Forces

In the last philosophy topics,we looked at influence. Mankind is constently under influence. What about another kind of influence? What other things out of our control?what about unseen forces?
For example you plan to spend the after noon cleaning your basement. Then you get a knock on the door. You are visited by friends. They stay all afternoon. You don't get any cleaning done.
Another example is the citty of Pompeii. They were not expecting the volcano at mount vesuvius to erupt. Monty python a spoof once said that no one expects the Spanish inquisition.
The movie "mosquito coast "illustrates the idea that man is not always in control of his destiny. Aly Fox an invented disulisoned with America and God moves to an African nation .he run into murcinaries ,his invention exploding and contaminating the area. Then he has a run in with misonaries and he was killed.
If man kind is influenced by unforeseen forces. Does anyone control these forces or are they random?
  The ancient Greek philosophers came up with the idea of atoms.the universe was made of atoms.events were basically random.
The bible teaches that God controls every event of our lives. How much does he control. What about free will?
Is God sovereign.for a Christian the answer is yes. How far does that go.
The diest believed that God created the world then left. It is often called the watch theory. Basically God sent a clock.
Rabi Kushner believed that God is not involved in the big things. Basically he is involved in the big picture.
The bible teaches that God is sovereign.it teaches that God I'd involved in every detail of life. He sometimes allows man kind to make bad decisions.he knows what cod happen. He has a plan for everything. 
Every event is part of Gods over all plan for humanity. His purpose is always fulfied. God permits all things. Nothing goes without his knowledge or constent.
God does not always punish evil right away. Some times he wait. Some times he waits s to give evil man an opotuniy to repent. As in the case of nebukanazer he uses wicked man to accomplish his goals. In the end evil will be judged.
From Gods perspective,there is no such thing as unseen forces. From man's perspective there is. Man cannot predict every contingency. We cannot predict the unplanned visit or volcano eruption. Man is not the master of his own destiny. That realization brings us to consider that we are finite. Despite that we are created in Gods image. God desires that we can come to him In faith.

Case of the next door neighbor (part three)

