Jinnderella links to my Maladapted post. Among other things, she says:
My friends that are observant Jews seem very happy, and have an exceptionally high "goodness coefficient".
My very unscientific observation agrees with Jinnderella's first, that observant Jews tend to be happier than average. I'm not so sure about the "goodness coefficient" though. It seems to me that there are a lot of good people out there, I have seldom met someone whom I consider "not good". In fact, I agree with something a secular Jew once told me, he said: "I don't think we should need God to be good." At the time I answered: "Judaism is not just about being good, it's about how to live life."
I once overheard a conversation between an observant Jew (OJ) and a non-observant Jew (NJ) that went like this:
NJ: Do you think that you are better than me because you are observant?
OJ: No, but I think I am better than I would be if I weren't.
I think everyone should feel this way about where they're at. If they don't, they should do something about it.
On further thought, though, it occurs to me that it's much easier to be good, when you're also happy.
Posted by David Boxenhorn at December 23, 2004 09:45 PMMy very unscientific observation agrees with Jinnderella's first, that observant Jews tend to be happier than average.
I know that you prefaced this by saying that it is unscientific, but I cannot help but wonder how we can really measure happiness in a way that allows us to gauge one person's happiness versus another.
Some people require books to be happy, others jewelry. Assuming that you have an unlimited supply of either how would you measure their happiness.
And it raises the question of values, but that is a different discussion altogether.
Posted by: Jack at December 24, 2004 08:26 AM PermalinkThe happiness/satisfaction also comes from the knowledge that by living according to halacha, instead of against it, there's less to feel guilty about. There's a peace, personal peace.
Posted by: muse at December 24, 2004 11:20 AM PermalinkThat only works for people who believe in it.
Posted by: Jack at December 25, 2004 08:29 AM PermalinkI meet a lot of bad people in the world. Like Gene Berman and emo-fans.
Posted by: jinnderella at December 28, 2004 06:50 PM PermalinkPeople that like that whiny "Oh-my-grrlfriend-dumped-me-and-now-i-want-to-diiiiiieeeeeee" music. Bands like Modest Mouse and Dashboard Confessional. Guys that wear too tight t-shirts and backwards billed caps, and emote all the time. Ugh! ;)
Posted by: jinnderella at December 28, 2004 07:09 PM Permalink