Emotion VS Logic

[Reno Raines]

Hi All,
What adivce would you give to someone who is emotionally drawn to Chrstianity, but their logic prevents them from ever truly accepting it.
I have been interested in Chrsitianity, particularly eastern orthodixy, for a while. I even started to read the bible as I was curious. But this curiosity has only ever been logic. I read the bible like its a history book and the teachings in books and on youtube videos are interesting and inspiring. But I cant, do to my agressively athiest environment, take it further.
Thoughts?
Thanks

 

[Apologetic_Warrior]

Balance is the spice of life.

 

[Kevin Snow]

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. ~John 6:44

No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against Yahweh. ~Proverbs 21:30

What is your problem with God though?

There was this conversation that someone recently asked on here:

If God loves us why is all reality an illusion?

It's a long conversation so I recommend just reading my responses with the original poster.

 

[Halbhh]

Hi All,
What adivce would you give to someone who is emotionally drawn to Chrstianity, but their logic prevents them from ever truly accepting it.
I have been interested in Chrsitianity, particularly eastern orthodixy, for a while. I even started to read the bible as I was curious. But this curiosity has only ever been logic. I read the bible like its a history book and the teachings in books and on youtube videos are interesting and inspiring. But I cant, do to my agressively athiest environment, take it further.
Thoughts?
Thanks

Go to the great Teacher's message to you, in this chapter (full chapter) --
Matthew 7 NIV

 

[Done222]

Hi All,
What adivce would you give to someone who is emotionally drawn to Chrstianity, but their logic prevents them from ever truly accepting it.
I have been interested in Chrsitianity, particularly eastern orthodixy, for a while. I even started to read the bible as I was curious. But this curiosity has only ever been logic. I read the bible like its a history book and the teachings in books and on youtube videos are interesting and inspiring. But I cant, do to my agressively athiest environment, take it further.
Thoughts?
Thanks

Love and forgive others. When you see an old lady in the market try to see her as if she is your mother. She probably is somebody's mother. Try not to become angry with other people. Forgive people. Try to understand people even when they do or say something you don't like.

Love God. If you can't bring yourself to believe in God, then love the idea of God. Imagine a creator of infinite love and mercy. Pray to that imaginary God. Love that imaginary God. The two commandments of Christ are to love God and love your neighbor as yourself. If you follow these commandments, at some point God will reveal Himself to you, but you need to be sincere. Don't do any of this as a test and don't set any deadlines.​

 

[Hawkins]

Hi All,
What adivce would you give to someone who is emotionally drawn to Chrstianity, but their logic prevents them from ever truly accepting it.
I have been interested in Chrsitianity, particularly eastern orthodixy, for a while. I even started to read the bible as I was curious. But this curiosity has only ever been logic. I read the bible like its a history book and the teachings in books and on youtube videos are interesting and inspiring. But I cant, do to my agressively athiest environment, take it further.
Thoughts?
Thanks

That's normal because atheism is all about brainwashing or indoctrination by secular education since childhood. Your "logic" is hardly logical.

Now tell me what you yourself did on today but a year ago (on May 25, 2017). What evidence do you have about your deeds and speeches that single day?

Most people won't answer and won't have the evidence. Now can science provides proof or evidence of what you did or spoke that day? Science is futile about this (about any past in general). That's why history generally has no evidence (you may fail to realize when apply your educated 'logic'). If you doubt this, try to randomly fetch a history book (more distant the better) then tell us how many pages are supported by evidence and how many pages are not.

History can hardly be evidenced. Arguing otherwise is usually fallacious. Let's get back to what you did on May 25, 2017 (or any random day in your life more than a year ago). We can get to know what you did or spoke that day if an eyewitness wrote (better tape) about it for us to believe with faith. This is the most efficient way (if not the only way) for us to know what you did. History is basically human accounts of testimonies requiring faith to believe.

History is compredendable to us because it's about the recordings of human activities. The Bible in the same sense, is about the recordings of God's activities. This is the only way how a fact can convey among humans (under the circumstance that God chooses to hide behind for a reason).

 

[AvgJoe]

Hi All,
What adivce would you give to someone who is emotionally drawn to Chrstianity, but their logic prevents them from ever truly accepting it.
I have been interested in Chrsitianity, particularly eastern orthodixy, for a while. I even started to read the bible as I was curious. But this curiosity has only ever been logic. I read the bible like its a history book and the teachings in books and on youtube videos are interesting and inspiring. But I cant, do to my agressively athiest environment, take it further.
Thoughts?
Thanks

Question: "Is God logical?"

Answer: There are two ways to interpret this question. One is to ask whether or not belief in God or the idea of God is logical. The other is to ask if God Himself is a logical being. The answer to both is, “Yes, God is logical,” for similar reasons.

