Is Happiness the ultimate state of being?

[relaxeus]

I believe it is. I think many Christians will also agree. The idea of heaven is basically about enjoying life and being perfectly happy. Heaven also seems to be the end of the road, so it must be the ultimate state of being according to the bible.

If you don't think happiness is the ultmate state of being then what do you think is?

 

[MoonlessNight]

I think that it is important that we talk more about just what happiness is. After all, I don't think that many people would agree with the great quote "Call no man happy until he is dead." I don't think we are talking about mere pleasure here.

As for my part, I'm not sure I can fully define happiness, though I do think that it is a good thing. It's a concept that I can taste but not quite put down into words. Certainly I can say things that I think are related to it: fufillment, understanding, joy, flourishing and so forth, but that doesn't quite nail it down.

 

[ReluctantProphet]

I believe it is. I think many Christians will also agree. The idea of heaven is basically about enjoying life and being perfectly happy. Heaven also seems to be the end of the road, so it must be the ultimate state of being according to the bible.

If you don't think happiness is the ultmate state of being then what do you think is?

You feel happiness or joy ONLY when your inner mind, or subconscious, believes that it is making progress toward you survival. That is the ONLY cause of your feelings of joy. Those inner thoughts can easily be in error, but regardless, you can feel joy by no other means. Even chemicals must inspire that same sense from then in order to cause your feeling of joy.

What that means is that a sensing of progress toward survival is above the concern for joy in that such a sense must occur to cause the feeling. But more importantly, you cannot feel joy if you do not survive. You must exist to know happiness.

This means that existence or survival is actually even higher than feeling joy. But sensing your progress toward that survival is all that is needed to ensure the feeling of joy as you do what is needed to survive. You get the best of both worlds.

And THAT is the Gospel of the real Jesus, just put into techy terms.

 

[relaxeus]

This means that existence or survival is actually even higher than feeling joy. But sensing your progress toward that survival is all that is needed to ensure the feeling of joy as you do what is needed to survive.

One can't feel joy, or feel or know anything for that matter, if one doesn't exist. What I want to know is whether or not you think being happy is the best state of existence possible.

 

[Eudaimonist]

If you don't think happiness is the ultmate state of being then what do you think is?

Ultimately, we are dead and have ceased to exist as persons.

However, the best state of being isn't so much a "state" as it is an activity. I call such an activity "flourishing", and while it entails happiness it isn't just a feeling. It may be thought of as a kind of health or good functioning expressed in the excellent use of our vital capacities.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[elman]

You feel happiness or joy ONLY when your inner mind, or subconscious, believes that it is making progress toward you survival. That is the ONLY cause of your feelings of joy. Those inner thoughts can easily be in error, but regardless, you can feel joy by no other means. Even chemicals must inspire that same sense from then in order to cause your feeling of joy.

What that means is that a sensing of progress toward survival is above the concern for joy in that such a sense must occur to cause the feeling. But more importantly, you cannot feel joy if you do not survive. You must exist to know happiness.

This means that existence or survival is actually even higher than feeling joy. But sensing your progress toward that survival is all that is needed to ensure the feeling of joy as you do what is needed to survive. You get the best of both worlds.

And THAT is the Gospel of the real Jesus, just put into techy terms.

I disagree. Jesus did not attempt to survive at all costs. That was not what He taught His disciples. Quality of life is more important than mere survival. I agree one must exist to be happy and I agree Jesus message was how to live even if we die, but it is not about simply existing; it is about life indeed, the abundant life.

 

[ReluctantProphet]

You can't be in Heaven with the eternal God for eternity if you don't exist.

 

[Emmy]

Dear relaxeus, I believe happiness is too much dependant on happenings, and we all know how shortlived happiness is, fleeting and without substance. Only Jesus can, and will give real JOY, lasting and strong, and nobody can take it away. His Joy will last forever, starting here on Earth, and lasting for eternity. I say this humbly and lovingly, relaxeus, and send greetings. Emmy, sister in Christ.

 

[relaxeus]

Dear relaxeus, I believe happiness is too much dependant on happenings, and we all know how shortlived happiness is, fleeting and without substance.

I think happiness is not only not without substance, but is instead made of the best substance. I enjoy my life greatest when I am happy, so whatever substance makes up happiness, I want more of it!

Only Jesus can, and will give real JOY, lasting and strong, and nobody can take it away.

I think we have all experienced prolonged periods of joy and it is as real as anything we could have in heaven.
The only difference I can think of is time. In heaven we would be happy 24/7, courtesy of a lack of evil, suffering, hatred, etc.

 

[Tormac]

I would not say that "being happy" is the ultimate state of being, in the sense that experiencing pleasure for the sake of pleasure is the ultimate pursuit in life.

