Why Did God Give Us Emotions?
A biblical perspective on what science has discovered about emotions
by Reneau Peurifoy
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Pub Date Sep 28 2009 | Archive Date Oct 04 2012
Description
Emotions are such a mysterious gift. They take us to heights of ecstasy. They dash us on the rocks of despair. They can bind us together and tear us apart. They can move some to noble acts of courage and self-sacrifice and in others, they are the force behind terrible acts of evil and destruction.
Why did God make us this way? How are we supposed to manage this wonderful and mystifying gift we call emotions? In his new book "Why Did God Give Us Emotions?", author Reneau Peurifoy takes a detailed look at the many sources of our emotional responses and the role emotions play in our thoughts, actions, relationships with others and relationship with God. Peurifoy holds a Master's in counseling and attended Fuller Theological Seminary. "Why Did God Give Us Emotions?" is a book twenty years in the making, based on Peurifoy's focused study, counseling experiences and growing maturity in the faith.
"From the very start I've had two goals: I wanted to look at what science has learned about emotions from a biblical perspective and I wanted to do it in a way that would strengthen the reader's walk with God," Peurifoy states. "Over the last two decades I've seen the strengths of science and psychology in helping people and making our lives more comfortable. I've also become acutely aware of the inability of science and psychology to address the true source of human misery: sin and our separation from God. I believe that God has helped me write a book that will be useful to many."
Peurifoy stresses the importance of recognizing how the individual aspects of emotions interconnect. He focuses on four main aspects of emotions: their subjective nature, their physical side, their mental side and their spiritual side. He then shows how each of these aspects must be addressed if true healing of emotional issues is to take place.
"Why Did God Give Us Emotions?" addresses topics like:
• Are some emotions "good" and others "bad"?
• The role of medications in treating emotional problems
• How our core beliefs affect our interpretation of events
• How emotions are the true window into our souls
• How to stop hiding from "taboo" emotions
• What keeps us from hearing God
• The role emotions play in becoming the person God wants us to become
There is certainly no shortage of counseling and self-help books lining the shelves of Christian bookstores today. "Why Did God Give Us Emotions?" is destined to distinguish itself from the rest. With simple, straightforward verbiage (no pop psychology terms here), practical steps to follow and twenty years of wisdom and insight, Peurifoy's book is essential reading for pastors, counselors and those struggling with emotional issues as well as for the general reader who wants to understand this wonderful, yet often mysterious gift and gain skills for managing emotions more effectively. Also included is a section of discussion questions, making "Why Did God Give Us Emotions?" an ideal vehicle for small group study.
Why did God make us this way? How are we supposed to manage this wonderful and mystifying gift we call emotions? In his new book "Why Did God Give Us Emotions?", author Reneau Peurifoy takes a detailed look at the many sources of our emotional responses and the role emotions play in our thoughts, actions, relationships with others and relationship with God. Peurifoy holds a Master's in counseling and attended Fuller Theological Seminary. "Why Did God Give Us Emotions?" is a book twenty years in the making, based on Peurifoy's focused study, counseling experiences and growing maturity in the faith.
"From the very start I've had two goals: I wanted to look at what science has learned about emotions from a biblical perspective and I wanted to do it in a way that would strengthen the reader's walk with God," Peurifoy states. "Over the last two decades I've seen the strengths of science and psychology in helping people and making our lives more comfortable. I've also become acutely aware of the inability of science and psychology to address the true source of human misery: sin and our separation from God. I believe that God has helped me write a book that will be useful to many."
Peurifoy stresses the importance of recognizing how the individual aspects of emotions interconnect. He focuses on four main aspects of emotions: their subjective nature, their physical side, their mental side and their spiritual side. He then shows how each of these aspects must be addressed if true healing of emotional issues is to take place.
"Why Did God Give Us Emotions?" addresses topics like:
• Are some emotions "good" and others "bad"?
• The role of medications in treating emotional problems
• How our core beliefs affect our interpretation of events
• How emotions are the true window into our souls
• How to stop hiding from "taboo" emotions
• What keeps us from hearing God
• The role emotions play in becoming the person God wants us to become
There is certainly no shortage of counseling and self-help books lining the shelves of Christian bookstores today. "Why Did God Give Us Emotions?" is destined to distinguish itself from the rest. With simple, straightforward verbiage (no pop psychology terms here), practical steps to follow and twenty years of wisdom and insight, Peurifoy's book is essential reading for pastors, counselors and those struggling with emotional issues as well as for the general reader who wants to understand this wonderful, yet often mysterious gift and gain skills for managing emotions more effectively. Also included is a section of discussion questions, making "Why Did God Give Us Emotions?" an ideal vehicle for small group study.
Advance Praise
Direct, refreshing, comprehensive September 26, 2009 By HawleyEdit
Peurifoy has organized a useful and informative approach to this subject around the title question. The book is not self-help or pop psychology, nor does it cherry-pick psychological science in order to supply "corrections" from the pages of the Bible. It's clear-eyed, sober-minded, solidly factual, and full of practical information. (Full disclosure: this reviewer helped edit the manuscript.)
The author surveys the territory without becoming doctrinaire. Instead, he is diligent to shed light on scientific/medical knowledge and on biblical insights. In the process, he ably clarifies the dynamics of emotions from both physiological and spiritual angles.