It’s logical to believe in God because the existence of God provides consistent answers to many of the more important philosophical questions asked by human beings. For instance, we know that there cannot be an infinite amount of past time; it is illogical to claim we are currently at the “end” of an infinite string of moments. Therefore, there had to be some beginning moment. Therefore, there has to be something, some cause, that is itself non-caused. Logically, this is God.

Another reason belief in God is logical is that the universe appears to be carefully crafted to allow life. Not only that, but this arrangement allows for the kind of life that is complex enough to be self-aware. Ultimately, there are only two explanations for this: some kind of God or random luck. And punting to “luck” has never been a very logical answer.

The fact that human beings think of “logic” at all also supports the idea of God as a rational belief. If God does not exist, then there is no intelligence, purpose, or meaning in anything. Intelligence, purpose, and meaning are simply illusions created by physics and chemistry. However, if there is no God, it would also mean our reason, intellect, and learning are mere illusions of physics. Lacking God, there is no logic. There is no reason to think our thoughts are meaningful or that they actually reflect reality. Our thoughts may be good for survival or simply the results of randomness, but they can’t be relied on as true. In short, the only way to believe that there is such a thing as logic is for one to believe in some kind of God.

Another key point is that those who believe in the laws of logic are confident in something objective, eternal, and non-material. Any objection that God is immaterial, eternal, or objective would be hypocritical coming from someone who puts stock in the laws of logic.

We also know that God Himself is logical, based on His words and His actions. First and foremost, God acts in a logical way: He plans, communicates, discusses, and acts. God even speaks of “reasoning” with human beings (Isaiah 1:18). He distinguishes between truth and falsehood, a core aspect of basic logic (John 7:18). God does not always act in ways human beings would prefer, but this does not mean His actions are “illogical.”

Also, the fact that there are certain things God “cannot” do, such as lie or change, is evidence of His logical nature. A truly perfect being, by definition, cannot change or he ceases to be perfect. This means God cannot contradict His own nature, or else He would be breaking the laws of logic.

Of course, all of these ideas involving God and logic could be explored in much more detail, but that would require more space than is available here.

www.gotquestions.org/is-God-logical.html

 

[AservantofGodandthelordJC]

Hi All,
What adivce would you give to someone who is emotionally drawn to Chrstianity, but their logic prevents them from ever truly accepting it.
I have been interested in Chrsitianity, particularly eastern orthodixy, for a while. I even started to read the bible as I was curious. But this curiosity has only ever been logic. I read the bible like its a history book and the teachings in books and on youtube videos are interesting and inspiring. But I cant, do to my agressively athiest environment, take it further.
Thoughts?
Thanks

Valuing what logic says over what people say is very wise. There is a logical spiritual system in place and a lot of things I see people saying about their beliefs make virtually no logical sense. That's why I always say, God is real.. not a belief.

Think about it, if you misinterpret something in the bible and you believe and hold onto that misinterpretation instead of the truth behind it, is that not a very big mistake? If you don't know for certain that you are correct then you must believe you are wrong because as the bible clearly states, the truth is invincible.

1 Corinthians 4:20

 

[W2L]

Logically i look at creation and know that God created it. Love is also logical IMO. Emotionally i yearn for life and Gods love, so i follow the Lord who promises eternal life and love.

 

[Bob Crowley]

... But I cant, do to my agressively athiest environment, take it further....

While this is not on the main track of your question, I'm somewhat intrigued by your statement "due to my aggressively athiest environment ...". I'm wondering just what this environment is.

I notice you're in Japan, and Japanese have historically been very resistant to the Gospel as a whole. There have been some outstanding Japanese Christians, but as a whole the evangelical conversion rate is very low. Personally I think that to convert the population in the case of the Japanese, you'd have to convert the leaders first. This is in opposition to historical Christianity, which has often been most successful with the poor and marginalised, and then moved upwards from there. The conversion of the Roman Empire took hundreds of years, and it sure didn't start with the Emperors.

But I think the Japanese mindset is keenly attuned to what might be called "collective" thinking, as per the following paragraph lifted from this article - Did DNA influence Japan's collectivist society? | The Japan Times

If you’ve spent any time in Japan you will have heard the expression, “Deru kugi wa utareru” (“The nail that sticks out gets hammered down”). The phrase is used to explain how Japanese society traditionally prefers conformity and social harmony to independence and individual expression. There is a similar saying in China — “The shot hits the bird that pokes its head out” — and no doubt something equivalent in South Korea, too. East Asian countries tend to have collectivist societies, while individualism typically prevails in the West.

