tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post6575099350555188896..comments2023-11-03T11:37:04.473+00:00Comments on nothing new under the sun: Happinessbyron smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17938334606675769903noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-2181851757623373322008-10-21T12:57:00.000+01:002008-10-21T12:57:00.000+01:00What then is joy? This is a question that has been...What then is joy? This is a question that has been on my mind for some time. <BR/><BR/>Paul says that it is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5.22), and the thrust of his command in Phil 4.4 is "rejoice IN THE LORD." I am reading the book, 'Paul, the Spirit and the People of God' by Gordon Fee and he says that in Galatians Paul is primarily speaking about the church, not individuals as exhibiting this bigdoghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07230715637685272434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-63836806527206692902008-10-16T01:34:00.000+01:002008-10-16T01:34:00.000+01:00Wow, I learnt a new word - happenstance.Wow, I learnt a new word - happenstance.Matthew Moffitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00546422699620482793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-6500887341224633972008-10-15T15:34:00.000+01:002008-10-15T15:34:00.000+01:00I love that photo too. It makes me happy.I love that photo too. It makes me happy.jessica smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12387186546476608523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-1040717299790309802008-10-15T13:29:00.000+01:002008-10-15T13:29:00.000+01:00Yep - I think I'd give a similar account. I think ...Yep - I think I'd give a similar account. I think Lewis might discuss the distinction between joy and happiness in <I>Surprised by Joy</I>. Happiness and happenstance derive from the same root (which does indeed have to do with luck). However, etymology can be overplayed; what is crucial is contemporary contextual use.byron smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17938334606675769903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-78258509066527098752008-10-15T12:51:00.000+01:002008-10-15T12:51:00.000+01:00Well, I've heard (mainly from APK) that the word h...Well, I've heard (mainly from APK) that the word happy has something to do with chance or luck. And I guess that happiness is something that is bound to move and change with your mood and what is happening around you minute by minute.<BR/><BR/>Joy on the other hand, is different. Paul can write about being joyful to the Philippians when he is gaol, potentially facing executing. He doesn't talk Matthew Moffitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00546422699620482793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-32345505341585034042008-10-15T10:28:00.000+01:002008-10-15T10:28:00.000+01:00Drew - yes, this is actually part of Spaemann's di...Drew - yes, this is actually part of Spaemann's discussion later in the chapter (or maybe it's in the next chapter, I can't remember), that Christianity brings a Copernican revolution in ethics through the denial of the possibility of human happiness under present conditions. Yet he also points out (and this is equally important) that it refuses to simply give in to despair due to the momentary byron smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17938334606675769903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-85814282843769156472008-10-15T00:49:00.000+01:002008-10-15T00:49:00.000+01:00Is it happiness that we should be aiming for, or j...Is it happiness that we should be aiming for, or joy?Matthew Moffitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00546422699620482793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-91746797903062155232008-10-15T00:24:00.000+01:002008-10-15T00:24:00.000+01:00(Love the photo, by the way)(Love the photo, by the way)Drewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03148452877425621293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-59319892922199613882008-10-15T00:17:00.000+01:002008-10-15T00:17:00.000+01:00I'm interested in the three alternatives. Despair...I'm interested in the three alternatives. Despair is interesting I think, because it denies the other two: refuses to compromise, and refuses to be satisfied by human attempts, (and perhaps the key ingredient), is not satisfied that human wisdom on this matter is capable of encompassing the issue. Perhaps we are not at despair yet, only disillusionment.<BR/><BR/>But perhaps we must travel part Drewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03148452877425621293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-19060234755931127002008-10-14T23:34:00.000+01:002008-10-14T23:34:00.000+01:00Isn't he The Most Reveverend?Isn't he The Most Reveverend?Matthew Moffitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00546422699620482793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-91417317993072531302008-10-14T15:52:00.000+01:002008-10-14T15:52:00.000+01:00I concede the Very Rev's beef, though in his defen...I concede the Very Rev's beef, though in his defence, Spaeman is making a negative rather than a constructive point at this stage of his argument.byron smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17938334606675769903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-9989230615720224942008-10-14T14:09:00.000+01:002008-10-14T14:09:00.000+01:00very good! the only thing i would be tempted to br...very good! <BR/><BR/>the only thing i would be tempted to bring into the 'discussion' would be that our happiness is not found in the abstract 'God'.<BR/><BR/>rather, happiness comes through the concrete disorientation with the empty tomb and risen Jesus. <BR/><BR/>i summon the very reverend williams:<BR/><BR/>"The dialectic of the resurrection stories is the dialectic of all our worship and the donhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12700953672074556736noreply@blogger.com