One of the hottest topics in contemporary culture is happiness—so much so that the United Nations declared an International Happiness Day in response to the immense popularity of Pharrell Williams’ song “Happy”. The explanation for this current fixation seems to lie in the contrary phenomenon—unhappiness. Despite the fact that we have tremendous access to every imaginable form of entertainment, we experience a pervading sense of insecurity, emptiness, and malaise amid sporadic peak experiences. Finding True Happiness attempts to provide a way out of this personal and cultural vacuum by helping people to identify and then reach for happiness. As Aristotle noted 2,400 years ago, happiness is the one thing we can choose for its own sake—everything else is chosen for the sake of happiness.

Since the early twentieth century, scientific materialism has so undermined our belief in the human capacity for transcendence that many people find it difficult to believe in God and the human soul. The materialist perspective has not only cast its spell on the natural sciences, psychology, philosophy, and literature, it has also enthralled popular culture, which offers very little to encourage the “soul’s upward yearning”.

There are many signs of the widespread loss of confidence in our ability to soar upward, and these have been noted by thinkers as diverse as Carl Jung (psychiatrist), Mircea Eliade (historian of religion), Gabriel Marcel (philosopher), and authors C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. Their observations were validated by a 2004 study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry that linked the absence of religion with a marked increase in suicide, meaninglessness, substance abuse, separation from family members, and other psychological problems.

In this volume the brilliant Fr. Spitzer probes in detail the major question that if an intelligent Creator God – manifest in logical proofs, scientific evidence, and near death experiences – who is the source of our desire for the sacred, and the transcendental desires for truth, love, goodness, and beauty, would want to reveal himself to us personally and ultimately.

He then shows this is reasonable not only in light of our interior experience of a transcendent Reality, but also that a completely intelligent Reality is completely positive–implying its possession of a completely positive virtue – namely “love”, defined as agape.

This leads to the question whether God might be unconditionally loving, and if he is, whether he would want to make a personal appearance to us in a perfect act of empathy – face to face. After examining the rational evidence for this, he reviews all world religions to see if there is one that reveals such a God – an unconditionally loving God who would want to be with us in perfect empathy. This leads us to the extraordinary claim of Jesus Christ who taught that God is “Abba”, the unconditionally loving Father.

Why would an all-loving God allow suffering? Are not suffering and love opposed to one another? Does suffering have any meaning or benefit?  Is there any objective evidence for God, for a soul that will survive bodily death, for the resurrection of Jesus? Who is God anyway – benevolent and loving, or angry and retributive?

Fr. Robert Spitzer, S.J., gives a comprehensive response to these questions and many others, explaining the contemporary evidence for God, the soul, and the resurrection. He discusses how God uses suffering to lead us to compassion for others and eternal life. He also shows how the Holy Spirit guides us through times of suffering toward our salvation, explaining the signs and the interior movements that reveal the Spirit’s actions.

Buy the Quartet today and you will save 15%

This quartet includes Fr. Spitzer’s popular new books:

1. Finding True Happiness
2. The Soul’s Upward Yearning 
3. God So Loved The World 
4. The Light Shines On in the Darkness 

This 7-episode video series is designed to answer the most fundamental questions affecting our lives — our happiness, purpose, dignity, and sense of destiny:

1. What is happiness — and how can we be optimally happy?
2. What makes life worth living — and even optimally worth living?
3. Do we have a transcendent eternal soul through which God calls us to himself?
4. Why does God allow suffering — and how can we suffer well?

The authors of this program selected world-renowned experts in these four areas to present the most contemporary scientific, medical, psychological, philosophical, and theological evidence to answer these questions. These interviews are framed within an accessible dialogue between two young people — Eric Johnson and Jennifer Milani – who help explain the experts’ major points and principles. An illustrated, user-friendly, Happiness, The Workbook is also available with summaries, study questions, definitions, biographies, and references.

This workbook is designed to accompany the video series, Happiness, The Series. That said, it could be used on it’s own to get a solid basic understanding of how important happiness is in our lives. So many of us have no real idea of how to achieve lasting, pervasive happiness. What makes you happy? Maybe, like Fr. Spitzer, a good bowl of linguini does the trick. How about 3 hours later? Still happy?

How do we keep the happiness “buzz”. St. Theresa of Avila once said, “There are no sad saints”. H’mmm, That follows along the path of Fr. Spitzer’s Four Levels of Happiness. Start with Linguini and aspire to… well, you’ll have to check it out for yourself.

There are 7 Chapters in the workbook, each corresponding to a DVD episode. There are time stamps in the workbook to tell you exactly where you can find particular spots in the video.

As Aristotle noted 2,400 years ago, happiness is the one thing we can choose for its own sake — everything else is chosen for the sake of happiness. The workbook is designed for use with the videos. Each will help with understanding and retention. In addition, they will become a resource for years to come.

Buy these together today and you will save 15%:

1. Video DVD Set: Happiness — The Series
2. The Workbook: Happiness

We often seek happiness and find suffering instead. Though happiness is our goal, most people don’t know what they are really looking for. In this video series, Fr. Robert Spitzer, S.J. explores happiness in the revealing light of human transcendence and immortality. Beginning with the commonly held principle that different forms of happiness correspond to different fundamental human desires, Fr. Spitzer guides viewers through four distinct but related sources of happiness (pleasure, achievement, contribution, transcendence), showing how they form a hierarchy and explaining why only the highest level (transcendent happiness) will ultimately fulfill us. Along the way he presents riveting evidence for our spiritual nature from philosophy, psychology, and contemporary studies of near-death experiences and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is followed by an investigation into the mystery of suffering that begins with the parable of the Father of the Prodigal Son. Fr. Spitzer explains why an unconditionally loving God would allow suffering and also offers guidance on how to suffer well. Happiness, Suffering, and the Love of God provides answers to some of life’s most vexing questions and dispels many popular misconceptions as it guides us towards authentic and lasting happiness.

In this workbook accompanying the film series, Happiness, Suffering, and the Love of God, Fr. Robert Spitzer, S.J., Ph.D. explores happiness in the revealing light of human transcendence and immortality. Beginning with the commonly held principle that different forms of happiness correspond to different fundamental human desires, Fr. Spitzer guides viewers through four distinct but related sources of happiness (pleasure, achievement, contribution, transcendence), showing how they form a hierarchy and explaining why only the highest level (transcendent happiness) will ultimately fulfill us. Along the way he presents fascinating evidence for our spiritual nature from philosophy, psychology, and contemporary studies of near-death experiences and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is followed by an investigation into the mystery of suffering that begins with the parable of the Father of the Prodigal Son. Fr. Spitzer explains why an unconditionally loving God would allow suffering and also offers guidance on how to suffer well.

Happiness, