Descartes argued “I think, therefore I am,” and people…
““Descartes argued “I think, therefore I am,” and people after Freud translated that into the modern vernacular by saying, “I feel, therefore I am a self”; modern evangelicals of the relational type seem to have added their own quirk to it by saying that “I feel religiously, therefore I am a self.” The search for the religious self then becomes a search for religious good feelings. But the problem with making good feelings the end for which one is searching is, as Henry Fairlie argues, that it is possible to feel good about oneself, even religiously, “in states of total vacuity, euphoria, intoxication, and self-indulgence, and it is even possible when we are doing wrong and know what we are doing.” This kind of self-fascination is by no means an excrescence of an otherwise robust sector of religious life. It is at the very center of evangelicalism.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The quote critiques the tendency to equate religious identity with feeling good, warning that such self‑centred spirituality can mask moral emptiness.
In simple terms: Feeling good isn’t enough for true faith.
Key Takeaway
Seek authentic purpose beyond emotions.
Themes
religion
identity
authenticity
self‑criticism
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
theological
analytical
When to use this quote
- personal reflection
- church leadership
- spiritual counseling
Key Concepts
theology
psychology
evangelicalism
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you distinguish genuine faith from emotional comfort?
- What practices keep spirituality grounded?
A Different Perspective
Good feelings can hide unethical behavior.