Isn't happiness dependent upon what each individual wants out of life, and not God?

Question

Following up on Bettie's question, I would assume that you can reach the "maximum level of happiness" (as quoted from one of the answers on Bettie's question) without God, because if you're an atheist, your wants and needs have absolutely nothing to do with God. So if your wants/needs are fulfilled, voila, you're happy, no God required. Correct?

Answer 1

I must be delusional, because this bad happy feels good...=0)

Answer 2

Ah! Great question. (I didn't see Bettie's question).

It depends what you believe God to be. I believe God to be LOVE. The Power of Love. It's not a separate entity. It's within us. It works through us. And so really - according to my way of thinking - there are not really hardly any atheists - 'cause everybody believes in love - right? And tapping into the Power of Love is what brings happiness. So God (the way I see it) is pretty much required.

Answer 3

remember that with out laws we would be uncontrolled human beings. Laws in this country keep us happy because it keeps a majority of the people from going bloody insane on each other. The same with the commandments given to us from God we are our happiest when we live and abide by these laws...it is promise given to us by God in scripture. So essentially, if we abide by these laws we are blessed and blessings keep us happy they come in the form of the idea that God blesses us with what we need to keep us happy. Also, not all atheist do not believe or condemn the idea that there is no God. For the record, only strong atheist do. The original definition of atheism is someone who "lacks belief in God" and not doesnt believe that there is a God. Only strong atheist believe that. (http://www.2think.org/hii/atheism.shtml)

Answer 4

Linz,
but the antithesis to this point is that if one "does not have wants/needs fulfilled, voila, one is NOT happy, and therefore God IS required". Therefore, I say that your answer is not "correct" but dependent upon quantitative and qualitative variables unknown but to the person who holds them true to him/herself.

I admit it is rather easy to follow this logic and then answer as some have with "Correct" in their statements, but it is "Incorrect" to consider this to be "Correct". Even seemingly happy people are not necessarily happy.

I was reading a report today in a major newspaper (identity of newspaper left out to protect my location) that the suicide rate in the U.S. Army is at the highest rate since the first Persian Gulf War. The Army is citing "...failed intimate relationships as the primary reason that Soldiers are taking their lives." Some of these suicides have occurred in combat zones and some away from (Stateside) combat zones. The Army further admits that frequent deployments put a strain on relationships; however, they fall short of stating that deployment combat and suicide are a direct cause of the failed marriages. Well! Looks as though "God" could have helped some people here to "help themselves" to some happiness.

Maybe the question should read "Are there really happy people who have what they want out of life?" And follow it up with "Are there really happy people who have YET to reach what they want out of life?". Also, "Are there unhappy people who have what they want out of life?"; and, "Are there unhappy people who have YET to reach what they want out life?"

The unknown? Even seemingly happy people are not necessarily happy. Only the individual can answer this on a case by case basis. There are no "wrong" answers to this by the way (as you know).

Best to you!

Answer 5

Happiness is dependent on ones outward circumstances.

WE are promised the "joy of the Lord"...which is quite a different animal altogether.

JOY is not dependent on outward circumstances, but is something deep and abiding that over rides circumstances, and comes from KNOWING that we ARE indeed reconciled to God thru the death , burial and resurrection of His SON.

The Peace OF God comes thru Knowing you have Peace WITH God.

That is true happiness AND joy.

Feelings are fickle and can change day by day , or minute by minute. My happiness has nothing to do with "feelings " but with believing FACTS that God has given me to embrace.

No one can fulfil our real needs but God Himself...He created us and knows best how we function at our optimum best. Without HIM, this is an impossibilty.

Answer 6

Yes, but one answer to Betty's question say.
Yikes...an atheist can never REALLY be happy.

So I guess it depends on your belief in the eyes of some people.

Answer 7

If your religion teaches you that the only possible path to true happiness is through that particular religion, then I can see why you'd have a difficult time believing that anyone who doesn't believe in that religion is happy.
The Abrahamic religions don't really seem to allow room for anyone else to have legitimate human emotions or live a fulfilling life.

Answer 8

Since happiness has been shown to be just some drugs in the brain, I would think that happiness could be best supplied by the local drug dealer.

Answer 9

Anybody can have temporary happiness....Christians aren't people who found a need for temporary happiness.
The happiness that God gives is long-lasting....eternal.

People, who have flaws..let you down. Even if/when their intentions are good..they let you down. So we can't base our happiness on what people can do for us/to us.... Primarily because they're human and have flaws. (In the same boat with us because everyone makes mistakes.) And everyone knows there's no sustenance of life in material things.

We depend on God for our happiness because He is the only one who is able to give that to us with no flaws....

Answer 10

True.

Happiness and contentment come from how you value the things around you. If you value people, then being with and helping other people will make you happy. If you value nature, then being around nature and studying nature will make you happy. Technology makes some people happy. There are even those who are happy when debating and arguing. We all have different goals in life.

I'm sure the concept of God makes some people happy, or they've been trained to feel happy about it. However, there are no real gods around, so it is just a fantasy.