Peurifoy cites the story of the six blind men charged with describing an elephant, whose accounts wildly diverge. This is how emotions (and their associated problems) are often described. He works toward an integrated view of emotions. He offers tools for understanding them from several perspectives. The author covers exceptionally well how emotions affect one's body and one's thought processes. As subjective and spiritual phenomena, emotions often play into our illusions about ourselves, and the book offers many helpful tools to get to the truth we can discern through our emotions. But this is only the beginning; the table of contents discloses both the breadth of Peurifoy's approach and his ambition to lay a complete foundation for the subject. In my judgment, he succeeds without cutting corners or dodging difficult issues.
I'd recommend this book for every pastor; for anyone faced with a counseling challenge, professional or not; and for anyone feeling defeated by their emotions. You'll find new understanding and strength here, along with concrete guidance for getting on top of the situation -- or to share with someone who needs to do so. *** Balanced and practical January 29, 2010 By Val C In reading through Why Did God Give Us Emotions?: A biblical perspective on what science has discovered about emotions I have found it to be a much deeper book that originally expected. Author Reneau Peurifoy gives a complete overview of the different aspects of emotions - physical, spiritual, etc - while also putting them in the context of Christian beliefs (or misconceptions).
It is this combination that makes this book stand out from the rest. There are many resources that deal with happiness or anxiety or small slices of the emotional spectrum but few of them are written to address such a complete and balanced view of the role God gave emotions to play in our lives, and do so with a balance of medical knowledge and Biblical insight. Peurifoy also provides some good cautions about relying too much on emotions while giving some very practical exercises and examples of where our emotions can be trusted and where they can become a false guide.
I would not say this book is light reading, if you plan to use it the way Peurifoy intends it with a journal and exercises to put each chapter into a working and potentially life-balancing practice. I wish I'd found this book years ago. *** Impressive analysis of emotions and how to work with them,January 28, 2010 Kim "Kim Martinez" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME) Why Did God Give Us Emotions?: A biblical perspective on what science has discovered about emotions (Paperback) Why Did God Give Us Emotions is pretty poorly titled. This book is more of an analysis of our emotions. The author looks at them from every angle, and discusses how they effect our lives. Then, with remarkable skill and spiritual insight, gives us tools to properly handle them.
I was impressed with the detailed descriptions of how our emotions are affected by our minds, our body chemistry, and our spiritual condition. Then, the author gives great tools to help take control and win the battle.
In my years of counseling, I have been frustrated with the lack of real resources for people who just needed to figure out how to control their emotions. Finally, we have something to recommend.
The author surveys the territory without becoming doctrinaire. Instead, he is diligent to shed light on scientific/medical knowledge and on biblical insights. In the process, he ably clarifies the dynamics of emotions from both physiological and spiritual angles.
Peurifoy cites the story of the six blind men charged with describing an elephant, whose accounts wildly diverge. This is how emotions (and their associated problems) are often described. He works toward an integrated view of emotions. He offers tools for understanding them from several perspectives. The author covers exceptionally well how emotions affect one's body and one's thought processes. As subjective and spiritual phenomena, emotions often play into our illusions about ourselves, and the book offers many helpful tools to get to the truth we can discern through our emotions. But this is only the beginning; the table of contents discloses both the breadth of Peurifoy's approach and his ambition to lay a complete foundation for the subject. In my judgment, he succeeds without cutting corners or dodging difficult issues.
I'd recommend this book for every pastor; for anyone faced with a counseling challenge, professional or not; and for anyone feeling defeated by their emotions. You'll find new understanding and strength here, along with concrete guidance for getting on top of the situation -- or to share with someone who needs to do so. *** Balanced and practical January 29, 2010 By Val C In reading through Why Did God Give Us Emotions?: A biblical perspective on what science has discovered about emotions I have found it to be a much deeper book that originally expected. Author Reneau Peurifoy gives a complete overview of the different aspects of emotions - physical, spiritual, etc - while also putting them in the context of Christian beliefs (or misconceptions).
It is this combination that makes this book stand out from the rest. There are many resources that deal with happiness or anxiety or small slices of the emotional spectrum but few of them are written to address such a complete and balanced view of the role God gave emotions to play in our lives, and do so with a balance of medical knowledge and Biblical insight. Peurifoy also provides some good cautions about relying too much on emotions while giving some very practical exercises and examples of where our emotions can be trusted and where they can become a false guide.
I would not say this book is light reading, if you plan to use it the way Peurifoy intends it with a journal and exercises to put each chapter into a working and potentially life-balancing practice. I wish I'd found this book years ago. *** Impressive analysis of emotions and how to work with them,January 28, 2010 Kim "Kim Martinez" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME) Why Did God Give Us Emotions?: A biblical perspective on what science has discovered about emotions (Paperback) Why Did God Give Us Emotions is pretty poorly titled. This book is more of an analysis of our emotions. The author looks at them from every angle, and discusses how they effect our lives. Then, with remarkable skill and spiritual insight, gives us tools to properly handle them.
I was impressed with the detailed descriptions of how our emotions are affected by our minds, our body chemistry, and our spiritual condition. Then, the author gives great tools to help take control and win the battle.
In my years of counseling, I have been frustrated with the lack of real resources for people who just needed to figure out how to control their emotions. Finally, we have something to recommend.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9780929437163 |
| PRICE | $16.95 (USD) |
| PAGES | 240 |
