My Thoughts: The Lost Virtue of Happiness
The Lost Virtue of Happiness: Discovering the Disciplines of the Good Life, by J.P. Moreland and Klaus Issler, both philosophy professors at Biola University, was one of the best books I have read this summer. I found this book to be very thought provoking and practical at the same time. While I was reading this book, I could not stop thinking of a book called Renovation of the Heart by Dallas Willard. I found that many of the ideas in Moreland’s book were similar to the ideas in Willard’s book. I think that one of the main ideas this book was trying to get at was the importance of spiritual formation. As I have found out with this book and previous study on the topic, it is indispensable for the believer in Jesus Christ.
The book starts out by taking a look at today’s view of happiness and the ancient view of happiness. It shows just how far away and messed up a view of happiness that we have. Then it goes into the idea, and another main idea in the book, that in order to gain true happiness, we must reject ourselves and serve. The beginning of happiness is taking up our cross just as Jesus did. Once we do this, than we must transform our entire self. The book gives practical ways of dealing with this such as participating spiritual disciplines for example. Some of the activities you can participate in are spending time in silence, solitude, mediation, journaling, intellectual reading, study, fasting, and being mentored. It is hard, if not impossible, to get close to God and being happy without doing any of these spiritual disciplines.
The book concludes with a chapter that is all about cultivating spiritual friendships. It shows through Biblical texts some of the characteristics of a spiritual friendship. It states over and over again that we cannot live life alone. Friendships are essential for our spiritual growth on this earth.
This book has inspired me to do some of these spiritual disciplines on my private time. I am striving to make these disciplines habits in my life.
All in all, it was a very good book. It was deep, understandable, and practical all at the same time. It challenged me to better myself and the relationships I am in. I will say that all Christians should read this book at some point in their lives, especially when you feel like you are going through a spiritual dry spell. I think this book will help motivate any believer. This book gets 4.60 stars out of 5.
Next Book: The Great Omission, by Dallas Willard
The book starts out by taking a look at today’s view of happiness and the ancient view of happiness. It shows just how far away and messed up a view of happiness that we have. Then it goes into the idea, and another main idea in the book, that in order to gain true happiness, we must reject ourselves and serve. The beginning of happiness is taking up our cross just as Jesus did. Once we do this, than we must transform our entire self. The book gives practical ways of dealing with this such as participating spiritual disciplines for example. Some of the activities you can participate in are spending time in silence, solitude, mediation, journaling, intellectual reading, study, fasting, and being mentored. It is hard, if not impossible, to get close to God and being happy without doing any of these spiritual disciplines.
The book concludes with a chapter that is all about cultivating spiritual friendships. It shows through Biblical texts some of the characteristics of a spiritual friendship. It states over and over again that we cannot live life alone. Friendships are essential for our spiritual growth on this earth.
This book has inspired me to do some of these spiritual disciplines on my private time. I am striving to make these disciplines habits in my life.
All in all, it was a very good book. It was deep, understandable, and practical all at the same time. It challenged me to better myself and the relationships I am in. I will say that all Christians should read this book at some point in their lives, especially when you feel like you are going through a spiritual dry spell. I think this book will help motivate any believer. This book gets 4.60 stars out of 5.
Next Book: The Great Omission, by Dallas Willard
posted by Puerto Rican Daddy Esta' Aqui!!! at
12:37 AM
5 Comments:
If this book only gets a 4.6, yet it was a book "that all Christians should read" and "one of the best books I (you) have read this summer"... then WHAT book on your rating scale can get a 5? I see you don't like to give those out too often; that's good though, you know, keeping the bar raised high.
Correct I do not like to give out 5's very often. On my scale, any book that is the 4's is an extremely well done book. But to get a 5, you have to absolutely blow me away. Any 5 I give will automatically be my next favorite book.
Hey Adam, I like this post, But I do have a question... you said that this book talks about spiritual happiness. If some one is being persicuted and is running for there lives while preaching God's word... could they be spiritually happy while doing that? Just reading this question, you might think, "well, of course because if they are truely God's servant then they are". Well, the impression that I get from you blog is that if you do those things mentioned in the book that there is no way that you couldn't be happy... I have to think that the persicuted Christian would still have doubts due to be a human being. Now that I think about that, I guess that wasn't much of a question but I still would like to hear your philosophical point of view
~~Brittany Sims
Brittany, if it helps, you can read my latest blog in regards to the book "Jesus Freaks". It is about the very subject you were asking about. I don't know if it will answer your question, but it may shed some light on the issue. You can check it out at: nowliveit.blogspot.com
Thanks Lyhzzee, I'll check it out
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