Tess was a stay at home mom. Well for the most part.she ran a consulting firm. The firm mostly did back ground check usually for non prophets. This was a compromise with her husband.
Her husband was old fashioned. He wanted her to be a stay at home mom. She had been in the military and liked to work.
  There was a saying,tessi did not have to go looking for trouble,trouble found tessi. At the next house,a man tried to break in. A young wife was forced to open fire killing the man.
The police arrived almost immediately. The police and crime scene unit collected evidence. They interviewed witnesses.they canvases the neighborhood.
Detective Morgan and his partner detective Greer returned to the station. "Detectives good! We have identified the deceased would be home invader. "The chief said.
"Who is it?"Greer asked. "Micheal Aden Glover , age 29. He has been in and out of jail and probation . he is a petty criminal. Everything from shop lifting to pick poket,breaking and entering and the like. " the chief said .
"This might be a robbery gone bad."Greer said. "Never trust the obvious conclusion. Sometimes they lie. "Morgan said. "While that is quite a clinical view he has a point. I want you to go to Glover"s apartment. "The chief said.
The two detectives went to the apartment where Glover lived .the superintendent of the building opened the door.
The apartment had a kitchel,living room bed room and bathroom. The apartment was spartin. There was a glass table and a recliner. That was it. The place hardly felt lived in.
They looked around. All over the house was tons of pictures. The pictures were all of tess. There was teas at the playground,tess at the super market. Tess at church. The whole unit was a shrine dedicated to tess.
"Oh my!.Greer said. "We need to contact the chief now! The senior detective said.
  Tess answered the door. She recognized the man. It was Josh tester. Tester was an independent journalist. He studied charity and non prophets. "Come on in. Cofee?"she asked. He had coffee with cream and surger they Sat down.
"So what do you have on the Sudan relief fund?"she asked. "The charity itself is really good. All donations go to help the people of south Sudan."she said. "Why do I sense a but?"she asked.
"There seams to be an interlocking cooperate directorship with an arms company that provides security for the charity arm. Under the agreement in Copenhagen,benprossor cooperation can operate in south Sudan only to protect the relief efforts. I have documented evidence of benprossor corps in areas that the refuge relief centers were not. I can't prove it but I suspect that prosercorp is using the charity to justify it's presence in south Sudan. "He said.
"I assume they are selling to both sides in the conflict?"she asked. "That is what I suspect. "He said. "So the relief group does what it claims to do?"she asked. "As far as donations going to Sudanese people,they are great. I suspect it is a front !"he said.
"With everything I have seen,I have to advise the church to not support the s.s.r.f. I am going to ruffle some feathers . "she said.
"I don't deny the quandry your in. There are not Manny relief groups operating there. "He said.
"Do you know why they are doing this?"tess asked. "That I have not determined yet. It could be for a multitude of reasons. " tester said.
"I will study the documents you have given to me. I have some time before I have to give a report to the deacons but people are getting antsy. " she said.
"I gave you a list of people who have done investigative work on the group.please contact them !"he said."I will!"she said.
Sudenly outside several police cars arrived on the property. The two were startled. Detective Morgan and Greer went up the stairs.