I suppose another conjecture on my part is that possibly you're an American serviceman or woman based in Japan. I'd assume most military bases are not hot beds of Christian enthusiasm, and I could understand your being hesitant to do anything to rock the boat, especially if it's not something you are sure about anyway.

Of course these are both conjecture, as I don't know your real situation.

I can think of two courses of action - one is for you to read books by CS Lewis, who is possibly the best modern Christian apologist for logical thinkers, starting with "Mere Christianity". And the other is for you to pray, despite not being sure there is a God, that He will give you some direct indication of His presence.

Then see what happens from there. But nothing we can say can turn you into a Christian - that's the Holy Spirit's job. Obviously He's working on you, but for whatever reason, your doubt and resistance still remains.

 

[aiki]

Hi All,
What adivce would you give to someone who is emotionally drawn to Chrstianity, but their logic prevents them from ever truly accepting it.
I have been interested in Chrsitianity, particularly eastern orthodixy, for a while. I even started to read the bible as I was curious. But this curiosity has only ever been logic. I read the bible like its a history book and the teachings in books and on youtube videos are interesting and inspiring. But I cant, do to my agressively athiest environment, take it further.
Thoughts?
Thanks

Well, if the God revealed in the Bible actually exists and wants to have a direct, personal relationship with you as the Bible says, then the answer to your "logic" problem lays in coming to know Him, not merely adhering to a denomination you find interesting. At its core, Christianity is about a Person, not a set of religious propositions. You need to enter into relationship with Him, and until you do, Christianity will make very little sense.

Matthew 22:36-38
36 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?"
37 Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'
38 This is the first and great commandment.

Revelation 3:20
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

 

[W2L]

Hi All,
What adivce would you give to someone who is emotionally drawn to Chrstianity, but their logic prevents them from ever truly accepting it.
I have been interested in Chrsitianity, particularly eastern orthodixy, for a while. I even started to read the bible as I was curious. But this curiosity has only ever been logic. I read the bible like its a history book and the teachings in books and on youtube videos are interesting and inspiring. But I cant, do to my agressively athiest environment, take it further.
Thoughts?
Thanks

Seek to know the Lord. He promises us His Spirit. Read the words of the Lord and the Apostle Pauls letters in the New Testament. Meditate on them. Put them in your heart as the scriptures say. THe Word is like a seed which takes time to grow. Dont let the cares of this life hinder the Word. The cares of this life are like bad soil that the Word cannot grow in. This is taught in the parable of the Sower. Honestly seek God with your whole heart. Be honest with Him in everything. He already knows anyway but He honors honesty. Cast all your burdens and cares onto Him.

 

[salt-n-light]

Hi All,
What adivce would you give to someone who is emotionally drawn to Chrstianity, but their logic prevents them from ever truly accepting it.
I have been interested in Chrsitianity, particularly eastern orthodixy, for a while. I even started to read the bible as I was curious. But this curiosity has only ever been logic. I read the bible like its a history book and the teachings in books and on youtube videos are interesting and inspiring. But I cant, do to my agressively athiest environment, take it further.
Thoughts?
Thanks

It depends on what they desire, do they desire truth or do they desire their ears to be tickled? Are they open to it, or are they just open to hear what they want to hear? Part of learning anything is to be open so that you are able to weight everything and rightfully judge things to come to a conclusion, because truth is not subjected to emotions, it wont be less true because of how one feels about it. Sometimes the same emotions that draw them, is probably the same emotions that is also blocking them from moving forward.

If its your environment that is blocking it, then why not remove yourself from it? Its kind of a catch 22 where people know what they have to do, but don't wanna feel like they have to do it. My advice would be move past any emotional connections you may have and weight it out through research and life application.

 

[DarkSoul999]

Logically i look at creation and know that God created it. Love is also logical IMO. Emotionally i yearn for life and Gods love, so i follow the Lord who promises eternal life and love.

The fallen state of creation mostly cancels out evidence of loving design.

 

[Steven Wood]

Hi All,
What adivce would you give to someone who is emotionally drawn to Chrstianity, but their logic prevents them from ever truly accepting it.
I have been interested in Chrsitianity, particularly eastern orthodixy, for a while. I even started to read the bible as I was curious. But this curiosity has only ever been logic. I read the bible like its a history book and the teachings in books and on youtube videos are interesting and inspiring. But I cant, do to my agressively athiest environment, take it further.
Thoughts?
Thanks

In my experience God comes to those who are drawn to him emotionally first. Then after prayer and study what you once considered logical becomes utter nonsense and Christianity becomes not only logical but common sense, to the point that you can never imagine having believed a different way and you just can't understand why everyone cant just see how Christianity is the only thing that makes sense. As for having much opposition against Christian beliefs I can only say That I can believe that i would stand for Christ but I have never been persecuted the way many others have. Keep your convictions and what starts to make sense to you and some will come around and others will not but always stay true to yourself

 

[Soyeong]

That's normal because atheism is all about brainwashing or indoctrination by secular education since childhood. Your "logic" is hardly logical.

