Would you prefer a happy life or a meaningful life?

[humble soul]

This theme was covered in a YouTube video I watched recently. I will add later.
A happy life might be a life without any tragic events or trauma. It might look like a happy marriage full of kids and love with a stable job. Lots of interesting travel.
A meaningful life might have trauma and tragedy. Losing a parent when young. A serious physical disease. But these events make that person stronger and they learn to dig deep to discover hidden potentials.
These are only examples. You can make it what you want.
I might think a doctor who goes to a poor country and helps their health system, is leadings meaningful life. I might think someone who spends their whole life selling real estate, less meaningful. But that is not necessarily true.
I think I do prefer a life without tragedy and trauma. Wouldn't I be strange to think otherwise? But if I look back on some of my struggles, they did add some meaning to my life. Perhaps I have more empathy for people who suffered similar.

 

[humble soul]

Wouldn't a Christian's answer be "happiness in this life is unimportant. Happiness comes in the next life. I am here to serve the Lord" ?

 

[humble soul]

 

[Hopeful]

This theme was covered in a YouTube video I watched recently. I will add later.
A happy life might be a life without any tragic events or trauma. It might look like a happy marriage full of kids and love with a stable job. Lots of interesting travel.
A meaningful life might have trauma and tragedy. Losing a parent when young. A serious physical disease. But these events make that person stronger and they learn to dig deep to discover hidden potentials.
These are only examples. You can make it what you want.
I might think a doctor who goes to a poor country and helps their health system, is leadings meaningful life. I might think someone who spends their whole life selling real estate, less meaningful. But that is not necessarily true.
I think I do prefer a life without tragedy and trauma. Wouldn't I be strange to think otherwise? But if I look back on some of my struggles, they did add some meaning to my life. Perhaps I have more empathy for people who suffered similar.

MY meaningful life makes me happy.

 

[Hopeful]

Wouldn't a Christian's answer be "happiness in this life is unimportant. Happiness comes in the next life. I am here to serve the Lord" ?

As the Lord has given us all things, so we may live life more abundantly, (John 10:10), there is no reason not to be happy. Especially with the end goal in sight.
There may be sad moments, even terrifying ones, but we know the Lord endured the same things as we do and He was victorious in the end.
So too can we be victorious.

 

[humble soul]

As the Lord has given us all things, so we may live life more abundantly, (John 10:10), there is no reason not to be happy. Especially with the end goal in sight.
There may be sad moments, even terrifying ones, but we know the Lord endured the same things as we do and He was victorious in the end.
So too can we be victorious.

I think faith can help us to minimise anxiety.
Stop worrying about less important things.
This is why people choose religions like Christianity. It gives their life meaning.

 

[humble soul]

What about pleasure? Eating good food? Drinking alcohol with friends?
Isn't that part of happiness?

 

[Hopeful]

I think faith can help us to minimise anxiety.
Stop worrying about less important things.
This is why people choose religions like Christianity. It gives their life meaning.

I agree with the crux of your POV, but there are no other religions like Christianity.

 

[humble soul]

Jesus partied with the apostles, didn't he?

 

[Hopeful]

Jesus partied with the apostles, didn't he?

Yes, at Canaan when He made the water turn into wine.
There is a difference between partying and drunkenness.

 

[humble soul]

I agree with the crux of your POV, but there are no other religions like Christianity.

I think it's the best one. The only theistic religion where God sacrifices himself for us . God tries to come down to our level. Sacrificial love, represented by the cross, is a powerful symbol .

 

[Hopeful]

I think it's the best one. The only theistic religion where God sacrifices himself for us . God tries to come down to our level. Sacrificial love, represented by the cross, is a powerful symbol .

Amen.

 

[humble soul]

Yes, at Canaan when He made the water turn into wine.
There is a difference between partying and drunkenness.

I thought Jesus was tipsy when praying in Gethsemine no?

 

[Hopeful]

I think faith can help us to minimise anxiety.
Stop worrying about less important things.
This is why people choose religions like Christianity. It gives their life meaning.

I agree.
By serving a gracious God, we see how small and insignificant we are and how much effort God puts into keeping us fed, housed, and clothed, etc.
He is worthy of our every effort to bring Him glory.

 

[Hopeful]

I thought Jesus was tipsy when praying in Gethsemane, no?

You have a very different impression of our Lord than I do.

 

[humble soul]

You have a very different impression of our Lord than I do.

God became human. Whether Jesus drank alcohol or not shouldn't be of concern. He was perfect in a different way.