@fmf saidI ask the question bearing in mind the fact that we are a community which sports a diverse jumble of believers and non-believers and in the hope that those on either side of the aisle do not use their answers in order to preach to their own choir.
What practical advice do believers have for non-believers seeking to maximize their happiness?
@fmf saidHere’s a quickly thought up list of ideas:
What practical advice - stemming from their own walk-the-walk faith-lives - do believers have for non-believers seeking to maximize their happiness ~ with the assumption being that seeking happiness through adopting the believers' religious faith is a non-starter?
1) Watch your health: good health seems to correlate strongly with good mental well being. This needs to take a higher priority in my own life.
2) Be authentic: in the contemporary world with social, political and peer pressures mounting on a seemingly weekly basis, it is important to reflect on who and what you really are, your principles and values.
3) plan for tomorrow but live for today: cliched yes, but a robust truism nevertheless. A life is not meant for a career, when is the right time to step back, stop even, or just change direction so that you stay on your strategic life course and not loose yourself in the attainment of money and things. Live in the moment.
4) be kind. Kindness is a catch-all for generosity, charity, helping others where you can. Being interested in other people who cross your life. The little things. Maybe the big things too.
5) Seek God: god doesn’t exist until you find him/her/it. Seek and you will find someone once said.
Bonus point:
6) stop arguing with strangers on the internet; it is a fruitless exercise. Play less video games; equally as pointless.
Warm regards,
dive
Edit: all 6, not just number 1, need to take a higher priority in my own life.
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@fmf saidForgive and forget, don’t hold grudges. Let it go, life is too short. And what Dive said. Some pearls of wisdom there.
What practical advice - stemming from their own walk-the-walk faith-lives - do believers have for non-believers seeking to maximize their happiness ~ with the assumption being that seeking happiness through adopting the believers' religious faith is a non-starter?
29 Apr 19
@divegeester saidI don't see how [1] [2] and [3] qualify as advice from a believer to a non-believer.
Here’s a quickly thought up list of ideas:
1) Watch your health: good health seems to correlate strongly with good mental well being. This needs to take a higher priority in my own life.
2) Be authentic: in the contemporary world with social, political and peer pressures mounting on a seemingly weekly basis, it is important to reflect on who and what you really are ...[text shortened]... arm regards,
dive
Edit: all 6, not just number 1, need to take a higher priority in my own life.
29 Apr 19
@divegeester saidThis one has got a recognizable whiff of your religion about it. Can you give any pragmatic examples of "generosity, charity, helping others" that would be likely to occur in a walk-the-walk faith-life that might not do so in a non-believer's life without advice from a believer?
4) be kind. Kindness is a catch-all for generosity, charity, helping others where you can. Being interested in other people who cross your life. The little things. Maybe the big things too.
29 Apr 19
@fmf saidI don’t understand why they wouldn’t; I’m a “believer” and that is the advice I would give to a non-believer.
I don't see how [1] [2] and [3] qualify as advice from a believer to a non-believer.
If any of my points were to be disqualified based on the parameters of your OP I would suggest number 5 could be in danger of exclusion.
29 Apr 19
@divegeester saidThis contravenes the last 15-16 words of the OP!
5) Seek God: god doesn’t exist until you find him/her/it. Seek and you will find someone once said.
I am also not sure how 'seeking god or gods', in and of itself, necessarily maximizes happiness.
29 Apr 19
@divegeester saidHow are they related specifically to you being a believer and why would they be insights into happiness that a non-believer might lack - specifically - as a result of not being a believer?
I don’t understand why they wouldn’t; I’m a “believer” and that is the advice I would give to a non-believer.
@fmf saidAgreed, I have contravened the OP guidelines with point 5. I assumed they were guidelines and not rules.
This contravenes the last 15-16 words of the OP!
I am also not sure how 'seeking god or gods', in and of itself, necessarily maximizes happiness.
However are you now permitting points 1, 2 and 3?
I am also not sure how 5 works but it worked for me and therefore would be my advice should I be asked. The recipient of my well meant advice could as easily choose to disregard point 5 as the could points 1 - 4 and 6.
Edit. I contest that point 5 is entirely in contravention of the OP guidelines as I am not encouraging the advicee to follow my religion.
29 Apr 19
@fmf saidNow I am unclear as to where to go next; am I permitted to discuss advice directly related to me being a “believer” or not?
How are they related specifically to you being a believer and why would they be insights into happiness that a non-believer might lack - specifically - as a result of not being a believer?
29 Apr 19
@divegeester saidYes. You are on the verge of being uncooperative with [5]. But if you were to say 'a hobby like studying theology /history /anthropology [etc.] and meeting people from different faiths and listening to their stories might make you happy', then it would pass muster.
If any of my points were to be disqualified based on the parameters of your OP I would suggest number 5 could be in danger of exclusion.
29 Apr 19
@fmf saidI shall consider this addendum to the guidelines and return with further proposals.
Yes. You are on the verge of being uncooperative with [5]. But if you were to say 'a hobby like studying theology /history /anthropology [etc.] and meeting people from different faiths and listening to their stories might make you happy', then it would pass muster.
29 Apr 19
@divegeester saidAre there things you think know ~ BECAUSE you are a believer [Christian in your case] ~ about maximizing happiness in one's life that you have reason to think non-believers might not know or understand - and benefit from. That might be a slightly more pointed question than the OP communicated to you.
Now I am unclear as to where to go next; am I permitted to discuss advice directly related to me being a “believer” or not?
29 Apr 19
@divegeester saidDo you think all things that maximize happiness have to be pointful and fruitful?
6) stop arguing with strangers on the internet; it is a fruitless exercise. Play less video games; equally as pointless.
Also, if arguing just for its own sake, [which is more or less what this forum is designed to facilitate] generates happiness to some degree, which is more likely to do so more successfully, arguing with strangers or arguing with people you know?