They opened the door. "Hi detective!"tess said. "Who is this?"Morgan asked. "Josh tester ,he is an independent journalist and blogger. He is consulting with me on a case. "Tess said.
"Can we talk in private ?"Greer asked."ok!"tess said. Tess was really confused. Why were they hear. She went over to a corner with the two detectives. "We no longer think that this was a break in gone bad. We think he got the wrong house !"Morgan said. "We think that you were the target !"Greer said.
"Me?"she asked. "The descendent was stalking you. He had a shrine in your horror. Look we need to put you into protective custody."he said.
"Why? The man is dead. The threat is over is it not?"she asked. "I think so. I am not taking a chance. Until we are sure I want you protected. I want to know what we are feeling with. "Morgan declared.
While she was reluctant to go along with this,she knew she really did not have a choice. Her experience with law enforcement taught her not to challenge them on things like this. She was not totally sure that the detectives fear was unwarranted.
She would not admit it but she was not sure she was totally safe. She was not sure her family was safe. She decided not to fight it too much.
"Look we want to get you out of this house. Is there some place you can go a relative?"Greer asked. "My mom lives in the next town over. " she said. "Call her. See you can go there.we want to check the house for servalience devices explosives anything else." Morgan said .
"Alright! I suppose I have to tell my husband.he is going to freak out!"she declared. "We want to get him protection as well. "Greer said. "I figured. "She said. "Do you want us to tell him or do you want to tell him?"grer asked. "He will flip out either way!"she said.
"Look the guy with you. The blogger. You trust him?"Morgan asked. "I have known him for years. He is a good guy. Are you just being cacious?"she asked. "I never assume anything. "Morgan said.
She called her mom. She got pwrmison to stay at her house. She called her husband. They met at a church picnic. She was very girlie at least in civilian life. As s child her Barbie doles were spies who stoped Ken who was a Hamas sleeper cell member from killing a tedy bear who was the Israeli ambassador but any ways.
He did not tell her that she had been in the military. She had left before they met. She did not tell him until they had bean on a few dates. He hardly knew what a gun looked like. She suspected were he not a fundy,he would be a liberal anti gun activist. 
He wanted to be the bread winner.he was a c.p.a and made good money.he could provide for her. She did not have to work. He wanted her to be a stay at home mom but she wanted to work. They compromised.she could work from home. Her cases had to be back check grounds nothing dangerous . no James bond stuf he said. "Try and stop me!"he said. "They are just being carefull. "She said. " I'm not reassured yet Tessa pod!" he said. "I tried. Don't panic brad! "She said. "I am coming to the house. We can go to gloria's house from there together. "He said. "I knew that. Brad your going to stay calm right?"she said. "Yes I am. "He said. "Ok ! I will see you soon. I love you!"She said. "I love you!"he said.
While she teased him over his protective nature and his less then macho narure,she knew that there was nothing he would not do to protect her and there kids. She knew if they were in danger ,no threat stood a chance against him.
While she would never admit it,she was spooked. She knew that the detectives were not convinced that the threat was over and neither was she. 
End of part three.

