--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why would one's identity be a matter of…" description: "\"Why would one's identity be a matter of feelings? I think that that's a misuse of terms, philosophically. Identity is mind independent. It's something ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/william-lane-craig-8716_feelings_why-would-one-s-identity-be-a-matter-of_3017828.jpg" --- # Why would one's identity be a matter of feelings? I think… ![“Why would one's identity be a matter of feelings? I think that that's a misuse of terms, philosophically. Identity is mind independent. It's something that is objective, regardless of how you feel. So, the term gender identity seems to me to be something of an oxymoron. It's not really about one's…” quote by William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/william-lane-craig-8716_feelings_why-would-one-s-identity-be-a-matter-of_3017828.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/william-lane-craig-8716_feelings_why-would-one-s-identity-be-a-matter-of_3017828.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/william-lane-craig-8716_feelings_why-would-one-s-identity-be-a-matter-of_3017828.jpg) > “Why would one's identity be a matter of feelings? I think that that's a misuse of terms, philosophically. Identity is mind independent. It's something that is objective, regardless of how you feel. So, the term gender identity seems to me to be something of an oxymoron. It's not really about one's identity. It's rather a matter of one's self-perception or one's feelings about oneself.” [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Identity is objective and mind‑independent; feelings alone cannot define gender identity. **In simple terms:** Identity exists beyond feelings. Key Takeaway Distinguish objective self from subjective feelings. Themes philosophy gender identity Mood critical thought‑provoking Type philosophical controversial When to use this quote - legal definitions - personal narratives - social policy Key Concepts metaphysics ontology Questions to Reflect On - How do you reconcile objective identity with personal experience? - What role should feelings play in societal definitions? A Different Perspective Feelings influence identity perception and social experience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Gender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gender/) [Gender identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gender-identity/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Identity Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity-matter-714310/) [Identity Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity-mind-1272730/) [Independent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independent/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Oneself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oneself/) [Oxymoron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oxymoron/) [Philosophically Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophically-identity-4869715/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) [Term Gender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term-gender-4869716/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Or is anyone's identity a matter of fragments held together by convenient or useful narrative, that in ordinary circumstances never reveals itself as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-leckie/or-is-anyone-s-identity-a-matter-of-fragments-held-together-by-2/) [Ann Leckie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-leckie/) > [“Sometimes it seems my identity’s a matter of opinion”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/sometimes-it-seems-my-identity-s-a-matter-of-opinion/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) > [“Or is anyone’s identity a matter of fragments held together by convenient or useful narrative,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-leckie/or-is-anyone-s-identity-a-matter-of-fragments-held-together-by/) [Ann Leckie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-leckie/) > [This identity, this mind, this particular cast of speech, is nearly over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-brodkey/this-identity-this-mind-this-particular-cast-of-speech-is-nearly-over/) [Harold Brodkey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-brodkey/) > [The American identity is mind-bogglingly various.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fountain/the-american-identity-is-mind-bogglingly-various/) [Ben Fountain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-fountain/) > [My chief identity, to my mind, was not 'writer' but 'college dropout.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/my-chief-identity-to-my-mind-was-not-writer-but-college-dropout/) [Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/) > [You have your identity when you find out, not what you can keep your mind ON, but what you can't keep your mind OFF.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-ammons/you-have-your-identity-when-you-find-out-not-what-you-can-keep-your/) [A. R. Ammons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-ammons/) > [Don't settle in the land of barely enough. That is where you are, it is not who you are. That's your location, it's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/don-t-settle-in-the-land-of-barely-enough-that-is-where-you-are-it-is/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [“Feminism is itself a challenge. Feminism is a challenge to the way things are in the world. It is by definition an oppositional movement,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/feminism-is-itself-a-challenge-feminism-is-a-challenge-to-the-way/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [We are undermining a generation's happiness by depriving them of national identity, religious identity, and gender identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/we-are-undermining-a-generation-s-happiness-by-depriving-them-of/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [“If your organization is not formally committed to a policy of nondiscrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression or gender presentation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-d-acquaviva/if-your-organization-is-not-formally-committed-to-a-policy-of/) [Kimberly D. Acquaviva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-d-acquaviva/) > [I think we all are born inside of our parents' narratives. We stay there for a