Happiness-seeking is built into every person, of every age and circumstance. I believe we inherited from our Eden-dwelling ancestors a sense of their pre-Fall happiness. Our hearts refuse to settle for sin, suffering, boredom, and purposelessness-we long for something better. Were we merely the product of natural selection and survival of the fittest, we'd have no grounds for believing any ancient happiness existed. But we are all nostalgic for an Eden we've only seen fleeting hints of. Unfortunately
Happiness is an intrinsic part of human nature, evident in individuals of all ages and situations. The author suggests that our yearning for happiness is a legacy from our ancestors who experienced the bliss of Eden before the Fall. This deep-seated desire leads us to reject a life filled with sin, suffering, monotony, and a lack of purpose, as we inherently seek something more fulfilling. If human existence were solely shaped by natural selection, there would be no reason to yearn for an ancient state of happiness that we have never fully known.
Instead, we find ourselves longing for an idealized version of Eden, even if we only catch glimpses of it in our lives. This nostalgia draws us toward a hope for a better existence and reflects a collective memory of happiness, suggesting that our quest for joy is a fundamental aspect of being human. The pursuit of happiness is not just a personal journey but an integral part of our shared heritage.
