Happiness=Jesus?

[Thirst_For_Knowledge]

Is it the belief of most Christians here that, only through Jesus, may a person find true happiness and peace?

If this is the case, what do you say to those people who do not believe in Jesus, yet are happy and at peace?

 

[Mustaphile]

Is it the belief of most Christians here that, only through Jesus, may a person find true happiness and peace?

If this is the case, what do you say to those people who do not believe in Jesus, yet are happy and at peace?

I'd ask them where they get there happiness from. In doing so I would begin to engage them and seek out who they are as an individual and really understand them.

I think the thing to bring to bear on the situation is that we can draw conclusions without actual knowledge of the people and most likely those conclusion would be at the least misguided and at the worst, completely wrong. If we actually explore the person's life and seek out who they are as an individual, we will come to know the unique and individual path they have taken to find this happiness and peace. In doing so, we may find we have more in common than we would have thought had we jumped to conclusions without sufficient knowledge about the individual. We may find, perhaps, we are describing 'Christ' but applying different names to it.

 

[Thirst_For_Knowledge]

I'd ask them where they get there happiness from. In doing so I would begin to engage them and seek out who they are as an individual and really understand them.

I think the thing to bring to bear on the situation is that we can draw conclusions without actual knowledge of the people and most likely those conclusion would be at the least misguided and at the worst, completely wrong. If we actually explore the person's life and seek out who they are as an individual, we will come to know the unique and individual path they have taken to find this happiness and peace. In doing so, we may find we have more in common than we would have thought had we jumped to conclusions without sufficient knowledge about the individual. We may find, perhaps, we are describing 'Christ' but applying different names to it.

Good answer.

 

[noly]

Jesus is an excellent role model but only being at one with God can bring true happiness.
is there anybody truly happy in the world today or are we just content with our lot. happy with what we're allowed to be happy about?
does anybody want inequality/racism/crime/psychological manipulation etc?
no, so nobody will be truly happy until we are all one with God and unite in changing the world.

 

[California Tim]

Is it the belief of most Christians here that, only through Jesus, may a person find true happiness and peace?

If this is the case, what do you say to those people who do not believe in Jesus, yet are happy and at peace?

Actually I'd say no. Happiness is derived from the same root from which the word "happenstance" is formed. Similarly, "happiness" depends on an external circumstance, often beyond one's own control. What can be found within Christ is true "Joy". Joy is a far more complex and independent state of mind that is relatively secure from corruption by negative external circumstance or happenstance whereas happiness is completely dependent upon and vulnerable to such. Often, a person cannot manage to remain "happy" when things are not ideal in their lives. However, many people, even in dire circumstance, are capable of experiencing "joy" in the midst of personal trial. That is what is found in Christ.

 

[noly]

nice one CT! he is indeed the 'light of the world'

 

[noly]

the bible was meant to be 'interpreted' not taken literally, unfortunately, today, we have lost the ability to make our own decisions about faith and many other issues due to being constantly bombarded with confusing, immoral knowledge.
eg, if you see a murder on TV, your subconscious mind has been convinced that you are a party to it.
we are a social species, simulated social experiences shape our behaviour and decision making ability.

 

[Thirst_For_Knowledge]

unfortunately, today, we have lost the ability to make our own decisions about faith and many other issues due to being constantly bombarded with confusing, immoral knowledge.
eg, if you see a murder on TV, your subconscious mind has been convinced that you are a party to it.
we are a social species, simulated social experiences shape our behaviour and decision making ability.

Do you have any proof of this?

 

[Thirst_For_Knowledge]

Actually I'd say no. Happiness is derived from the same root from which the word "happenstance" is formed. Similarly, "happiness" depends on an external circumstance, often beyond one's own control. What can be found within Christ is true "Joy". Joy is a far more complex and independent state of mind that is relatively secure from corruption by negative external circumstance or happenstance whereas happiness is completely dependent upon and vulnerable to such. Often, a person cannot manage to remain "happy" when things are not ideal in their lives. However, many people, even in dire circumstance, are capable of experiencing "joy" in the midst of personal trial. That is what is found in Christ.

Interesting.

I think I know what you are saying... and if I'm correct, I have joy as well, including in the midst of personal trial.

 

[California Tim]

Interesting.

