Customer Reviews

Spiritual Emotions: A Psychology of Christian Virtues

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This is a book I've been awaiting for years. Roberts develops a relevant understanding of the relationship between human emotions and Christina spirituality. His in-depth theological, psychological, philosophical, and ethical study culminates with a practical examination of the fruit of the Spirit. He highlights the process of Christlike character development that leads to our inner life increasingly reflecting the inner life of Christ.

Both rigorous and readable, "Spiritual Emotions" should be required reading for Christian counselors, pastors, psychologists, and students. The narrative examples and the theological formulations will engage minds and encourage hearts.

What Emotional Intelligence: 10th Anniversary Edition; Why It Can Matter More Than IQ was in the last decade for the secular thinker, "Spiritual Emotions" will be in this decade for the Christian thinker.

Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of Soul Physicians, Spiritual Friends, and Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction .

As a small group leader I had been looking for a book that would explain emotions form a christian perspective. This book does it so well that I am surprised that it is not more popular.
In the bible Christians are commanded to exercise certain emotions: Joy, Gratitude, Hope, Peace, Compassion, and Contrition. since Christians are commanded to develop them, then it follows that something can be done about it - in fact they are seen as virtues. Part 3 of the book explains each one of these emotions very well and how to approach them in the Christian life.
Roberts also does a good job of distinguishing emotions from moods and feelings.
Part 2 of the book deals with the Human need for God and secular objections to it. It also has a section on Humility which I found quite enlightening - the popular view of Humility is quite wrong from a Christian perspective.
The book is positioned for leaders teaches, counselors and such. While the book is a 'deep dive' into emotions, so it takes some pondering to work through, it is certainly more accessible than say Dallas Willard's Renovation of the Heart.
So if you are looking for a book on emotions - you can't go wrong with this one!!!

I was looking for a book that would help me understand how emotions should be understood from a biblical/Christian perspective. This book exceeded my expectations and was the best book on the subject that I found. It is also a book about spiritual growth and maturity and Christian virtue. It is also very biblical in that it contains frequent insights on biblical passages. It nurtured as well as informed my spiritual life. I highly recommend it.