only comfort, you will find neither."

Truth is absolutely more important than feelings, because if your happy feelings are based on lies, they will not last. You will not find comfort in the end. The truth will set you free. That's a promise.

 

This is such a problematic statement. There is absolutely no such thing as something not being true "for him." It's either true, or it isnt. None of this "what's YOUR truth?" nonsense.

I believe in God. If God isn't real, then I'm wrong. It doesnt matter what "my" truth is. It matters what THE truth is. I really can't fathom how people think this way. It makes me sad. Our society is completely doing away with objective truth and reality. It's all about feelings and what feels true "to you." I don't really give a crap about what "my" truth is if "my" truth isn't true. That just makes me wrong.

When it comes to something like believing in the existence of God, either you are wrong or you are right. Either there is a God, or there isn't. There's no such thing as "well, my truth is that there is a God" if He doesn't exist.

 

Wise words. Reminds me of a great quote.

 

Man...such a hard question. Does one have a marriage without the feeling of love? Will the feeling of love prevent you from betraying your wife?

 

I think faith and feelings can be seperate. I think faith will not nessecarily prevent you from any hardship or sin. I think you can be forgiven without feelings of remorse. I think you can be married without feelings of love.

 

I fully agree. However, I was trying to use careful language to avoid another "my religion is true and yours isn't" fight which never gets anywhere. I have absolutely no idea what Josh Harris believes now, but it doesn't bother me that he's no longer Christian because I'm not Christian. Now, if he were Jewish...

 

Well there is Faith which is the sum of revealed truths and then there is faith which is the manner you are assenting to these truths through habit and virtue.

Your belief is not all that is necessary to live a holy life; one must live by faith, hope, and charity; the most important being charity (love). All these are needed to live a holy life and all of these are only practiced perfectly by the grace and through the grace of God. When we let go of a God we fall.

 

That you have to earn your salvation by works, thinking you're in the time of Jesus earthly ministry, therefore rejecting grace and the finished work of Jesus.