Now tell me what you yourself did on today but a year ago (on May 25, 2017). What evidence do you have about your deeds and speeches that single day?

Most people won't answer and won't have the evidence. Now can science provides proof or evidence of what you did or spoke that day? Science is futile about this (about any past in general). That's why history generally has no evidence (you may fail to realize when apply your educated 'logic'). If you doubt this, try to randomly fetch a history book (more distant the better) then tell us how many pages are supported by evidence and how many pages are not.

History can hardly be evidenced. Arguing otherwise is usually fallacious. Let's get back to what you did on May 25, 2017 (or any random day in your life more than a year ago). We can get to know what you did or spoke that day if an eyewitness wrote (better tape) about it for us to believe with faith. This is the most efficient way (if not the only way) for us to know what you did. History is basically human accounts of testimonies requiring faith to believe.

History is compredendable to us because it's about the recordings of human activities. The Bible in the same sense, is about the recordings of God's activities. This is the only way how a fact can convey among humans (under the circumstance that God chooses to hide behind for a reason).

Testimonial evidence counts as evidence.

 

[TzephanYahu]

Hi All,
What adivce would you give to someone who is emotionally drawn to Chrstianity, but their logic prevents them from ever truly accepting it.
I have been interested in Chrsitianity, particularly eastern orthodixy, for a while. I even started to read the bible as I was curious. But this curiosity has only ever been logic. I read the bible like its a history book and the teachings in books and on youtube videos are interesting and inspiring. But I cant, do to my agressively athiest environment, take it further.
Thoughts?
Thanks

Shalom Reno,

I used to be the same way. I used to think Christianity and the Bible were illogical by nature. I thought I would have to forfeit logic if i was to be a believer. I couldn't have been more wrong. Have you considered a paradigm shift? A thought exercise to help you think through the Bible logically. You can read more about the paradigm shift here: faithandtheword.com/idb/mind/

Never stop asking questions! Never stop pushing for answers!

 

[luckswallows]

Hi All,
What adivce would you give to someone who is emotionally drawn to Chrstianity, but their logic prevents them from ever truly accepting it.

Develop Christian principles without adopting a belief in the Christian God (or in other words, be a so-called "Christian atheist") to start with, at least . . .

. . . and if and only if logic and evidence lead you to believe in the Christian God sometime in the future, then do so, gladly.

How that can be done I'm not sure. The biggest problem I have with the Christian God is coming up with a coherent definition of him to begin with.

But even if you never become a believer, there's nothing stopping you developing Christian principles if you can see the good in them You don't have to believe there's a God who loves and forgives you in order to love and forgive others!

It would certainly be a nice thing if an all-loving God that cared about us does exist. I'm not one of those atheists who doesn't want such a God to exist.

 

[aiki]

Develop Christian principles without adopting a belief in the Christian God (or in other words, be a so-called "Christian atheist") to start with, at least . . .

. . . and if and only if logic and evidence lead you to believe in the Christian God sometime in the future, then do so, gladly.

How that can be done I'm not sure. The biggest problem I have with the Christian God is coming up with a coherent definition of him to begin with.

But even if you never become a believer, there's nothing stopping you developing Christian principles if you can see the good in them You don't have to believe there's a God who loves and forgives you in order to love and forgive others!

It would certainly be a nice thing if an all-loving God that cared about us does exist. I'm not one of those atheists who doesn't want such a God to exist.

Um, Luckswallows, this is a forum where Christians respond to struggles non-Christians are having. It is not a place for non-Christians to urge their particular worldview upon those who post about their struggles.

 

[dhh712]

Hi All,
What adivce would you give to someone who is emotionally drawn to Chrstianity, but their logic prevents them from ever truly accepting it.
I have been interested in Chrsitianity, particularly eastern orthodixy, for a while. I even started to read the bible as I was curious. But this curiosity has only ever been logic. I read the bible like its a history book and the teachings in books and on youtube videos are interesting and inspiring. But I cant, do to my agressively athiest environment, take it further.
Thoughts?
Thanks

You may want to check out the "Westminster Confessions of Faith". It is a very logical explanation of the doctrines of the Bible. Then you will understand how our logic has been corrupted by the sin in this world (as well as being imperfect and completely unable to totally comprehend an infinite God) and it will likely only, unless God regenerates our spirit, lead us to the logical conclusion that there is no God. I'd give it a shot. Only it might wear on your emotional draw to Christianity as the doctrines explained in the work can be rather hard doctrines.