Discussion on living a good life

For thousands of years, religious and philosophical thinkers have pondered the question of what constitutes a good life, and cross-culturally there is a great deal of agreement. Most religions and philosophies tend to agree on the reality of a moral order, the necessity of mastering our own impulses, and the idea that meaning comes from serving others.

In Christianity, the good life is understood as following God’s will, living in self-giving love toward both the divine order and one’s neighbor, and gradually reordering one’s desires through grace, virtue, and ascetic practice.

In Stoicism, it means living in accordance with the divine Logos (nature and reason) by mastering one’s judgments and actions so as to live virtuously; as rational and social beings, this also entails serving others and contributing to the common good.

In Buddhism, moral order is understood through karma: actions rooted in greed, hatred, and delusion lead to suffering, while actions rooted in generosity, compassion, and wisdom lead toward liberation. The central task is to understand and loosen the grip of craving and aversion through non-reactive awareness, and in this gradual freedom from suffering arise meaning, compassion, and care for others.

Still, these ancient traditions differ in important ways. Some hold that the ultimate aim of life is full communion with the divine order, while others see it as the dissolution of the self. They also differ in how this aim is achieved - through contemplation, prayer, ritual, meditation, or right action.

In the modern world, these traditions often fall out of favor. Surrounded by social media, entertainment, and countless distractions, and largely freed from many of the physical hardships that troubled our ancestors, we tend to think they are no longer as important - that we do not need to believe in a moral order or practice self-discipline to live a good life.

Today, living a good life is often described in terms of making a lot of money, having a certain romantic or sexual partner (or partners), and collecting experiences - preferably ones that look good on Instagram.

So what does it mean to live a good life? Do we still have something to learn from the ancient traditions, or can we create something entirely new?

Is there a moral order we need to respect, and what happens if we don’t?

Should we serve others, or primarily ourselves?

Is the ultimate aim of life liberation from suffering, communion with God, or simply happiness?

Join us for this discussion as we explore these questions together and reflect on how we might live more meaningful and genuinely good lives.