Feelings are fleeting but the truth is eternal

[MargaretofCortona]

A common argument I’ve read on different Christian and Catholic forums or discussion boards is that Americans are too sensitive and blind themselves from the truth by being guided by sentimentality and ever-changing emotions. Feelings cannot be trusted. How much control do we have over them? Most importantly, how should a good Catholic deal with them? Although the truth is more important than emotions, feelings are a reality as well and I believe they should be honored. Is it our pride why we feel the sting on an insult? Some think feeling an insult is a choice and a self inflicted wound that is no one else’s fault.
In reality, just because something is true doesn’t make it any easier to deal with. Should people ignore the truth because it is inconvenience? I think not.
I think calling out sin and confronting will naturally stir up human passion. I’m not sure if that’s good or bad.

 

[ProdglArchitect]

A good Catholic, and everyone else, should deal with our feelings by looking at them in the light of truth. We can honor our feelings without allowing them to dictate our actions, no matter how much easier our feelings may be to deal with than reality.

Consider our cultures favorite topic to put feelings ahead of rationality, sex. If feelings were the governing factor, then it would be permissible for someone to have sex with a child because they feel that that is their sexual preference. Of course, we know that that is wrong regardless of the person’s feelings, and yet the culture at large has allowed this notion of “feelings first” to govern pretty much every other aspect of human sexuality. this rejection of the Truth goes so far as to deny the humanity of the child in the womb because the parents don’t “feel” that they’re read to be parents, or because they "feel’ that it’s not actually a child, and is just a lump of cells.

Feelings can be a very useful tool if our intellects are willing to adhere to the Truth, but when left on their own they tend to do way more harm than good…

 

[MargaretofCortona]

I don’t know any people in real life who agree with pedophilia. That isn’t the best example. As for an abortion, it is not about feelings but science. Some people don’t believe in souls. To equate a living humans life to that a fetus or an embryo sounds ridiculous to some. Some people see an embryo as the potential for life but not a fully fledge human being. I don’t think people don’t feel ready to not have children. There are people who simply have abortions because they don’t want responsibility now or ever. Others don’t have the resources to bring a child into this world. People keep forgetting adoption. I wish more prolife people were interested in adopting children rather than shaming people for getting an abortion.

 

[ProdglArchitect]

I don’t know any people in real life who agree with pedophilia. That isn’t the best example.

Nambla, just look them up. … or don’t. Sadly, South Park didn’t invent them.

As for an abortion, it is not about feelings but science. Some people don’t believe in souls. To equate a living humans life to that a fetus or an embryo sounds ridiculous to some

It has nothing to do with the soul, and pro-lifers generally do not make any reference to the soul or even to religious precepts when debating with non-religious people. The science is quite clear, that “clump of cells” is very human, and very alive. If left unimpeded, it will continue to grow until it takes on the form dictated by its genetic code. That is science, anything else, and claims to “personhood” or that that “fetus” isn’t a human, are based on subjective feelings, not science.

. Some people see an embryo as the potential for life but not a fully fledge human being. I don’t think people don’t feel ready to not have children. There are people who simply have abortions because they don’t want responsibility now or ever. Others don’t have the resources to bring a child into this world. People keep forgetting adoption. I wish more prolife people were interested in adopting children rather than shaming people for getting an abortion.

All of the justifications you gave are based on subjective feelings, even the one about resources. Plenty of people have raised children on significantly less than what the average abortion recipient has. It doesn’t make for an easy life, but that’s not the measure of a life’s worth, nor does it impact the fact that they have an innate right to life.

As for your claims about pro-lifers and adoption, there are plenty of pro-lifers who do adopt. There are also plenty who simply cannot, often due to the exorbitant cost of adoption proceedings. There’s also the fact that many of them already have pretty full families. Pro-life rhetoric is not about shaming people seeking abortion, it’s about showing them the evil of the act thy are seeking to commit. No amount of wordplay or “feelings-based” justification can circumvent the TRUTH that they are killing a distinct member of the human species.

 

[PJH_74]

I find such statements of truth over feelings, especially in an absolute sense, a bit misguided. You can’t dissect the human experience into absolutes. I don’t like abortion, but there are some instances where to protect the mother’s health and there is a truly unviable baby that this is the best truth. It’s truth that we are called to empathy and that might mean facing people in situations you feel are not the truth. The Franciscans are highly respected Catholics see this truth as their calling.

There are more arguments that could be made. But one should honestly ask if following a strict code of behavior is to avoid the complexity of life or to bring life to other people. Looking inward is also a human feeling.

 

[MargaretofCortona]

Is it abortion about whether a fetus or embryo has the same right to life or is recognized as a fully fledged human being? Killing an embryo to some is the same as murder, correct? I thought the Catholic argument for life was based on the idea that the fetus has a soul. “Blessed be the unborn.” Or how the Bible says God knew us from our womb.
I don’t think things like homosexuality are about feelings. I think people are born with those tendencies.

 

[ProdglArchitect]

Is it abortion about whether a fetus or embryo has the same right to life or is recognized as a fully fledged human being? Killing an embryo to some is the same as murder, correct? I thought the Catholic argument for life was based on the idea that the fetus has a soul. “Blessed be the unborn.” Or how the Bible says God knew us from our womb.

There is a Catholic argument from the soul, but it is not our only argument. That argument is only useful when you are debating with people who come from a similar world view in terms of the value of life and our status as beings created in the image and likeness of God.

We also have arguments from science (that the fetus is alive, and a member of the human species) and other fields like philosophy and sociology.

I don’t think things like homosexuality are about feelings. I think people are born with those tendencies.

There is no evidence to support the notion that people are born with innate homosexual inclinations, and significant evidence against that belief, such as the various twin studies that have been conducted. (If homosexual tendencies are genetic in origin, then twins with identical genetic makeups should share the same inclinations. This is overwhelmingly not the case.) There is also significant cultural evidence against the notion of homosexuality being rooted in genetics, or an innate aspect of a person. There is a large body of ex-gay testimony, and that body is growing daily. These are people who self-identified as gay for some period of time, many of whom were very active in the lifestyle and culture. In many cases, these ex-gay people have seen a complete reversal of their inclination. Frequently, this shift followed the person separating themselves from external influences such as homosexual culture and pornography.

I’m probably not going to be able to respond again today, apologies.

 

[Mary_Ellen]

Feelings cannot be trusted. How much control do we have over them?

The question should be “How much control do we allow them to have over us?” We cannot control our feelings but rather what we do with them. We can concentrate on them, feed them and allow them to get out of control (I speak as a person with mental illness). We can acknowledge our feelings and move past them, acting in the truth, in accord with God’s will and not in accord with how we feel at the moment (otherwise, moving through our lives aimlessly).

Be at peace.

 

[MargaretofCortona]

God Bless & Amen.