Stan Posted July 2, 2008 Posted July 2, 2008 Source Who would have thought.... Denmark.... Hmm seems to be a lot of us Danes here... Quote If you receive benefit to being here please help out with expenses. https://www.paypal.me/clubadventist Administrator of a few websites like https://adventistdating.com
Members phkrause Posted July 2, 2008 Members Posted July 2, 2008 Stan I just read an article that Israel is the happiest nation. pkrause Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Moderators John317 Posted July 2, 2008 Moderators Posted July 2, 2008 I'm not sure that being "happy" is necessarily the best thing for a nation. The great nations of the world-- those who accomplished the most-- were not happy but struggled through great suffering and national pain. Almost the whole of American history, particularly the most formative years, has been one of suffering and struggle. Similarly with China and Russia. Writers and artists are the same. They produced their best work as a result of experiences with some kind of struggle and suffering. Christianity itself, of course, was born out of suffering, and the New Testament calls disciples of Christ to complete the suffering of Christ in their own lives. In other words, as Christians we are not to seek our own personal happiness but are to be willing to sacrifice our personal happiness for the sake of others. Our own suffering can make us either bitter and angry or it can help us to sympathize and help others who are suffering. Does making happiness our national or individual goal agree with God's instructions in Genesis 3: 16-20? It seems to me that this view is more in line with Epicureanism, which is close to hedonism, a form of Playboy philosophy. It says the end (goal) of life is happiness; pleasure the sole intrinsic good; the absence of pain and suffering the greatest pleasure. Do Christians believe this? What is the goal of life for the disciple of Christ? Is it possible that this view is related to the fact that the gospel of Christ does not appear to be particularly welcome in northern Europe and North America and is more accepted in areas where there is greater suffering and unhappiness? Quote John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
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