In a world increasingly influenced by subjective experiences and emotional narratives, the concept of truth often finds itself in the crossfire of conflicting opinions and perspectives. In culture today, there is an increasing promotion of the idea that personal feelings are the ultimate guide in making decisions, but a deeper examination reveals that this approach undermines the very essence of truth itself.
But first, let's define some meanings. Subjective truth means truth is determined by the subject. Feelings are inherently subjective; they are personal experiences that vary from person to person. What one individual feels is true may not align with the feelings of another. For instance, consider the topic of taste in art or music. One person may find a particular painting beautiful, while another may see it as unimpressive. This subjectivity is why relying solely on feelings to determine truth is problematic. If something is true, it's true for everyone.
Human emotions are notoriously fickle and prone to bias. Our feelings can be influenced by various factors, including our upbringing, culture, and personal experiences. As a result, feelings can lead us astray. Truth, in its purest form, is an external reality that exists independently of our personal beliefs or feelings. Philosophers have long pondered the nature of truth and have generally agreed that it is a correspondence between a statement or belief and the objective facts of the world. Or put it simply, truth reflects reality and is therefore:
In other words, just because something makes us feel a certain way (e.g. happy, content, fulfilled, etc.) does not make our beliefs true. Likewise, just because we have strong feelings against something, does not make something false. Truth cannot change when our feelings change.
What is emotionalism?
Emotionalism refers to the tendency to rely on and prioritize emotions, often to an excessive or irrational degree, when making decisions, forming beliefs, or evaluating situations. When it comes to faith or religion, many people fall into the dangers of emotionalism. While emotions are a natural and important part of human experience, emotionalism can become problematic when it leads to unbalanced or irrational behavior.
One of the dangers associated with emotionalism is the lack of rationality. Emotionalism often results in decisions or beliefs that are driven primarily by feelings rather than reason or evidence. This can lead to impulsive or poorly thought-out choices. In a religious setting, people tend to chase to achieve an emotional high, which they associate with a spiritual experience. It is said, that this behavior can be likened to a drug addict chasing the next high. Likewise, a person driven by strong emotions in a religious setting, can easily get hooked on the emotional aspect and associate the religious act with the next "spiritual fix". Because our emotions naturally fluctuate, if the desired effect is not achieved, the individual can experience an emotional low. In a religious context, this often results in the person blaming themselves or feeling "unworthy". This leaves highly emotional people vulnerable and easily manipulated by others, as emotional appeals can be used to sway their opinions or actions.
Critical thinking encourages us to question our own feelings, biases, and preconceptions, allowing us to evaluate information objectively and make informed judgments. It is through this process that we can separate our personal emotions from the search for objective truth. While feelings and emotions undoubtedly play a vital role in our lives and decision-making processes, they cannot serve as the sole basis for determining what is true.
In Christianity, truth is rooted in the nature, character, and trustworthiness of God. Knowing God is not about feelings or feeling emotional about God. Biblical Christianity is grounded in objective truth, whether we "feel" like it's true or not.
While most religions focus on the emotional, experiential aspects of their belief and non-theistic worldviews pursue personal happiness, biblical Christianity is about seeking objective truth.