Is it OK to be truly happy living in a world where more than 9,500 innocent children starve to death each and every day?

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tonyrey said:
Our lives should consist of actions as well as emotions. Writing, signing petitions and joining pressure groups are practical ways of helping to reduce the misery in the world.
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đź‘Ť đź‘Ť Yes, and a fair amount negative affect is usually necessary for this type of action.
 
Robert_Sock said:
đź‘Ť đź‘Ť Yes, and a fair amount negative affect is usually necessary for this type of action.
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I entirely agree, Robert. Otherwise we’re living in a dreamworld. There’s no doubt that reality is harsh as well as wonderful.
 
The bottom line, Robert, is that Pope Francis is probably more aware than you are of the extent of global poverty, yet he is a very happy man. If there is no contradiction, for the Pope, between personal joy and global awareness, there should be no contradiction for you and no contradiction for any other Catholic. And it is unjust of you to impose on discussion forum members something that the Pope himself has not suggested, when it comes to being “truly happy.”
 
I’ll bet that the Pope hurts deeply when it comes to world hunger. And again, I too feel great joy, but in respect to salvation and the Hereafter. Nowhere in the Bible, CCC or official Church teachings does it explicitly say the we ought to be happy for this miserable and corrupt world in and of itself.
 
Robert_Sock said:
I’ll bet that the Pope hurts deeply when it comes to world hunger. And again, I too feel great joy, but in respect to salvation and the Hereafter. Nowhere in the Bible, CCC or official Church teachings does it explicitly say the we ought to be happy for this miserable and corrupt world in and of itself.
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Nowhere does it say in the CCC, Bible, or other Church teachings that there is virtue in misery for misery’s sake.

You bet that the Pope hurts deeply. But apparently he is able to hurt and still be joyful, unlike the unjust emotional demands you are imposing on anonymous members of an internet discussion forum. When you hear the Pope say, “Catholics are required to be miserable about global poverty, or confess their lack of misery as a sin in Confession,” let me know. Otherwise you’re just repeating yourself with zero substantiation about the moral imperative to feel miserable.
 
Elizabeth502 said:
Nowhere does it say in the CCC, Bible, or other Church teachings that there is virtue in misery for misery’s sake.

You bet that the Pope hurts deeply. But apparently he is able to hurt and still be joyful, unlike the unjust emotional demands you are imposing on anonymous members of an internet discussion forum. When you hear the Pope say, “Catholics are required to be miserable about global poverty, or confess their lack of misery as a sin in Confession,” let me know. Otherwise you’re just repeating yourself with zero substantiation about the moral imperative to feel miserable.
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Nowhere do I say that we ought to be miserable! Please quote where you thought you seen this in any of my posts.
 
Robert_Sock said:
Nowhere do I say that we ought to be miserable! Please quote where you thought you seen this in any of my posts.
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You say it throughout this thread. You challenge those of us who don’t feel miserable, questioning our sincerity, sensitivity, awareness, and knowledge.
 
Robert_Sock said:
Quote please!
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I’m not going to quote 16 pages, Robert. Figure it out. Others already have.

The very title of your thread, Is it OK to be happy… says it all, but all of your comments reinforce the guilt-tripping.
 
Elizabeth502 said:
I’m not going to quote 16 pages, Robert. Figure it out. Others already have.

The very title of your thread, Is it OK to be happy… says it all, but all of your comments reinforce the guilt-tripping.
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All I’m asking for is one quote, not a 16 page review. You’re seriously mistaken.
 
Robert_Sock said:
All I’m asking for is one quote, not a 16 page review. You’re seriously mistaken.
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Robert, don’t get all pedantic on us. I’ve been watching this thread even after I stopped posting, and your beliefs are crystal clear.

You even think laughter is “psychotic.”
 
Robert_Sock said:
What in the title speaks of our being miserable.
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It’s your title, Robert, no one else’s: I said it earlier. Why do I have to repeat myself, and often?

Is it OK to be truly happy living in a world where…(etc.)

Our current Pope shows that it is more than OK to be truly happy. Why do you want to disagree with the Pope, and apply, by some self-appointed authority, different standards for Catholics than Pope Francis applies and expects – for himself and for other Catholics?

He is able to empathize with the poor and advocate for them without that affecting his personal happiness. He would never expect differently for other Catholics.
 
Robert_Sock said:
I’ll bet that the Pope hurts deeply when it comes to world hunger. And again, I too feel great joy, but in respect to salvation and the Hereafter. Nowhere in the Bible, CCC or official Church teachings does it explicitly say the we ought to be happy for this miserable and corrupt world in and of itself.
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“this miserable and corrupt world” is a very one-sided, negative description.

It reminds me of the prisoner who saw the bars but not the stars…
 
Yes, I think it is possible to be truly happy living in a world where more than 9,500 innocent children starve to death every day. The reason is because my happiness is not dependent on another person’s suffering. My happiness is dependent on the grace from God and joy which is a Fruit of the Holy Spirit.

That said, I do believe it is possible to be happy or joyful in such a case while still having a great deal of empathy and compassion for those who are starving. I believe that doing good works, no matter how small, which benefit those who are starving and which helps to feed them can make us even more joyful.
 
tonyrey said:
“this miserable and corrupt world” is a very one-sided, negative description.

It reminds me of the prisoner who saw the bars but not the stars…
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We live in a world marred by original sin, deep poverty worldwide, pain and suffering abounding, yet a lot of people maintain happiness towards this miserable and corrupt world, caring little about the awful plight of others and the riches of Heaven.
 
Elizabeth502 said:
It’s your title, Robert, no one else’s: I said it earlier. Why do I have to repeat myself, and often?

Is it OK to be truly happy living in a world where…(etc.)

Our current Pope shows that it is more than OK to be truly happy. Why do you want to disagree with the Pope, and apply, by some self-appointed authority, different standards for Catholics than Pope Francis applies and expects – for himself and for other Catholics?

He is able to empathize with the poor and advocate for them without that affecting his personal happiness. He would never expect differently for other Catholics.
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:rolleyes:
 
“If you really knew and understood the pain others bear, your compassion would lead you to tears most of your life.”
-Anonymous
 
Robert_Sock said:
*It’s your title, Robert, no one else’s: I said it earlier. Why do I have to repeat myself, and often?

Is it OK* to be truly happy living in a world where…(etc.)

Our current Pope shows that it is more than OK to be truly happy. Why do you want to disagree with the Pope, and apply, by some self-appointed authority, different standards for Catholics than Pope Francis applies and expects – for himself and for other Catholics?

He is able to empathize with the poor and advocate for them without that affecting his personal happiness. He would never expect differently for other Catholics.
:rolleyes:
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