Please do not take my words to mean that I believe either you or betty have a flippant view of happiness. I’m simply saying that the word, as it was secularly understood by the Founding Fathers, can be viewed as haveing less import than it does. I guess I issued an unnecessary cautionary tale. No offense intended.
“I do not know your religious beliefs, or lack thereof”
Well, I’m a cranky old Presbyterian, who over 40 years ago saw the handwriting on the wall and understood his church was abandoning him. I had no desire for spiritual goo, so I walked away and haven’t been back.
That's news to me, and it will take more to convince me. Happiness is a religious concept. It cannot be understood without pursuit. It is nothing without freedom. It requires choice and choice is tied to a criterion of excellence. That's religion.