Comments on: Cold Reason

By: Steve Branks

Steve Branks — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 07:14:05 +0000

Clearly and lucidly expressed! As someone once said, ‘Emotions are wonderful servants, but terrible guides’.

By: Shaun Connell

Shaun Connell — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 17:59:18 +0000

Ah, no problem. The issue was with my lack of clarification. I can certainly see why it would look as though I reject emotions.

Thanks! We still exist.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 17:23:29 +0000

Ah, thanks for clarifying that. I apologize if my judgement was a little hasty.

For the record, although I just recently discovered your website, I have highly enjoyed browsing through your articles and posts. It’s refreshing to know that at least one other human being on the planet still embraces capitalism and conservatism.

By: Shaun Connell

Shaun Connell — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 15:03:10 +0000

Sarah,

As I probably should have clarified a bit, I am certainly not against emotion at all. Those who know me well know that I feel deeply about every aspect of my life. Emotion, however, is a response to belief — it is not the foundation of my beliefs.

Love is the foundation of the Christian religion, though I wouldn’t call it an emotion so much as an outlook. That said, I don’t think we really disagree.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 14:53:04 +0000

I agree that without reason, the world would be a chaotic disaster and man would be given over to lust and violence. But to rely solely on rationalism in forming thoughts, making decisions, and interacting with other human beings? I believe that would be a very sad way of life. God gave us emotions and the ability to feel, and to neglect those gifts is unhealthy for our minds and souls.

I’m not saying that you should always depend on your “feelings” for wisdom and direction; rather, I believe that to temper rationalism with emotion achieves a balance that pure reason lacks. There is a difference between genuine emotion founded on truth and morality and raw “instinct”.

I believe that we, as human beings, have a responsibility to use our minds to achieve wisdom and prosperity; but just as well, we should never forget that we have been given souls as well as intellects.

After all, God isn’t the “God of reason”; He’s the God of love.

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