Why does it matter what religion a person is if they are happy?

Question

Isn't happiness a good sign?

Minni, do you really think murderers are truly happy? Do you really think they'd be happy if they knew of the harm they were causing? If such people KNEW BETTER, they'd realize a lot of things. Killers aren't happy when they realize what they've done. Same with all those that cause harm.

Answer 1

So very well said.The source of all peace of mind is dwelling right within us all in the form of the higher self.

Answer 2

Yes, it matters. People can be very happy about doing terrible things. Yes, people who harm others can be very happy people. Happiness is a state of mind; a murderer can be happy. That happiness may seem incredible to others because such behavior wouldn't make them happy, but that's not the point.

If a person's religion requires cruelty to others, persecution of others, and behavior which not only stagnates but damages one's character, it matters. If a person is happy because he or she has been bolstered by the notion that all non-believers are contemptible human beings not worthy of consideration, that's not a good sign.

Some people actually feel happy on illegal drugs. That's not a good sign. Others feel happy participating in devastating political regimes. Again, not a good sign. Happiness isn't a good sign. People have felt horrible doing incredibly good deeds; note key historical figures who've been physically harmed doing good deeds.

Answer 3

Is There a Sound Basis for Your Beliefs?
Your Right to Believe
You probably cherish your right to believe whatever you wish to believe. So does almost everyone else. By exercising this right, earth's six billion inhabitants have produced an amazing diversity of beliefs. Like the variations in color, shape, texture, taste, smell, and sound that we find in creation, differing beliefs often add interest, excitement, and enjoyment to life. Such variety can, indeed, be the spice of life.—Psalm 104:24.

BUT there is a need for caution. Some beliefs are not only different but also dangerous. Early in the 20th century, for example, some people came to believe that Jews and Freemasons had plans to "disrupt Christian civilization and erect a world state under their joint rule." One source of this belief was an anti-Semitic tract entitled Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion. The tract alleged that the plans included advocating excessive taxation, promoting armament production, encouraging giant monopolies so that 'Gentile wealth could be destroyed in one blow.' Allegations also included manipulating the education system so as to 'turn Gentiles into unthinking beasts,' and even constructing underground railways to join capital cities so that the Jewish elders could 'quell any opposers by blowing them sky-high.'

These, of course, were lies—designed to inflame anti-Semitic feelings. 'This preposterous fiction,' says Mark Jones of the British Museum, 'spread abroad from Russia,' where it first appeared in a newspaper article in 1903. It reached The Times of London on May 8, 1920. More than a year later, The Times exposed the document as a fake. In the meantime, the damage had been done. 'Lies like these,' says Jones, 'are hard to suppress.' Once people accept them, they produce some very jaundiced, poisonous, and dangerous beliefs—often with disastrous consequences, as the history of the 20th century has shown.—Proverbs 6:16-19.

Belief Versus Truth
Of course, it does not take deliberate lies to develop mistaken beliefs. At times, we just misread things. How many people have met untimely deaths doing something they believed was right? Then again, often we believe a thing simply because we want to believe it. One professor says that even scientists "often fall in love with their own constructions." Their beliefs becloud their critical judgment. Then they may spend a lifetime in vain trying to shore up mistaken beliefs.—Jeremiah 17:9.

Similar things have happened with religious beliefs—where immense contradictions exist. (1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Timothy 4:3, 4) One man has deep faith in God. Another says that the man is only "weaving faith out of moonshine." One maintains that you have an immortal soul that survives death. Another believes that when you die you cease to exist, totally and completely. Obviously, conflicting beliefs like these cannot all be true. Is it not the course of wisdom, then, to make sure that what you believe actually is true and not simply what you want to believe? (Proverbs 1:5) How can you do that? The following article will examine this subject.

http://www.watchtower.org/e/20010801/article_01.htm

Answer 4

It matters because not all religions are approved by God, including some religions that claim to follow the Christ. "And all the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will put the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on his left." (Matthew 25:32,33) If all religions were acceptable to God, then there would be no need for Christ to seperate the sheep (his followers) from those not following him (his non-followers).

Furthermore, Matthew 7:13, 14 says, "Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are the ones going in through it; whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road leading off into life, and few are the ones finding it." This means that only a few relative to the total amount living in the world will be saved for serving the true God, and the rest of the world will go off into destruction.

Serving the true God can make everyone happy, but since God does not accept just any kind of behavior from us, many people decide that they would rather live likfe how they want instead of how God wants, despite the benefits. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11) For example, the scripture I just quoted says, for one thing, that those practicing fornication willingly after finding out that God disapproves of it will not inherit God's kingdom. However, most people in the world would rather have sex outside of marriage, leading to shame, guilt, unwanted pregnancy and STDs. However, if we lived by God's standard of having sex only within marriage, then these things can be avoided. This is only one example of how serving the true God can make us happy.

Other things that can make us happy is knowing the truth (from the Bible) about what happens to the dead, who are God's true followers today, what is Armageddon and who will survive, and what will be mankinds future and the future of the earth?

If you wants answers to any of these questions or want to ask me another Bible question, please feel free to drop me a line.

Answer 5

If a person's happiness comes from worldly things which is temporary then it may not stay long.
But if a person is happy with whatever he is having or not, then he never need any religion.
Religions are supposed to help humans to reach this state of consciousness.
But truth is nowadays religions are misunderstood and led the people to suffer.

Answer 6

I suppose the difficulty of your question lies in the definition of happiness. Aristotle talks about that problem in the beginning of his Nichomachean Ethics. We all agree that happiness is the greatest good of a person; we disagree on what gets us there. Aristotle saw happiness residing in virtue in a person's life and actions, leading to a life of contemplation which provided the ultimate happiness since it links us directly to ultimate truth and goodness.

Most religions would agree with that assessment, even if their conceptions of God differ. What I think is a major difference is in the idea of virtue. Most people look at the virtues in terms of their own self-interest - even Aristotle's virtues are framed in that way. However, Christians and Jews see virtue differently. They see virtue in terms of forgetting yourself and serving the needs of others. Virtue is not about you as much as it is in caring for others. That's a key difference that I think gets closer to the truth about virtue and happiness than other systems.

Answer 7

Ignorance is bliss. It only matters if you care about truth. The believer has a responsiblity to discover truth, to learn and share knowledge of the truth. What good was served when Jim Jones' followers were "happy" in their deception? How about David Korreschs' group? I know these are extreme examples, but when they started, their delusions were small. Lies tend to grow into bigger problems.

Answer 8

Yes it does matter. False religion may lead to temporary happiness, having ones "ears tickled" (2Timothy 4:3). The truth on the other hand, may at first be painful to hear when it conflicts with cherished beliefs, traditions and practices. (Hebrews 12:9-11) But the temporary discomfort is worthwhile if we embrace the truth because it will lead to permanent, complete happiness.

Answer 9

I think one of the true measures of a religion is it's ability to help sustain and comfort a person during times of hardship and trouble. T4

Answer 10

religion isn't the important thing its the relationship having a savior and what is happiness if it goes no where or is only self fulfilling wheres the satisfaction in that believing in god is easy look around it believing that he loves you and wants a relationship with you so that you can know true happiness good luck buddy