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

So far it is obvious that we are both inexperienced debaters, so the format of this debate is not as organized as some of the debates that I have read on DDO thus far. I do think that there is enough substance of the issues we are debating to continue, and that we can both learn during the continuance of presenting the subject matter. I will be refuting statements that you made in both your first and second posts as well as making claims for the emotional relevance of being a Christian. I can understand why you'd want to debate someone who is not a Christian, on whether emotion is a major motivating factor within the faith, and that intellectual reasoning IS a factor for some believers. I chose to debate this topic, because you went beyond attempting to prove that Christianity has an intellectual component, to stating that "there are some who call themselves Christians, although in reality they are only Christians for the positive emotions it gives them to feel religious. " This statement seems to be discrediting the emotional aspect for choosing Christianity, as a valid motivator for continuing in the faith, and I will present examples from within the Gospels of Christ's ministry to prove that emotion was a motivating factor for many of the first believers who listened to his message. I'd also like to present the notion that Christ called sinners to repentance, to offer redemption, not because they intellectually acknowledged his authority, but because their souls were in need of receiving forgiveness and that joy follows. I will be addressing the claims that you made within your original post during the next segment, and offering proof of my claim that original followers of Christ were emotionally driven and rewarded for their faith. John 16:22-24 states joy is the reward for asking and receiving, when he was addressing followers who were saddened as he disclosed his earthly departure and resurrection. "22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man takes from you.23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.24 Hitherto (up until now) have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. "Have you considered the possibility that the Christians that you have determined to be false because of the positive emotions they receive, is not because they feel religious, but because it was what Christ informed believers that they should expect to receive? What does it even mean to feel religious? Another point I will specifically refute is your claim that first Apostles were able to endure persecution because they knew their religion was true. The early apostles suffered persecution because they were following the example of Christ, and he had forewarned them they should expect to be persecuted. John 16:2-32 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time comes, that whosoever kills you will think that he does God service.3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. This is the same Chapter that informs us/them to expect to fully receive joy. I'm going to speculate that the joy that Christ promised was to give them the strength to endure persecution he knew they were facing. John Chapter 16 closes with this: "33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. "Going back a Chapter to John 15, we can see that the first apostles, were more than just believers that were assigned to spread a religion - they were His friends. "11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. "Let's examine the first meaning of the definition of the word friend in the Merriam-Webster. com Dictionary. "1a: one attached to another be affection or esteem. "It is my assertion that we do not chose our friends based on intellectual reasoning, but more likely we chose our friends based on the emotional satisfaction that we receive in their company or thru communication with them. Now to address the claims that you asserted in your second post. 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. But, to refute your claim concerning the deceitfulness of man's heart in the quote of Jeremiah 17:9, I assert that there is no context within that quote of who that scripture is referring to. As far as I can gather, it is referring to the sin of Judah during that generation, which was definitely before Christ came to earth with his ministry. If you read the Gospels, Christ communicates differntly to specific groups of people or individuals he came in contact with. Some he admonishes for the condition of their hearts, while others he calls attention to for the positive attributes of the condition of their hearts. I apologize for quoting so large a passage, but it clearly shows that Jesus does not consider all people's hearts to be wicked. Luke 7:36-4836 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat.37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that touches him: for she is a sinner.40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Sees thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gave me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.45 Thou gave me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same love little.48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. Here again we have an example of emotion being a contributing factor of faith. I realize that I have not proven that emotional satisfaction is the only reason for the Christian Faith but I hope that I have proven that emotional recompense is as much of a reason to be a Christian as intellectual reasoning, and that it will be counted to me as a win for this debate, since my opponent has not proven that emotional basis for Christianity is unfounded, or that an intellectual basis for Christian faith is more relevant.