As MoonlessNight pointed out, the notions of being happy (and I think the notion of the “ultimate state of being&#8221 are open to various interpretations.

I also don’t think it is fair to say that one only feels happiness or joy when one’s subconscious believes that it is making progress towards survival. I often feel happy at the delight of other people around me, even my pet cats. My cat’s having fun chasing each other around, or playing video games with my nephews are both things that are fun for me to do, but don’t support my personal survival at all.

I don’t think that “happiness” itself is not a goal but is a reward that is hardwired into us, for achieving goals that our genes have for us, or goals that we have for ourselves. The most meaningful things that I have done in my life were far more work and pain than happiness.

 

[elman]

I would not say that "being happy" is the ultimate state of being, in the sense that experiencing pleasure for the sake of pleasure is the ultimate pursuit in life.

As MoonlessNight pointed out, the notions of being happy (and I think the notion of the “ultimate state of being”) are open to various interpretations.

I also don’t think it is fair to say that one only feels happiness or joy when one’s subconscious believes that it is making progress towards survival. I often feel happy at the delight of other people around me, even my pet cats. My cat’s having fun chasing each other around, or playing video games with my nephews are both things that are fun for me to do, but don’t support my personal survival at all.

I don’t think that “happiness” itself is not a goal but is a reward that is hardwired into us, for achieving goals that our genes have for us, or goals that we have for ourselves. The most meaningful things that I have done in my life were far more work and pain than happiness.

I agree. I think happiness is never achieve by a direct attempt to obtain it. It is a bank shot that comes from being concerned about the happiness of others.

 

[quatona]

I believe it is. I think many Christians will also agree. The idea of heaven is basically about enjoying life and being perfectly happy. Heaven also seems to be the end of the road, so it must be the ultimate state of being according to the bible.

If you don't think happiness is the ultmate state of being then what do you think is?

I might not understand what exactly you mean when saying "happiness".
I personally understand myself as evolving, changing, developing - and that implies to me that "being in a state"(whatever that state may be) is not ideal for me.

 

[Rowan]

Are you talking about the subjective, fuzzy feelings type of happy? If so, I don't think this is the ultimate state of being, or above all others. There are better things to strive for, like the objective happiness or...

eudaimonia

= Living excellently....

 

[relaxeus]

I might not understand what exactly you mean when saying "happiness".

I mean enjoying life, feeling good and having a big on your face kinda happiness. Ultimately, I would like the end of the road to lead to a society where everyone feels good and is enjoying life 24/7.

 

[relaxeus]

Are you talking about the subjective, fuzzy feelings type of happy? If so, I don't think this is the ultimate state of being, or above all others. There are better things to strive for, like the objective happiness.

I don't know what the distinction is between objective happiness and subjective happiness. Care to explain?

 

[Eudaimonist]

There are better things to strive for, like the objective happiness or...
= Living excellently....

eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[Eudaimonist]

I don't know what the distinction is between objective happiness and subjective happiness. Care to explain?

When Spock says "live long and prosper", he is wishing objective happiness for you.

Think of it as a life in which you are able to develop your talents and grow as a person, and generally to live excellently and find wellbeing. Personal flourishing, i.e. "objective happiness", is often associated with "subjective happiness" because it creates the firm foundation from which happy feelings are likely to arise.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[Mskedi]

I would consider myself a happy person. That doesn't mean that I am constantly happy, though, nor is being constantly happy some lofty goal I'd like to achieve.

There are too many things in the world that are awful and need my attention for me to be constantly happy. And I honestly don't think I could achieve constant happiness unless I knew everyone else was happy, too.

Besides, I think we human beings thrive on at least moderate amounts of drama. Heaven may be wonderful, and I'm sure it will be, but from an earthly perspective it seems kind of boring.

 

[relaxeus]

When Spock says "live long and prosper", he is wishing objective happiness for you.

Think of it as a life in which you are able to develop your talents and grow as a person, and generally to live excellently and find wellbeing. Personal flourishing, i.e. "objective happiness", is often associated with "subjective happiness" because it creates the firm foundation from which happy feelings are likely to arise.

Thanks. Both objective and subjective happiness are important to complete happiness. So, I think complete happiness is the ultimate state of existence. This is what I meant when using the word happiness in the OP.

 

[Rowan]

I don't know what the distinction is between objective happiness and subjective happiness. Care to explain?

Eudaimonist explained it well.

Eudaimonist ~

Thanks. Both objective and subjective happiness are important to complete happiness. So, I think complete happiness is the ultimate state of existence. This is what I meant when using the word happiness in the OP.