Why do some Christians seem so unhappy and/or angry?

Post Reply New Topic

I realize that not all understand as I do. Obviously I see some advantage or gain in that understanding that some others do not, but what I pursue is literally happiness. I wonder why others that profess to seeking the same as I just aren't happy? I hope I'm not just a dumb Quaker.

A few preconditions to posting please.

No "they're not happy because it's not true" remarks. You'd probably use the wrong form of "they're" anyway, like their, or there, so don't go there.
No "it's all just BS", because "all" includes Star Trek.
No "he is just a dumb Quaker" remarks. I set myself up with that I will knock myself down if need be.
No pissing me off.

I was extremely satisfied with my oatmeal today. Thank you.

Are you sure that you are actually a Christian, in the relevant sense?

If we define a Christian as "somebody who believes the Nicene Creed", then not all Quakers are Christians. I mean, do you believe that Jesus was born of a virgin, performed supernatural miracles and rose from the dead?

No, we have no creed. I believe what I read is probably true. Probably born of a virgin, asked his Father to perform the miracles, which he then did. Definitely rose from the dead, or else what's the frakking point! That is why I am happy. Not because I have been "saved from some horrible eternal fate", but rather because he demonstrated that immortally can be assigned to a mortal being! My mind goes into Windows blue-screen thinking about it...

Is Christianity meant to produce happiness in a believer? Elijah didn't seem all that happy, but God still liked the guy enough to send a chariot of fire to cart him away to the afterlife.

There are many reasons why people find themselves unhappy when their path promises happiness.

Not everyone is really wired to be Christian. One must also remember that a few Christian denominations actually believe if they aren't suffering they aren't close to god. The Catholic concept of the Stigmata is a good example of this.

There also seems to be this martyr complex for many Christians. It's often identified as a 'persecution complex'. This over-dramatization of their own beliefs makes them miserable. After all, they believe people are out to take their right to worship away. Seems paranoid to me, and I know all too well how miserable paranoia can make you.

YES!



Elijah wasn't Christian...he lived around 900BC.

If I believed that Christianity is true, I think that I would be both more happy and more unhappy than I currently am.

On the one hand, I would be happier, because life would be simpler. There is a simple purpose to life, simple rules to follow, and a reward at the end!

On the other hand, I wouldn't be as happy, because life would lose a lot of its absurd beauty if the deepest questions had such a boring answer.

I've always thought that following God meant following God, regardless of what the date happens to be.

What questions and what answer would be boring?

Please reread why I am happy. No, I'll make it easy...

For example, the question "why is there something rather than nothing?"

This is a very interesting question, and sometimes I like to think about it for like a minute at a time, and let the strangeness of the concept wash over me. But if the answer is "there is something rather than nothing because a person called God created everything", it's such a shallow answer. It involves persons, for heaven's sake! How can that be the answer to such a deep question?

And the question, "why are there so many religions in the world, what do they have in common, and why do they exist?" How can the answer be
"one of the religions is correct, the others are mistaken." It doesn't fit!

I did. Elijah actually performed many of the same miracles that Jesus did, and is generally thought to be a lesser type, or foreshadowing, of Christ.

Christ, even, was unhappy and expressed it in some of the most eloquent passages in the Bible.

Did you see that!

Yep, and I agree - it's an incredible reality.

My only point is that he also demonstrated the pure humanity of the whole spectrum of emotional states. One doesn't have to be happy all the time, though it's a lofty goal to work towards, nonetheless.

Some Christian denominations put a lot of emphasis on the whole vale of tears thing. Humans are here on Earth to suffer and feel miserable, and only get their reward in heaven. It's understandable that they don't feel very happy about their earthly lot when they are told that the world is a horrible, sinful place ruled by Satan. Happiness in such a place can only be sin If you feel good, you're doing something forbidden. Puritanism in a nutshell.