The date (part two of the party)

Tim and Nicky had liked each other for a while. There were obstacles. They were. 12 years difference between them. She was 21,he was 33. There was other differences.he was a business owner and she was a recent bible college graduate. She grew up in an I.f.b church. He was converted in his twenties.
There were other differences as well. It seemed unlikely that they could make it as a couple. In Manny cases those differences do not decide as much as they could.
Tim could not believe that he had gone though with It. As the day of the date close closer,he got even more nervous.
She was nervous and excited at the same time. She was glad that the day had arrived. She spent quite some time getting ready for the date.
She put on a pink t shirt and Gray skirt and flip flops. She styled her hair.she waited for him to arive.
She got really nervous waiting for him.what if it did bot work out? Would there friendship servive.she started to think of every doomsday synerio she could think off. Then she calmed down. lookBecided not to get bent out of shape about it.
He was two minutes ahead of what he said. That sounds just like him.she laughed.she figured that was how he was. He tended to be task oriented and time conscious.
She came out and went to the car. He smiled at her when he saw her. She smiled back. She got in. "You lookB really nice tonight!"he said. "Thank you. You look handsome yourself!"she said.
They drove to the restaurant. They went inside and seated. "I can't believe we are hear!"he said."this restaurant is not hard to get into !"she said in a tounge in cheek fashion."I can't beleve. We are hear together. "He said.
"Wha made you decide to ask me out?"she asked. "I thought about it for a while. I was not sure you would say yes. You might not want to be seen with an old geezer."he said.
"I suspected you liked me. I was not sure. "She said. "I was really afraid that you would say no!"he remarked."really?I have liked you for a while!"she said. "I thought so but sometimes men misterpret simple greetings as something more. The your so veign you probably think Nicky likes you!"he said. She laughed.
"I thought you liked me but I feared you might think I was immature !"she said."I have observed you over the years sense your family came to the church. I saw you grow in maturity and in your relationship with the Lord."he said."that means a lot. I think it is hard for people to see passed the teen Nicole of so long ago!"she said."I think more people have noticed that you are aware!"he said.
"You are bot that old. Besides when your 82 I will be 70. "She said. "When you put it that way. "He said. They both laughed.
"Man I Love that smile!"he thought to himself. "So when did you first like me?"she asked. "The first time I ever even considered it was when you came home from college the first time. When we stayed at church until the church custodian threw US out so he could clean!"he said. "I forgot about that. I totally lost tract of time that day "she said. "So did I? It was so not like me!"he said.
"I like had a crush on you sense high school!"she said."really! We never talked except an occasional high and hand shake until pastor curtas stoped the one in the bound of love routine!"he said.
"You made an impression. Of course I was a teen in a town that even lake wo be gone forgot about!"she said."I wanted to ask you out over the summer of your freshman into sophomore year. You stated dating trevor!"he said.
"He is a good guy. He is on a Sumer missions trip. We both felt it was not God's will. "She said.
"I expected you to date someone else.I did not want me to be a rebound date. "He said. "After Trevor ,I decided to take a step back. I did not want to date everyone in sight. I was a bit guy crazy. I decided to back off. "She said.
"I backed off for a time. I decided to wait. I had no idea when the right time was!"he said. "Now is perfect! To tell you the truth I was begging to founder if you had lost interest. "She said."not at all. I am am accountant at heart. I like to cross my ts and dot my eyes."here told her.
"I figured that about you!"she said.
"I gues maybe I went overboard. I almost talk myself out of it.now that I did not want. I was scared of rejection."he said. "Becuase your so old?"she asked jokingly. "That is definitely part of it. What if you don't like my  table manners or my endless resitation of Obscure facts."he said.
"Well! Your table manners are fine. I don't see the obscure facts being a deal breaker yet!"she said. "Oh ok! I think I am very scared that if this did not work,it would end our friendship." he said.
"I had that fear as well. "She told him."I decided that I felt like I was at liberty to ask you out. "He said. "I knew you were interested but I was wondering when you were going to ask me out. I admit I got a little restless. I considered asking you out myself although I am not sure it is proper. " she commented. They both laughed.
"So was inviting me to the graduation party a way of tipping my hand?"he asked. "A little bit. "She said. "I see. I was afraid you might say no!"he said."I was not going to say no!"she said. "I see!"he said.
"So I have to know,is this just a casual date? Is marriage a possibility?"she asked. "No I would he perused this if I did not think mariege was a viable option. I definitely think marriage is a possibility.I am at a place in my life where I don't want to cassuly date. Is marriage between US a possibility for you?"he asked.
"Yes it is. While I am younger ,I did bot date in high school,mostly because I was homeschool, I regret dating the way I did in college. I believe if I date now it should be to someone I could marry!"she said.
"Excelent I hoped so. "He said. "If you want to lay off the recitation of obscure facts that would be ok"she said jokingly.
"For the record I did not bring up lake woobegone!"he said. "Oh ok!"she said. He paid the Bill then they left. She took his hand. He was not too keen on hand holding but Decided to go with it.
They went to the car. "I had a good time today. I am glad we got to do this!"she said. "Me too! "He said.
They engaged in smal talk until they arrived at her parents house. "We will have to make aragement to get together again soon . provided your bot sick of me !"he said. "No not yet! I will let you know!"she said."ok fair enough!"he said. She hugged him.he did not feel that physical contact was warranted at this juncture but let it go.
He watched her go in. Then he drove home. He had a good night.he felt mentally exhausted.he felt a bit overwhelmed.he was pleased with how the night went.he needed time to catch his breath.
End of part two.

