Religion as Feeling
by Britney Pieta
Something I explored about religion as feeling.
Fredrich Schleiermacher defined religion as something felt emotionally. Rudolph Otto described it as the tremendous mystery of the holy. The feeling of totally being awestruck. It is something one most feel, otherwise ineffable, inexpressible, and just as difficult as defining love. Nothing has the kind of eternal substance that alone can fufill our desires, obtained. In Buddhism there is the awakening or realization of one’s true nature, (Richter).
I don’t think feelings lie. My grandma said that God gives us premonitions to warn us or to help us. We should listen to them. I have felt the love of God through warmth and other sensory ways but God often times helps us in natural ways.
Feelings or emotions are what make us human. In my therapuetic school we had to say a feeling word to describe us for that day, such as happy, sad, frustrated. When someone dies it is alright to cry. If someone hurts you physically, emotionally, or mentally it is ok to feel pain. I’d rather feel something than nothing at all because then I know I am still alive.
Our feelings directly relate to our actions. We base who we choose to marry on our feelings. We base how we feel God’s presence, on if we cry, or if we get goose bumps. If we don’t feel up to do something take a day off from somewhere like work. My friend Ben’s mom said that sometimes we do things because we are feeling hungry, tired, or stressed. If we are sick we say, “I don’t feel good.” No wonder people are taking drugs to numb their pain! No wonder we like the thrill of amusement parks, or greasy pizza. We like to feel good and alive. Our whole life is one long search to fill that empty spot in our hearts. Some of us choose spirituality, others fame or money. Whatever it is only love has been proven to be the best cure.
© 2009, Lekatt. All rights reserved.
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