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From: garys@bunker.UUCP (Gary M. Samuelson)
Newsgroups: net.religion.christian
Subject: Re: Legitimacy of emotions
Message-ID: <758@bunker.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 20-Mar-85 09:32:35 EST
Article-I.D.: bunker.758
Posted: Wed Mar 20 09:32:35 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 22-Mar-85 02:23:47 EST
References: <gymble.109> <347@oakhill.UUCP>, <1281@shark.UUCP> <5288@utzoo.UUCP>
Organization: Bunker Ramo, Trumbull Ct
Lines: 22

> From Hutch:
> 
> 	Anger is a legitimate emotion. There is nothing about anger that makes
> 	it evil of itself.  However, like all emotions, it must be balanced by
> 	reason, and it must not be allowed to fester itself into hatred.
> 
> Does this mean that hatred is an illegitimate emotion? How can one tell
> the legitimate ones from the illegitimate ones, then?
> 
> Laura Creighton
> utzoo!laura

I think the key is the object of the emotion.  One is not simply
angry, one is angry at something.  To be angry at injustice is
good; to be angry at someone who won't let you have your own way
is not so good.  Similarly, there are legitimate targets for the
emotion of hatred; as in the (non-biblical) saying, "Hate the sin
but love the sinner."  (It is difficult to keep the two separate.)
The emotion itself is neutral.

Gary Samuelson
ittvax!bunker!garys