Blind date part 8

Mat and Abby have gone there seperate ways. It seemed perhaps never to reconnect.returning to what they knew.
Abby had reconnected with a fellow seminary student. A recent graduate named Michael clendon. He really liked her,he had for a while. She always held back. He never understood why.in his mind,they were perfect for each other. She did not see it that way. They were both interlecuals.
  He had a dream of them pastoring local churches and working together.he hoped he could convince her to date him. So far it had been less then successful.
She agreed to meat Mike at a local cafae. She went in and saw Michael.Michael was usually very serious. He was not sour but was usually serious. When he laid eyes on you,he smiled. He got out and shock her hand.
"I am so glad to see you ab!"he said.she tried to hide her shock and dismay at him using the Nick name mat had used. She was careful not to dwel on it. It was not his fault. She was not mad at him. She tried to move on.
"So are you going to accept a church or are you content to being the district superintendents lackey?"she asked. "I do enjoy my work for the district. Pastor richmount is planing to retire this year. I hope to be in the running. I must confess my heart is more in the administration of a district then an individual church. I suspect you will find a church and stay there for a time. "He said.
"I want to build up a local congregation. It take time!"she told him. "I am more about the big picture. I want to transform an area for the gospel I suppose."he said. "A big picture starts by developing a series of little pictures Mike !"she told him."true I suppose ab. I prefer to direct others to do the small picture!"he said.
She really wished he would stop calling her by that name. She did not want to sa anything . she did not want to explain why.
"I know we need those who direct the big and the smal. "She said. "That is why we would be a great couple Abigail. We would compliment each other. "Mike said.
If there was anything she hated more then being called ab by anyone besides mat,it was being Abigail.she felt like she was three. 
"That is an argument ."she said."are you Romantically involved with anyone at the moment ?"he asked.
"I was seing someone casually but it did not work out. "She said. "I am sort to hear that. His loss!"he said.
"So you are looking to take up a church?"she asked."for now. By my time till the superintendent is permoted or retires. "He said. "I figured. " she said.
"I see the value in building up local perished . I am interested in the administration the process. I will give the day to day operations to the local pastors. I know that that is your passion!"he said.
Odd she thought . she had come hear willing to give a potentle relationship with Michael a chance.while she had rebuffed him o. Previous occasions,she considered that she missed something. She wanted to give him a second chance.she inadvertently led him on. She decided that this was just not going to work. .Mike was not a viable option. She knew that now.
She wanted to leave but stayed for a bit. Luckily he  had a meeting and wanted to get ready. He walked her other car. "We should do this again soon ab! I do enjoy talking to you."he said.
"Look Michael,I am going to level with you,I just don't see it happening. I like you. I don't think we are a good match. I'm sorry to have led you on."she said.
"Its ok. I gues I a not surprised.if you change your mind,you know where to reach me!"he said.
She felt bad but felt she had to be honest with him. It was a mistake for her to agree to it.it did convince her that was a door that should not be opened.
She came in to her apartment. Her romate was waiting for her. Apparently she wanted a play by play report on what had occured.
"I have no idea why I did that. He is a nice guy but he really not my type. I was really considering perusing a relationship with him ! We are not a good match!"Abby said. "I could have told you that. Oh wait I did several times. I can't believe you were thinking of dating him. I thought you ruled that out ling ago!"she said.
"I thought I had too. I don't know what got into me!"she said. "I do! Your on the rebound form Matt!"she told her. "How can I be on the rebound,we never dated not really!"she said. "Every time you came home,you were glowing. You fr something for him. You still do. Micheal? He is the polar opposite of Matt!"she said.
"I know.Mike is conceited ,ful of himself. Mat is not like that. That ship has sailed.he made that abundantly clear. "Abby said.
"Mayby you should talk to him. Mayby he has changed his mind. "Her roommate said "he has probably found someone by now. She is probably a king James. Hyim singing dress wearing girl who has never spoken a word in church." Abby said.
"Your miserable Abby. Mayby he is too. You can understand his perspective. You are very different. You see things differently."her roommate told Abby.
"I don't think I'm cut out for his world.he is surly not cut out for my world.we are at an inpass. "Abby said.
  Matt was excited to go out with Heidi at first. As the  day Got. Closer he got second thoughts.she was sweet but there was really no connection.why was he suddenly trying to try again with her. As the time of the date got closer he found his thoughts heading towards abby.
He liked Heidi. She was sweet and she was godly. He just did not think that she was a good fit for him. He considered canceling the event but decided not to.
He met up with her at a restaurant.she smiled as he arrived. "How are things ?"she asked."good how are you?"she asked. "Good!"he responded.
They engaged in small talk.none of the conversation went anywhere. Mat found himself thinking about Abby. He tried not to.
After a while they left. He said his goodbyes. He went home.he went inside. He saw his sister Kathy."how did it go with Heidi?"she asked.
"I never should have gone.she is great but I don't think that she is right for me. I am not sure why I went. "He said.
"You stil have feelings for Abby?"she asked. "I do. I wish I did not. We can't be together. Yet I want to. I hate it."he said.
"Mayby this is not the time to date.perhaps it is time to take a step back.maybe it is time to reevaluate things. There Is something else you may need to consider !"she said.
"What is that?"he asked. "The answer may not be no but not now. Maybe later." Kathy said. "What if she does not wait.I can't ask her to wait."he said.
"If she is the one you may not have to!"she said. "Perhaps!"he said.
While Abby went to her contact list. She saw the name matty.she almost hit the send button. She decided not to do it.

