Our feelings are central to the process of religious growth – changes of heart.  In my liberal Unitarian Universalist tradition, sometimes in the past we’ve lost sight of this.   At times we’ve given the impression that persons more advanced in their religious growth are somehow escaping from feelings and emotions.  This is just not so.  Rather, those positive, integrating changes of heart we hope for – these weave our feelings, thoughts and will together in a stronger and more integrated way.

I had a teacher years ago in divinity school who helped me understand the central role of feelings in religious change.  This teacher, Dr. Thandeka, is still writing about this and exploring the details in her study of Affect Theology.  I commend her work to you.