Thus, support for and against Christian hedonism can only be inducted from various passages. Of course, neither is the word “ trinity,” or the terms for several other Christian doctrines. “Christian hedonism” is not a term found in the Bible. Unlike the hedonism of Yang Zhu and Epicurus, which claimed that pleasure should be the ultimate goal since there was no afterlife or god(s) anyway, Christian hedonism proposes pursuing pleasure because there is a God and an afterlife, and dwelling with said God is the greatest pleasure to be pursued.Ĭhristian hedonism also does not support pursuing God as a means to obtain pleasure, but because He is the greatest pleasure. Rather, it encourages seeking God as the highest pleasure. What is NOT Christian Hedonism?Ĭhristian hedonism does not condone the pursuit of worldly pleasure. Likewise, Piper claims that God is glorified when the Christian finds pleasure in Him. However, she is shown value and honor when his reason is that he is doing it because she makes him happy. If she asks why and the husband replies, “Because it is my duty,” it will not be a very satisfactory answer. He compares this to marriage, invoking the analogy of a husband giving flowers to his wife. Piper believes that pleasure is a gauge of what one values. Piper wishes to eradicate duty-focused Christianity and replace it with joy-filled Christianity in which the doer actively pursues doing good and finds pleasure in it. It developed into a more nuanced psychological and ethical theory, but the main idea of hedonism remains: a person ought to pursue the greatest pleasure.Īccording to Piper, one of the goals of Christian hedonism is to replace the Kantian morality that goodness only comes if one is doing something out of duty even though one has no desire to do so, with no interest in a reward (including pleasure) being gained.
It reemerged prominently in the late 18 th century under philosophers such as Jeremy Bentham and began gaining traction once more. The Epicurean school of thought flourished, especially in Rome, and was one of the forces that resisted early Christianity.įor a while, hedonism lay low, though it was occasionally addressed, for example by Aquinas. Around roughly the same time, Chinese philosopher Yang Zhu taught that since there was no afterlife and no god, one might as well pursue as much pleasure as possible in the present.Īristippus was succeeded by Epicurus, who also taught that there was no afterlife and the ultimate goal was pleasure, though he acknowledged that sometimes some pain or restraint could be good if they led to greater pleasure. Though Aristippus may have been the first to teach hedonism, he wasn’t alone. He taught that the meaning of life is pleasure, and thus pleasure should be the ultimate pursuit. The philosophy of hedonism is believed to have first been taught by Aristippus of Cyrene, a student of Socrates. The term hedonism itself dates back to the ancient Greek word for pleasure. Let's dive into the origin of this and find a hedonism meaning and definition from the Bible. However, some Christians believe that a different form of hedonism- “Christian hedonism”-is in fact worthwhile and ultimately glorifying to God. Sweet corn is from 1640s.For many, the word “hedonism” may conjure ideas of loose living or earthly pleasures. Sweet spot is from 1976, first in reference to tennis rackets. Sweet nothings "sentimental trivialities" is from 1900. Sweet-and-sour in cookery is from 1723 and not originally of oriental food. Sweet dreams as a parting to one going to sleep is attested from 1897, short for sweet dreams to you, etc. 1300) was the equivalent of modern "good in bed." To be sweet on someone is first recorded 1690s. Īlso "being in a sound or wholesome state" (mid-13c.), and, of water, "fresh, not salt" (late Old English). Words for "sweet" in Indo-European languages typically are used for other sense as well and in general for "pleasing." Then come kiss me, sweet-and-twenty! Youth's a stuff will not endure. Old English swete "pleasing to the senses, mind or feelings having a pleasant disposition," from Proto-Germanic *swotja- (source also of Old Saxon swoti, Old Frisian swet, Swedish söt, Danish sød, Middle Dutch soete, Dutch zoet, Old High German swuozi, German süß), from PIE root *swād- "sweet, pleasant" (Sanskrit svadus "sweet " Greek hedys "sweet, pleasant, agreeable," hedone "pleasure " Latin suavis "pleasant" (not especially of taste), suadere "to advise," properly "to make something pleasant to").