Theos-Talk Archives (November 1999 Message tl00083)

Katinka wrote:

>The way I see it, emotions can be a major block for
>understanding. Which is why I am rather wary of them.

Ok, but why?  How or in what way are emotions a major block for
understanding?  Can logic or reasoning serve as a block for understanding?

>But
>sentimentalism is something other than emotions.
>Sentimentalism usually (in my experience) makes some things
>bigger and others smaller: in short works as a sort of
>*funny mirror* (if that is how those country-fair-mirrors
>are called).

I don't see how sentimentalism is different from emotions.  Emotions, also,
can make things seem bigger or smaller.  For example, as one develops
compassion (in the human sense), "evil" becomes smaller, and "acceptance"
becomes bigger.

Another example: John the Baptist claimed that he must decrease so Jesus
could increase - was John the Baptist being sentimental, emotional, or
reasonable?  If sentimentality REALLY is seeing some things as bigger (or
more important) and others smaller (less important), then sentimentality
seems to be a necessary component to spirituality and understanding.

>Well, any point of view is subjective, even the seemingly
>objective, so I understand your difficulty here.

This statement seems to suggest, then, that there really is no such thing
as objectivity.  Yes? No?  If so, what is the difference between
subjectivity and emotions?

Kym