As I was driving home from bible study and worship service today I came to a realization. It's not that all christians are joyful, even though they should be, but the only people I've come across in my life that I would consider joyful have been christians. I see joy as different than happiness, in that it is a deeper contentment, and is there whether one's life is going well or not. It's present even in times of great sickness and dying. It's knowing that, no matter what happens, things are okay--not just that they will be okay, but they are okay.
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Another Good Reason to be a Christian
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Ignorance is bliss.
Appeal to consequence.
Got evidence?
Even if the open windows of science at first make us shiver after the cozy indoor warmth of traditional humanizing myths, in the end the fresh air brings vigor, and the great spaces have a splendor of their own - Bertrand Russell
 RE: Another Good Reason to be a Christian
April 19, 2015 at 5:02 pm
(This post was last modified: April 19, 2015 at 5:03 pm by robvalue.)
OK. How is this different to any other religion?
I've certainly noticed no such trend, if anything the opposite. I'm not sure if you're just explaining your own reasons, if so that's cool. But I hope you can see that becoming a Christian, or joining any other religion, is not a choice a sceptic could make without just pretending to believe all the necessary stuff. 
I guess the OP has never watched Neil deGrasse Tyson speak about...well anything! That man has more joy about life than anyone I've ever seen.
But there probably is some truth that Christians are often happier (I know OP wants to claim joy, but studies show happiness) than those who are irreligious. It's a lot like being 3 again. Knowing someone smarter and more grown up than you will take care of everything in the end, that you are safe, and that "someone" loves you, even in your darkest hour could be a comforting belief. Doesn't make it a true belief though.  RE: Another Good Reason to be a Christian
April 19, 2015 at 5:05 pm
(This post was last modified: April 19, 2015 at 5:06 pm by Longhorn.)
Personally I've found that dealing with reality, however harsh it may be at times, is much more comforting and brings much more happiness than clinging on to a delusion.
It must be nice to be able to truly and deeply believe that there is an omnipotent being with our best interest at heart, but the mental gymnastics one must perform to remain ignorant of the reality which suggests otherwise must be exhausting. Just as it must be nice to believe Elvis is still alive, or that the Holocaust didn't happen. Generally it must feel pretty dang great to be sincerely able to pretend everything is peachy. This may sound morbid, and it probably is, but I take a great deal of comfort in knowing that I'm going to die. In about 5 billion years, the sun will blow up and nothing I've ever cared about will matter. I'm happy with that. Additionally, Christianity bears all sorts of pain with it - unjustified guilt, sexual suppression and the threat of eternal torture. Personally I've become much happier since I left religion. But hey, if it gives you so much joy, awesome. Congratulations. Keep being happy. Just bear in mind it does not necessarily work like that for everyone. 
You should meet other people...
The fool hath said in his heart, There is a God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
Psalm 14, KJV revised edition
I guess I can sort of see the attraction. It's a bit like handing over some responsibility. It's a bit like getting drunk. It's taking a bit of a step back from reality.
I'd love to step back from reality. I'd quite easily get smashed off my face and not deal with anything. Sadly, I have to deal with the real world as it is. Believing stuff is just going to be OK is fine, as long as it doesn't lead to complacency.  (April 19, 2015 at 4:54 pm)Lek Wrote: As I was driving home from bible study and worship service today I came to a realization. It's not that all christians are joyful, even though they should be, but the only people I've come across in my life that I would consider joyful have been christians. I see joy as different than happiness, in that it is a deeper contentment, and is there whether one's life is going well or not. It's present even in times of great sickness and dying. It's knowing that, no matter what happens, things are okay--not just that they will be okay, but they are okay. I think you need to get out more. Seriously. There are a number of religions that can produce what you are speaking of, Buddhism (which is atheist) is one of them. Yoga with or without woo, seems to produce much of the same. So does meditation, with or without god. A number of artists, musicians, and deep thinking scientists seem to have it. Terry Pratchet appears to have had it. And while I've met Christians who are as you describe, I've not met many.
If there is a god, I want to believe that there is a god. If there is not a god, I want to believe that there is no god.
 RE: Another Good Reason to be a Christian
April 19, 2015 at 5:11 pm
(This post was last modified: April 19, 2015 at 5:13 pm by Pyrrho.)
"A wise man ... proportions his belief to the evidence." — David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section X, Part I.
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