I think I know what you are saying... and if I'm correct, I have joy as well, including in the midst of personal trial.

Of course it is possible to experience joy and even peace without knowing Christ. However, as He said:

I am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly. (John 10:10b)​

So to avoid Him is to claim less personal joy and peace than would otherwise be possible.

 

[Thirst_For_Knowledge]

Of course it is possible to experience joy and even peace without knowing Christ. However, as He said:

I am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly. (John 10:10b)​

So to avoid Him is to claim less personal joy and peace than would otherwise be possible.

I really can't argue that point...

 

[HazyRigby]

Why do Christians insist that they have more joy than others, when many nonbelievers make it clear that it's just not so?

Is it because "happiness" is pretty much nonquantifiable, and since the religious can no longer claim moral high ground on many of the things that we have the census for (divorce rate and the like), the insistence is upon clinging to the last remaining vestige of belief that one's deity provides the best life possible?

Accept the fact that your god provides you in general with the same amount of happiness as all other humans--non-believers, Muslims, Wiccans, and the like. Why make undemonstrable claims to "joy"?

 

[Eudaimonist]

However, many people, even in dire circumstance, are capable of experiencing "joy" in the midst of personal trial.

"Many people" includes me, an atheist.

 

[Doppelganger]

Sorry to bump this, but I'd really like to hear a Buddhist's perspective on this matter. Since I began "seeking," the Buddhist I know that has provided a lot information regarding it, told me from the start that he has been a lot happier and joyous since he began walking this path. More so than when he was Christian, and he was raised as a Christian.

 

[Thirst_For_Knowledge]

Sorry to bump this, but I'd really like to hear a Buddhist's perspective on this matter. Since I began "seeking," the Buddhist I know that has provided a lot information regarding it, told me from the start that he has been a lot happier and joyous since he began walking this path. More so than when he was Christian, and he was raised as a Christian.

Religion really doesn't cause happiness. I'm an atheist but I am quite happy and joyful.

I think that this was my point all along.

 

[Doppelganger]

Religion really doesn't cause happiness. I'm an atheist but I am quite happy and joyful.

I think that this was my point all along.

I was not implying that religion is a prerequisite for happiness. I was simply inquiring about a Buddhist's perspective, given that Christians insist there is no happiness without Jesus. Ironically, before my Christian faith finally waivered and sank like Titanic, I was not truly happy with Jesus. Heck, I am still not "happy." But I have come to the conclusion that happiness is what you make of it.

 

[Thirst_For_Knowledge]

I was not implying that religion is a prerequisite for happiness. I was simply inquiring about a Buddhist's perspective, given that Christians insist there is no happiness without Jesus. Ironically, before my Christian faith finally waivered and sank like Titanic, I was not truly happy with Jesus. Heck, I am still not "happy." But I have come to the conclusion that happiness is what you make of it.

That wasn't really directed towards you. More of a universal statement.

 

[mepalmer3]

Is it the belief of most Christians here that, only through Jesus, may a person find true happiness and peace?

If this is the case, what do you say to those people who do not believe in Jesus, yet are happy and at peace?

I think there is often a misconception about christianity in that it makes us happier or that we somehow don't have as many problems. CS Lewis calls this "Christianity and Water". I think the truth is that christians have as many problems as non-christians do. Life hurts us all, it throws us curve balls we're not expecting. Even when we do expect them, there's little we can do to escape the pain. But there are some real theology concerns I have with the idea of watering down christianity to say that it pursuing it is pursuing happiness. And finally, just from a biblical viewpoint, I don't think anyone would watch the Passion of the Christ and look at Jesus up on the cross and think he looks happy.

I think if I pursue "happiness" then I will need to pursue some sort of denial of reality. The joy some folks have mentioned is quite a bit more than what happiness is. I'm not sure if it would be appropriate to say that christians follow Jesus to be joyful though. I think I follow him because it's reality, it's the most honest thing there is. but that's getting off onto another subject, so I'll end here. Other folks I think are describing joy well.

 

[Wakeup2god]

If we're wrong we'll have lived and died happy and it won't have hurt a soul. If we're right they'll live happy, die sad and be lost leaving others questioning where are they now. We all know where we're going. Our happiness goes beyond the grave into eternity.