There Is No Academic Support for the Claim that Christianity Is Purely Emotional, Not Intellectual

I would like to express my thanks to Emmarie for engaging in this debate. This has been a very exploratory and thought-provoking debate, albeit one that has gotten extremely off-topic. (The original subject of this debate was Is there academic support for the claim Christianity is purely emotional and non-intellectual?, a point which I think we both agree on and neither of us have truly discussed. I am not sure how the voters will therefore decide this debate. :) ) My final response: After a lot of thought and prayer on the subject, I have come to the following conclusion: I too frequently underestimate the power of emotion. The reason for this is complicated, of course, although it owes largely to my personal way of understanding the world; I see practically all things in terms of black-and-white, right and wrong, and I base all my beliefs and actions on what I perceive as right. Now, is truth and morality enough to understand and accept Christianity? No. With only truth I could claim Christ's forgiveness, but without sorrow I would not feel the need, and without joy I would not appreciate it. I do not base my faith in my emotions as my emotions can easily change; but my emotions serve to expand, personalize, and deepen that which I know and believe. I do not agree with you, Emmarie, when you claim that Jeremiah 17:9 is not relevant. I believe that it is addressing much more than just the current sins of Judah; it is a statement concerning the worldwide state of the human heart without God. Repeatedly throughout the Bible we are reminded that the human heart, as the seat of emotions, is fickle and prone to sinful and ungodly desires: "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from within, and defile the man." - Mark 7:21-23 "This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; if so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." - Ephesians 4:17-24 "...and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done." - Genesis 8:21 "This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead." - Ecclesiastes 9:3 I think that it is clear that the heart (once again, here being defined as the seat of emotion) is deceitful. Emotions, although useful, God-given, and--at times--God-glorifying, are insubstantial and subject to constant change. One's beliefs, particularly concerning something as important as eternity, should not be built on untrustworthy emotion. I AM NOT SAYING EMOTIONS ARE BAD-- I am merely saying they are not strong enough to serve as a foundation for one's soul. There are many intellectual means for supporting Christianity and the Bible, including logic, archeology, meteorology, the preservation of the Scriptures, etc. Many people may come to Christ through emotion, but unless they then build their faith on the rock of actual Truth, their faith will remain weak. There are several other points which I feel I ought to address: You stated: "First of all I will note that I am thoroughly familiar with the four Gospels of Christ's ministry, because I believe that it's all that's needed to accept his message and find redemption. Quoting me verses from anything in the Bible, does not convince me that it is as relevant, as anything that is recorded in any of the four Gospels of Christ's ministry while he walked the earth in the flesh." 2nd Timothy 3:12-17 states: "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." Certain books or parts of the Bible are not "more" or "less" "relevant" than any others. All Scripture is true and useful, and while the four Gospels tell the story of Christ's earthly ministry, what about the stories of Creation, or Mankind's Fall, or of the Promise of Redemption? What about the rest of the New Testament, telling us not only what Christ did, but how it affects us and should transform our daily lives? You do not pick and choose your own Bible, Emmarie. One other thing, which I believe is of the utmost importance. In discussing my definition of Christianity, you said: "It was this statement that got me to accept the debate challenge, because that statement is not a fact, although it is what Christianity seems to have become." What Christianity has become? It is what Christianity is. Either you believe it is truth and accept God's Salvation, or you do not. I sincerely hope that you believe this is fact, and not merely a feeling. Thank you for a very deep debate, Emmarie. May Christ bless you! -Gift of Sanity