"Where we have strong emotions, we're liable to fool ourselves." Carl Sagan
It is one thing to be passionate about something On the other hand, to really love something, to really hate something...to have any strong emotions and we set ourselves up. Many relationships have been started with only strong feelings as their basis only to find out later that..."you don't really know that person." Pride, it seems, comes before a fall. Of course, it does not always follow that just because someone is passionate about something that they are mistaken.
When we think we are not in danger of fooling ourselves is when we are most susceptable to do so. Movies and music tell us to follow our heart. That, in reality, is probably some of the worst advise around, in many cases. The Bible says that the heart is deceptive above all things.
What do you think?
Derrick
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
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6 comments:
I have sort of a "Russ" answer, at least in the realm of a successful marriage. Remember when you first accepted The Lord? For me, it was an exciting and spirit filled wonderful feeling and experience. Over time, it is important to keep that spirit alive. It must be fed. The same is true for marriage. One should not expect the fireworks and excitement of young love every day. Love matures and also must be fed. To me, a successful marriage means falling in love with the same person, many times over a lifetime. All the while, respecting and knowing your love for that person is something that must also be cared for over our time on this earth. Respect the speedbumps in your relationship, and learn from them as God would expect us to.
<< Movies and music tell us to follow our heart. That, in reality, is probably some of the worst advise [sic] around, in many cases. >>
On the other hand, the heart really is the thing that a person should follow in many instances. For example, take these very real individuals (and it isn’t just unbelievers who are doing this) who deny that things such as the Law of Noncontradiction are true. Sure, they profess that intercontradictory statements can both be true, but how many of them would really hold to this denial if they were in court, charged with a murder they did not commit and with evidence that should exonerate them? Answer: zero, for they know in their heart of hearts that A and non-A cannot be true at the same time and in the same sense. Yet if these people would just follow their hearts (in a sense) in the first place then they would never foolishly come to the place where they’re like, “Oh, you can’t apply Aristotelian logic to the Bible” or “That’s just man’s wisdom.”
The heart is deceitful (which is not necessarily the same as being deceptive, I would think) as the prophet Jeremiah says. Nevertheless, the heart also seems to be a receptacle of God-given truths that are fundamental to our epistemic and moral judgments or assessments. Sometimes you gotta follow your heart.
RdRuss, thanks, that seems to be pretty solid advice. That is a solid way to look at the idea of marriage.
I would add also that I think many Christians are looking for those butterfly feelings when they mostly seek the emotional part with regard to the Christian life. I think many do that too much without doing the hard work of a mature relationship with the Lord.
They want the easy way out. Love is truly a decision that we choose when the feelings are not as strong.
Kwame, I'll respond to yours later. I like what you have to say and I think you make several good points. Question: is there a difference between what may be characterized as conscience and the "heart" that the media tell us to follow?
Derrick
I do not think that "following your heart" is the best way to make a good decision. Now, I do think that what we feel and what comes from our hearts is very important. I think we can use what we feel to sometimes guide our decisions. However, I think that the way society uses "follow your heart" is in a way that supports not thinking through decisions. For example....A married man who follows his heart may leave his wife for a newer and younger woman. Maybe he was unhappy in his marriage. So, society says to follow his heart and divorce his wife to be with the other woman. This is a poor decision. Yet, we are told that this is a good thing because he followed his heart. This is somewhat troublesome to me.
<< Kwame, I'll respond to yours later. I like what you have to say and I think you make several good points. Question: is there a difference between what may be characterized as conscience and the "heart" that the media tell us to follow? >>
I dunno; I’m not sure I am familiar with this media message that you are talking about or know anything about it. However, I would think that people who work for mass media organizations variably would have people follow their conscience and follow their inclinations.
I would characterize the "heart" that movies and music tells you to follow would be more in the line of inclinations; your feelings. And I would say that the message out there is not one that would want to acknowledge one's conscience because that would cause many to reconsider their "heart" decision.
Derrick
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