Emotions are at most times elusive. Yet, it is the earliest applied and used way of acquiring knowledge. An example will be, a baby's first cry at birth. Emotions shape the way we think and behave thus influencing our interpretation of the world around us, and how we respond to circumstances in it. It also affects how we interpret perceptions and language, selective memory and how we apply our reasoning. “Philosophers in particular, tend to agree now that there is a connection between the way one's emotion is to be described and the nature of the beliefs or the knowledge on which it is based." (Gordon, Robert M. 408) Emotions can be regarded as either an obstacle to our knowledge or a source of knowledge. In this essay, I will assess the strengths and weaknesses of emotions in two areas of knowledge, namely, religious knowledge and scientific knowledge.
Religion is a system of beliefs that consists of elements, which cannot be fully supported or accounted for by natural science. Of all areas of knowledge, it is perhaps the most contentious. While some people may embrace their religion as the ultimate truth in their life, others are indifferent to such possibilities. Some examples of religion include Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam. Believers encounter emotional experiences, which help strengthen their faith to bridge the gap of knowledge in religion. Faith allows us to accept things as knowledge even without the definitive evidence of our senses or our reason. Emotions positively impact religion and can be used as an effective way of knowledge.
In their places of worship, most religions organize congregational activities for its believers that evoke a high state of emotions, which in turn, encourages them in their ...
... middle of paper ...
...new theories in the quest of scientific knowledge, it can also hinder and stand in the way of scientific progress. One such example would be the Nazis rejecting Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, due to racial discrimination. A 1939 article in a newsletter published by the most prestigious of the Nazi research institute on the ‘Jewish Question’, argued that he was no scientific genius, but a typical useless Jew. Such typical Nazi propaganda was directed against Einstein claiming that ‘there is nothing new about the Theory of Relativity, and even if there were, Einstein plagiarized it.’ (Redlin 3-4)
Having analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of emotion in the area of religious knowledge and scientific knowledge, I believe, in conclusion, that emotion is more justified as a basis of knowledge, and has the ability to produce a more positive impact in both these areas.
Religion is not just a collaboration of spiritual ideas and writings from ancient books. Religion has become more than just that within our modern society. Some have went as far as to say that religion is the ultimate drive; that guides our human emotions, our actions, and even to some our very own existence. Though religion can be considered a broad topic, there are rooted ideas and concepts that almost all spiritual beliefs entail. Any person with some religious drive will ultimately face their own inner resistance at one point or another, and will be forced to overcome the profane world in which they live to understand the more spiritual and sacred life they choose to lead. These revelations within ones spiritual journey allow personal transformations to occur; resulting in greater religious understandings within their own lives.
Psychologists who study religion, however, address “ an object whose reality can be received only in the state of faith” (p.32). the act of belief is critical to religious knowledge and experience. In psychology, skepticism is an enduring value, but in religion it is an intermediate step on the pathway to belief. This sets up a tension between psychology and religion, which results in psychologists having low rates of religious activity, when compared to other scientific and academic groups (Richards & Bergin, 1997). The methods and assumptions favored by psychology have appeared to be incompatible wi...
Religion cannot be lived in textbooks, it is about the personal consciousness of those that believe and “their own account of their religion and its relevance in contemporary life” (Fisher, 1996). It is performed, experienced by the individuals living within society and communities. For some it is a sense of hope, to connect with a supreme power, to end the cycle of birth and death, find inner peace and/or a way of life. Traditional understanding of religion through textbooks, television, and internet does provide one with understanding about the religion doctrine and what they believe in. The majority of people will know what religion is when seeing it, for example, a Buddhist Monk sitting cross-legged in meditation. However, it is important to study religion off campus in order to grasp an explanation and a clear understanding of how beliefs change personal lives, how individuals tackle certain situations due to belief for example, Buddhist Monk sitting cross-legged in meditation, but w...
In an age when culture continues to lower standards of intellect, Marva Dawn makes compelling observations and suggestions for the Church to rethink its’ strategy on impacting society. How do we evangelize without weakening the message of what we are communicating? The majority of her text focuses on the worship environment generally, but later she focuses on music, preaching, and liturgy specifically. According to Dawn, a gathering of believers should emphasize God as the subject and object of worship, challenge each individual to grow in godly character, and accentuate the community of believers (not only in the room, but throughout history as well). Through this grid, she encourages leaders and participants to evaluate each worship element. If these primary goals are accomplished, then worship will not be empty and simpleminded. Instead the worship atmosphere would be held to a higher standard and, she believes, both pleasing to God and attractive to those who do not know God.
If we look at philosophy the way Nussbaum suggests, with both emotion and reason, we can improve our beliefs. With both reason and emotion in mind, philosophy can amplify our thoughtfulness for universal moral values and encourage our willingness to stand up for the moralities of fairne...
