Impassioned Life, The

By Samuel M. Powell

Book Description

In a world where faith and feeling often seem at odds, Samuel M. Powell presents a groundbreaking exploration of how emotions and spirituality can work together rather than against each other. The Impassioned Life tackles one of Christianity's most enduring tensions: the uneasy relationship between rational thought and emotional experience.

For centuries, Christian tradition has struggled with conflicting messages about emotions. While celebrating love and compassion as divine virtues, it has simultaneously viewed emotions with suspicion, often positioning reason as the higher spiritual faculty. This internal contradiction has left many believers wondering whether their feelings are obstacles to spiritual growth or essential aspects of their humanity.

Powell challenges this either-or thinking by weaving together insights from Christian theological tradition with contemporary scientific and psychological research. Rather than forcing readers to choose between mind and heart, he presents a compelling case for integration. His work demonstrates how the tradition's wisdom about emotional moderation need not require abandoning a holistic view of human nature.

The result is a transformative vision of Christian living that embraces the full spectrum of human emotion as part of spiritual life. Powell invites readers to discover how passionate engagement with their feelings can deepen rather than diminish their connection to the divine, offering a path toward authentic spiritual wholeness that honors both intellect and emotion.