good while. We are taught their narratives about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-febos/i-think-we-all-are-born-inside-of-our-parents-narratives-we-stay/) [Melissa Febos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-febos/) > [Too often, when transgender people die, family members or funeral homes will end up dressing a body of a transgender person in the garments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mcbride/too-often-when-transgender-people-die-family-members-or-funeral-homes/) [Sarah McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mcbride/) > [Sexuality is who you want to be with. Gender identity is who you want to be in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-nef/sexuality-is-who-you-want-to-be-with-gender-identity-is-who-you-want/) [Hari Nef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-nef/) > [If you find yourself in a relationship or even a friendship with someone who's conflicted with their gender identity, just be kind. This is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-d-thompson/if-you-find-yourself-in-a-relationship-or-even-a-friendship-with/) [Linda D. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-d-thompson/) ## More by William Lane Craig > [Part of the broader task of Christian scholarship is to help create and sustain a cultural milieu in which the gospel can be heard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/part-of-the-broader-task-of-christian-scholarship-is-to-help-create/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) > [The point is this: If God does not exist, then life is objectively meaningless; but man cannot live consistently and happily knowing that life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/the-point-is-this-if-god-does-not-exist-then-life-is-objectively/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) > [“By setting such strong, harsh dichotomies God taught Israel that any assimilation to pagan idolatry is intolerable. It was His way of preserving Israel’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/by-setting-such-strong-harsh-dichotomies-god-taught-israel-that-any/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) > [If you're sincerely seeking God, God will make His existence evident to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/if-you-re-sincerely-seeking-god-god-will-make-his-existence-evident/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) > [Scepticism, ironically, draws its life's blood from claims to have a good deal of knowledge. 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The Christian says, you look in the Bible. And the Bible tells us that God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/so-how-do-you-find-out-what-god-thinks-the-christian-says-you-look-in/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) > [So whom does God wrong in commanding the destruction of the Canaanites? Not the Canaanite adults, for they were corrupt and deserving of judgment.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/so-whom-does-god-wrong-in-commanding-the-destruction-of-the/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) > [ Richard \[Carrier\] takes the extremist position that Jesus of Nazareth never even existed, that there was no such person in history. This is a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/richard-carrier-takes-the-extremist-position-that-jesus-of-nazareth/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) > [ I am an Orangeman first and a politician and member of this parliament \[Stormont\] afterwards. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/i-am-an-orangeman-first-and-a-politician-and-member-of-this/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) > [“In addition to these physical problems, sexually transmitted diseases are rampant among the homosexual population. 75% of homosexual men carry one or more sexually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/in-addition-to-these-physical-problems-sexually-transmitted-diseases/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) [Explore all 78 William Lane Craig quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) ## More Feelings quotes > [I have a strong feeling about this quick movement and changing of society and populations growing - something scary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiroshi-sugimoto/i-have-a-strong-feeling-about-this-quick-movement-and-changing-of/) [Hiroshi Sugimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiroshi-sugimoto/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [We never realize the importance of any our action until we be the hunt of same situation in reaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fadi/we-never-realize-the-importance-of-any-our-action-until-we-be-the/) [Fadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fadi/) > [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/) [Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [My feeling has always been that 'Good Eats' would have never happened had it been left to a committee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alton-brown/my-feeling-has-always-been-that-good-eats-would-have-never-happened/) [Alton Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alton-brown/) > [Jobs and money are never the primary cause of stress. Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. The real cause of all problems lie in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/jobs-and-money-are-never-the-primary-cause-of-stress-thinking/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [If someone really loves you, no matter how many other people they meet, their feelings for you wouldn't change. A real lover cant be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-someone-really-loves-you-no-matter-how-many-other-people-they-meet/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [“I urge you: don't cut short these thought-trains of yours. Follow them through to their end. 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It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) [Browse all 21,172 Feelings quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Why would one's identity be a matter of feelings? I think that that's a misuse of terms, philosophically. Identity is mind independent. It's something that is objective, regardless of how you feel. So, the term gender identity seems to me to be something of an oxymoron. It's not really about one's identity. 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