"The party"

I stil could not believe I was hear! When I was first invited,I was not seriously considering attending. Julie had graduated from bible college. Her parents hosted a graduation party at there home. They invited all of the church to attend. I had not planed to attend until she asked me personally."
"Tim! Will you be coming?"she asked."I am not sure! " I answered ."I would like you to come."she told him.
I felt out of place. I mostly spoke to church members I knew including the church janitor. I had not even seen Julie.
Julie and I had a bit of a complex relationship. We were very different.we had a different life experience. I was a thirty four year old man. I was a businessman . I ran a smal business witch focused on real estate and antiques. "
Julie was twenty years old. She just graduated from an independent fundimentle Baptist college. We knew each other sence her family started attending abiding Grace Baptist church. She was sixteen at the time. We had not really said much to each other at the time. We had no reason to. When she went of to bible college it all changed. We became friends.
I found myself interested in her beyond a friendships. She had dated a little while at school. There was one man I was prety sure she would marry but they broke up. She explained that she just did not feel that it was God"s will for them to be together. I figured she would date someone else.i liked her,i figured
She would never have those feelings for me. That was fine. 
During the week. I gave it a lot of thought. I decided that I would throw caution to the wind and ask her out. Now that I am hear I had doubts. I very much wanted to go though with it. I decided to go though with it. "
Finaly I saw her. I went over to her.she smiled at me. 'There you are! I had not seen you.for a moment I wondered if you were going to play hookie !'she Said to me.
I laughed. I told her that I would not miss it for any thing. She was glad to hear that. Her reaction was not what I expected. While I knew She wanted me hear. It seemed that she realy did want  me hear.
"Look Jules when things die down I would like to talk to you!"I told her. She seemed puzzled. She was not expecting that. "Of course!"she replied.
I had no idea if she suspected what I wanted to talk to her about. I was nervous about it. Now I was committed. I could ways ask her her opinion of chess but I think she would know that was not what I intended to talk to her about. 
Finally things started to die down. People started to leave. I hoped that I could talk to her soon. I was getting more and more nervous . I was losing my nurve.
I looked for her. Then I found her.she smiled.  " there you are!" she said. I smiled."so what did you want to talk about?"she asked.
I probably looked really nervous. I tried to remain calm. That was not as easy as it sounded.
"Look I was wondering if we could go out sometime . for dinner perhaps? " I said. She steamed surprised for a split seconds. Then she smiled. "Are you asking me out on a date ?"she asked.
If I was not nervous before, I definently was now. " yes I think I am!"I replied. She smiled. "Of course I would love to!" she said.
I was relieved and happy at the same time. I was not sure I had heard it right. I asked her if I had heared her right.she laughed and said that I  had.        I wished I knew what she was thinking.I suspected she liked me but I knew I could be way off gourd it could just be me engaging in wishful thinking.
I later learned that she had like me. It seams that she liked me before I liked her. She wondered why I had not asked her out earlier.
When I went home that night,I wondered was this the beginning of a New era. I had no idea.it felt like things were different. I felt like things were about to change. I would be right.
  This was the beginning of the relationship between myself and my future wife. This was how it started .it was not always an easy road. This is how it started.

