Are feelings/emotions good or bad?

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Why do we have them? Some people seem to have more feelings or less. They do not change or affect reality.
 
Feelings and emotions are morally neutral, but of course they can lead us to do objectively immoral acts. They can however lead us to do good such as the good that comes from a feeling of sympathy for the poor.
 
ILoveYeshua said:
Feelings and emotions are morally neutral, but of course they can lead us to do objectively immoral acts. They can however lead us to do good such as the good that comes from a feeling of sympathy for the poor.
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I agree! As to why we have them, I cannot provide an answer from the theological point of view. I can say, however (with some certainty), that feelings may have evolved as a way to fix important things in our memory (the part of the brain processing feelings is also involved in memory formation).
 
CRATUS said:
Why do we have them? Some people seem to have more feelings or less. They do not change or affect reality.
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Emotions are a part of matter and the human body, so like everything else with matter, they are good by nature. They may be used towards evil ends if they are not responded to properly.

Emotions do affect reality. If the human conscience is our compass that directs us where to navigate, then human emotions would be our sails. They are what motivate and enable us to do certain actions towards the good of others and the good of ourselves. These beneficial emotions include the full scope: elation, anger, sadness, embarrassment, anxiety, excitement, fatigue, etc.
 
I think emotions/feelings are good. I think they can be used for good. Yes, emotions/feelings can also be used for evil, too.

I also think that emotions and feelings do affect reality. One’s emotions/feelings can affect someone else’s emotions/feelings. That can change a situation, conversation, etc.
 
Emotions are human nature and it makes us into who we are. Having said that, emotions can lead us into trouble if we’re not careful.
 
M. Scott Peck said that “one’s feelings are the source of one’s energy; they provide the horsepower, or slave power, that make it possible for us to accomplish the tasks of living. Since they work for us, we should treat them with respect”.
 
liturgy96 said:
M. Scott Peck said that “one’s feelings are the source of one’s energy; they provide the horsepower, or slave power, that make it possible for us to accomplish the tasks of living. Since they work for us, we should treat them with respect”.
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Excellent quote. It also provides a illustration for what the Bible says about how we must become owners of ourselves and master our passions. Hold every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5) and hold it up to God’s truth- out of love be obedient to Christ. (This is what is meant by the phrase: Christ should be the one sitting at the throne of your heart) Emotions are not bad, but they shouldn’t be ignored, hidden or stuffed but explored in prayer- after all, God sees everything in your heart. Why not talk about it with The Lord who is kind and merciful and slow to anger?! (Psalm 103:8)

Emotions should not always be obeyed either. If you find that your emotions are wrong when held up to God’s light (using God’s Word as guide and proof), you must work to believe what IS right and trust in God. Its work, but its soul exercise (believing in God’s Word*** is*** REAL work- its not namby pamby stuff- and its the most important kind of work we need to do!). Just as the physical body can be exercised to make it stronger, so must we exercise our faith (James 2:24). This “work” is by no means a substitute for God’s grace, albeit** it is in cooperation with it**. You have to know God’s Word- St. Jerome said ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.
 
CRATUS said:
Why do we have them? Some people seem to have more feelings or less. They do not change or affect reality.
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Considering what effects reality is relative, I am not sure why you might suggest that emotions or feelings do not change or affect reality. Perhaps you are very logic oriented? You may need love to be able to enter into Holy matrimony or joy to have a friend. If you live your life relative to natural law of science, then emotion would have some role in achieving reproduction (love or lust) or primitive survival (flight or fear, fight or anger, hunger). If you live your life relative to the Spirit of God, then your reality is the love, joy, peace and other gifts of the Holy Spirit and avoidance of anger, lust, fear, jealousy all feelings or emotions that would prevent us from the God’s grace of the fruits of the spirit. God created us that we may share in the fullness of His love and in His image that we may love and worship God and do His will rather than be confined to the animal instinct of primitive emotions for survival.

TK421 description was along the same lines but poetic : ) I tend to be more logical and I try to complement this by reading things that are more poetic. If you find yourself to be logic oriented I recommend reading the Litany of the Sacred Heart (assuming you read the Bible daily) or particular stories of the Bible that are more poetic such as the Psalms, Songs, John’s Gospel. Try this in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, God will catalyze the discernment of the gift of feeling His presence ; )
 
CRATUS said:
Why do we have them? Some people seem to have more feelings or less. They do not change or affect reality.
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That’s precisely the same as asking, “Is the brain good or bad?” or “Is the nervous system good or bad?”. It’s nonsensical.
 
As others have said, they are neither good nor bad … how we use them is what’s key.

Spiritual writers such as St. John of the Cross would say that the trouble begins when we become attached to our feelings and emotions by clinging to them. Especially when they cloud our judgement and they drive the decisions we make.

For those who might be interested, St. John speaks at some length on the role of our emotions in Book 3 of The Ascent of Mount Carmel. Here he treats our joys, hopes, sorrows and fears … and how we can best make use of our feelings while detaching ourselves from that which is inordinate.

Dave 🙂
 
Following up on DBT, the following is from Book 3, Chapter 16 (pg 293 of ICS’ The Collected Works of Saint John of the Cross).

When these emotions go unbridled they are the source of all vices and imperfections, but when they are put in order and calmed they give rise to all the virtues.
 
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