Religion is an ever-growing idea that has no set date of origin. Throughout history religion has served as an answer to the questions that man could not resolve. The word religion is derived from the Latin word “religio” meaning restraint in collaboration with the Greek word “relegere” which means to repeat or to read again. Religion is currently defined as an organized system of beliefs and practices revolving around, or leading to, a transcendent spiritual experience. Throughout time, there has yet to be a culture that lacks a religion of some form, whether it is a branch of paganism, a mythological based religion or mono/polytheistic religion. Many religions have been forgotten due to the fact that they were ethnic religions and globalizing religions were fighting to be recognized, annihilating these ancient and ethnic religions. Some of these faiths include: Finnish Paganism, Atenism, Minoan Religion, Mithraism, Manichaeism, Vedism, Zoroastrianism, Asatru, and the Olmec Religion. Religion is an imperative part of our contemporary world but mod...
The different theories on emotions arose in the 3rd century B.C. at the time of Ancient Greece and Ancient China. While the western philosophical studies labeled emotions in many different ways. According to Aristotle to have virtue it is necessary to have emotions, as its important ingredient. As a result of different attempts made emotions were given importance and studies were performed in an analytical way in the 19th century (Suchy, Yana 2011) (Aristotle).
Religion is a phenomenon that has caused wars, death and love. With almost every culture worldwide having some form of religion, there are many different types of religion all around the world, some similar streams and others vastly different. Every religion has four main aspects: Belief and believers, sacred texts and writings, ethics and rituals, and ceremonies. These form the basis of each religion and set them apart from the rest: each branch of religion vastly different.
Hamilton, L.W. (2012). The Brain and Our Emotional Future: Foundations of Emotions [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from Soul Beliefs: Causes and Consequences Online Course site: rutgersonline.net.
In Introducing Philosophy of Religion, Chad Meister asserts “there are several components (that) seem to be central to the world religion: a system of beliefs, the breaking in of a transcendent reality, and human attitudes of ultimate concern, meaning and purpose” (Meister 6). Throughout my life, I feel that religion is one of the core social belief systems that people use to maintain what they feel is a good way to live. Giving them a sense of purpose or fulfillment during their earthly life, most hoping whatever beliefs that have will help them after death. Even though there are many different religions or religious value systems, everyone has most likely been exposed to one or more. There is only 15% of the world’s population that do not believe in one type of religion or another (Meister, 7).
“You must put your emotions into your work” is a phrase often heard in life. It proposes that emotions, which are often ignored, are a key to success. This holds true in many regards, however there are times when emotion should be restricted in swaying one’s thoughts. The pursuit of knowledge is to be completely objective. Thus, although emotional intelligence is necessary, it is more of a hindrance than a help, and should be controlled.
To conclude, researches propose a number of theories that experience human emotions. The James-Lange theory of emotion and the Cannon-Bard theory of emotion belong to one physiological category of theories. However, chosen theories differ greatly from each other. While the James-Lange theory affirms that different physiological states respond to various experiences of emotion, the Cannon-Bard theory claims that humans react to an inducement and experience that is related to the emotion at that time. Both theories have individuals that criticize them and it is up to the individual to decide which one to
Sonnenberg looks at the various different components that make up the bigger picture in the community aspect in a youth worship setting; these components are looked at systematically. In the article Sonnenberg and her fellow researchers addresses four aspects which are discussed theoretically which are the following: physical presence, empathetic and emotional equality, the opportunity to cross social and ecclesiological boundaries and sharing faith (Sonnenberg, Nel, Kock, & Barnard, 2015). In the quest to address the question the importance of these four aspects the researches firstly presented the importance of each of these aspects individually, by analysing previous research and looking at the background regarding these aspects (Sonnenberg, Nel, Kock, & Barnard, 2015). Additionally the researchers observed these four aspects in a practical manner by using various methods to collect data; the data was collected through pictures, videos, field notes, small group and individual interviews and conversations and through email correspondence (Sonnenberg, Nel, Kock, & Barnard, 2015). The leaders of the different organisations and youth groups were also interviewed (Sonnenberg, Nel, Kock, & Barnard, 2015). A study such as this is of great importance when it comes to a Church context but not only is relevant for the Church but for youth leaders and even how one goes about one’s daily
Discuss the "cognition versus biology" debate in the study of emotion. Outline first the cognitive position and then the biological position. Discuss one possible, satisfying resolution to the cognition versus biology debate, using an original example to illustrate this
Religion plays an enormous role in the history of mankind. Wars have been fought over it, lives have been surrounded by it, and it has directly or indirectly shaped the lives of many individuals. Culture and religion play a large role in developing each other. People’s religion is decided by their culture. The prominence or the lack of religion will develop someone’s religious identity have play a core role in determining what that person believes.