Worldview 101

First, ask them what they think your goal is for their lives. Don’t put words into their mouths. Ask their friends what they think their parent’s goals are for their lives. Unless you (or someone else) has trained them specifically to answer this question you will probably be surprised to hear such answers as, “Go to college (or get a good education).” “Make money.” “Get a good job.” or even something as trivial as “Keep the house clean.” When we ask children at our worldview seminars this question, these are the type of answers we get (with many of the children looking like a deer in headlights — not having a clue as to what we might be talking about).

Secondly, ask your children and friends what brings happiness.

Aristotle said “Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.”

Is that true? Is that why we are here? To achieve happiness? The Westminster Catechism says that the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Is that true?

Within the last two days I’ve read two different articles regarding this subject matter. One article, found in the July edition of Reader’s Digest, is entitled “Why We’re Happy.” The other article is a chapter in a book my son has been assigned to read before attending Summit Semester next fall. The book is called “The Best Things in Life” by Peter Kreeft. The book is “A contemporary Socrates taking a look at power, pleasure, truth and the good life.”

The Reader Digest articles includes some great quotes to mull over (I’ll post a few at the end of this post) and I find myself agreeing with many of the conclusions drawn by the author, Arthur C. Brooks. He explains that many relate financial success with happiness but then he points out why that’s an erroneous conclusion. He condudes that happiness comes from a life that reflects values and practices like faith, hard work, marriage, charity, and freedom.

In the book, “The Best Things in Life” the dialogue between the modern day Socrates and a university student requires one to use logic and reasoning in order to follow along and, as much as one would like to be told the answer, one must, rather, think for himself and come to his own conclusions. Here’s part of the discussion:

Socrates (asking Peter why he’s hoping to get a good job so he can have money): What benefit to yourself do you hope the money from a well-paying job will bring you?

Peter: All sorts of things. The good life. Fun and games. Leisure.

Socrates: I see. And you are now giving up fun and games for some serious studying so that you can pass your exams and your courses and get your degree.

Peter: Right. It’s called “delayed gratification.” I could be watching the football game right now, or playing poker. But I’m putting my time in the bank. It’s an investment for the future. You see, when I’m set up in a good job, I’ll be able to call my own shots.

Socrates: You mean you will then have leisure and be able to watch football games or play poker whenever you wish.

Peter: Right.

Socrates: Why don’t you just do those things right now?

Peter: What?

Socrates: Why do you work instead of play if all you want to do is play? You’re working now so that years from now you can have enough money to afford leisure to play. But you can play now. So why take the long, hard road if you’re already home? It seems to be another circle back to where you started from, where you are now.

Pter: Are you telling me I should just drop out of school and goof off?

Socrates: No, I am telling you that you should find a good reason to be here. I don’t think you have found that. Shall we keep searching?

Peter Kreeft’s Socrates books do encourage one to ponder and think deeply about life. It’s important that we teach our children what the scriptures teach about life, and goals, and happiness!

Daniel Boone said, “All you need for happiness is a good gun, a good horse, and a good wife.”

Arnold Schwarzenegger said, “Being passionate about something is the key to success. But using that passion to help others is the key to happiness.”

George Washington said, “Happiness and moral duty are inspearably connected.” (Which is worth evaluating because what if one man’s happiness was the result of torturing another man????)

Christ Rock said, “I’m happy if everybody else is.” (What kind of statement is that?)

What do you think? Is happiness a goal for which to strive? Are we entitled to happiness or just to the pursuit of happiness? What do the scriptures teach?