Influence

From the day we are born,we form opinions. A baby decided they like to be held. They decide that they don't like to be left in there crib. As a child gets older,the child decides that he likes certain food and dislikes others.
Later on he decides that he likes certain activities and dislikes others .from television,music,sports ,books ,politics,we form opinions. Part of life is forming subjective conclusions.
How much of those options are our own? How much of our opinions are influenced by others?what role does influence have in forming views?
Going back to the baby, the child might observe his farther eating a carrot. If the man starts to cringe the child might observe it. The child maybe not being aware of it,might come to the conclusions that carrots are bad. He might come to hate carrots. How much is the boy's hatred of carrots is from him and How much is it to the influence ?
Influence is a fascinating topic. We are under constant influence.we probably don't know just how much we are influenced.
How much beliefs are our own. How many are adopted from other people.how Manny come from our culture?
One of the big questione of philosophy is where do things originate. When feeling with influence we are feeling with thoughts. Where do thoughts come from?
If one views the universe from an evolutionary model,is the ability to think a fluke. Was it necessary to servive ? Where does influence come from. Does one person who. Beleved he knew what to do convince either by convincing or force convince everyone to go with his plan? Why him? Where did that ability to convince come from.
In the ancient world deities were in control of elements of the world. These gods were impulsive and whimsical. The answer by Greek philosophers was to say that these gods were not all powerful just more powerful then mortals. They stil had I influence.
From a biical world view,the first record of a negative influence was genesis three. The devil persauded. Eve and then Adam to eat the fruit.
We have examples of good and bad influence. For good We have jeohida the priest who influenced king joash.we have nahen the phrophet who advised David and declared tha he was the man. We have aquila and prisila who decoupled apolas.
We have plenty of examples of bad influence. Lots caved into the influences of Sodom and Gomorrah. Rehoboam gave in to the influence of the younger advisors.
I am not sure tha influence begins with Staten. You could argue it bega with the Lord when he gave the instruction not to eat the fruit.
No man is an island as John done said. We are all influenced in some way shape or form.
One influence we have not duscused is media. Rather it is radio,books,tv,internet and so on,media influences us. There is the influence of the press and entertainment.
Some In the independent Baptist movement have avoided most media. One cannot be totally cut off from it.it's influence can be good bad or neutral.often it legend bad.
  What is a solution to influence biblically? As Martin Luther said.our conscience must be captive to the word of God. We must make sure that is our major influence. We must examine all we do to make sure it is aligned with the word.

"Feelings a philosophical and theological examination"

Do feelings really exist? Are they real? Could feelings just be a chemical reaction? Could feelings be automatic robotic responses? Could what we call instincts just be reflexes?

When someone pinches me,am I reacting? Could what I perceive to be a reaction simply be a non emotional mechanical response to stimuli? Can we know for certain if feelings are real.

If feelings are real,where do they come from? Are they passed down genetically. Are they cultural? Are they learned?
  On star trek the Vulcan only practice logic. They outlaw emotion. The ancient stoic philosophy might be to the right of the mythical Vulcan.
The stoic believed that enotion was evil. They might argue that emotion would keep you from the truth. Truth is found in logic.
If feeling are the enemy if truth,then feelings are a deception. Feeling are not just an illusion but a con artist and a serial .
Epicurians believed that the purpose of life is found in pleasure. Plesure meaning good words. Otherwise man us no better then pigs who indulge in what they see as pleasure. For them that is rolling around in mind . not only us feeling but it us truth.
The problems is that feelings can be wrong. You can deal that someone us lying when they are boring truthful and vice versa.
You can be mad at someone for a less then legitimate reason. A victim if fraud could feel good about the con artist that scammed them out of millions of dollars.
Many modern or post modern psychologist argue that humans do not have instinct. They have reflexes. We are robots or humans. Basicaly everything is a cause and effect. Feelings would not be real.
From a biblical world view, feelings originate from the Lord himself.humans were created in the image of God. If course human emotion are tainted by sin. Romans 3:23,genesis three.
Jerimiah Said that he was conceived in sin. David lements sin affect on humanity after his sin with bethsheba. Sin desorts emotion.
Ephesians says that the god of this world blinds unbelievers from the gospel. Seccond Corinthians speaks that though the veil of the temple was torn,some chose to be veiled.
A biblical view of  feelings is that feelings are real. A person feels. It is not simply a chemical response. God does intervene at times. Pharoe Paul and nabukanezer.
Feelings are incomplete. They can be inaccurate. Feeling are limited. All feelings are tainted by sin. Some day feelings will be redeemed .