Even in an age of instant gratification, life's best takes time and effort. What is happiness? The immediate gratification of our physical and emotional desires? A sense of satisfaction brought about through consumerism or other promises of short-term enjoyment?
Our twenty-first century views of happiness are not what the writers of the Bible had in mind. Nor is it what the ancient Greeks or the drafters of the Declaration of Independence envisioned. Such false ideas of happiness always leave us empty chasing the selfish and superficial.
Authors J. P. Moreland and Klaus Issler illustrate how we are only happy when we pursue a transcendent purpose--something larger than ourselves. This pursuit involves a deeply meaningful relationship with God through a selfless preoccupation with the spiritual disciplines. The Lost Virtue of Happiness takes a fresh, meaningful look at the spiritual disciplines, offering concrete examples of ways you can make them practical and life-transforming.
We are only happy when we pursue a transcendent purpose, something larger than ourselves. This pursuit involves a deeply meaningful relationship with God through a selfless preoccupation with the spiritual disciplines.
The Lost Virtue of Happiness takes a fresh, meaningful look at the spiritual disciplines, offering concrete examples of ways you can make them practical and life-transforming.
Dr. J. P. Moreland is professor of philosophy at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University. He is the author of several books, including Love Your God with All Your Mind .
Dr. Klaus Issler is professor of Christian education and theology at Talbot School of Theology. Among his books are Wasting Time with God and How We Learn .
Starting from the American "pursuit of happiness," Moreland (a philosophy
professor at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University) and Issler (a
Christian education and theology professor, also at Talbot) connect with a
widely felt desire. Yet they immediately take readers into deeper reflection
of the very content of the happiness we pursue, arguing that our consumerist
culture has replaced the more satisfying content of true happiness with a poor
substitute. Moving smoothly into a discussion of discipleship, they focus on
spiritual disciplines as the key to true happiness in life. Subsequent
chapters explore how the spiritual disciplines can be used to improve many
areas of our lives-emotions, thoughts, risk taking and the development of a
more mature faith during difficult times. They end with a convincing chapter
on the importance of spiritual friendships. Although exploring some deep
topics, this will still be accessible to most readers and very useful for
study groups, particularly with the excellent discussion questions at the end
of each chapter. The practical suggestions and creative exercises throughout
will be particularly helpful for those new to spiritual disciplines. (Feb.)
Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
Average Rating: 5 out of 5 stars(5 out of 5 stars)
3 of 3 Reviews Showing:
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Cheryl Michael (Williamsport, MD), November 16, 2009
A great book, very convicting in a positive personal way. It's message is encouraging and hopeful and long over due to the Christian community.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Emily (NC), December 01, 2006
This was an amazing book! The first two chapters were very eye-opening. Moreland writes that happiness should not be our goal in life, but rather, happiness is a side-effect of living virtuously. Moreland and Issler continue to write about the lost art of spiritual disciplines--these are life-changing. The stuff that is presented in here is so important for Christians to know. I give this book a two-thumbs-up, and I am definately going to pick out some more of Moreland's books to read!
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Joe (CA), July 27, 2006
JP Moreland and Klaus Issler ransom the contemporary idea of “happiness” from the obsessive, authoritarian grips of pleasure-seeking narcissism, and cleanse it with biblical counsel, Spirit-led wisdom, pastoral insight, and the demonstrable lessons of their own life lived in the fellowship of others. Their thesis is articulated in eight life-empowering chapters, which claims that happiness is best understood and obtained if it means living our life as it is meant to flourish. We are meant to flourish in a life of character and virtue formation that manifests itself in wisdom, kindness and goodness (25).
The life of Jesus Christ and the gospel of the kingdom of God are both the indispensable model and means for obtaining this kind of abundant life. Chapter One and Two both (authored by Moreland) establish this foundational claim. Chapter Three (Issler), Four (Moreland) and Five (Issler) form a unit to give clear instruction and pastoral insight about how to get good at living this kind of life: Namely, form a tender, receptive heart (ch. 3); form a thoughtful mind stayed on God (ch. 4); form a trustful will that risks with God (ch. 5). With the foundation laid in chapters one and two, and the edifice formed in chapters three, four and five, this house of edification is nearly complete. But first, Chapter Six (Issler) and Seven (Moreland) tests a biblical conception of human flourishing in light of the so-called “hiddennes of God” (ch. 6) and in view of experiencing anxiety and depression (ch. 7). These two chapters form a potent unit of instruction and insight, encouraging the reader to embrace the reality of God’s hiddenness and to learn not to just “cope” with anxiety and depression but to actually defeat its control over one’s ability to flourish. I found these chapters to be liberating, helpful, and truthfully conveyed. Moreland openly shares his experience and defeat of anxiety and depression.
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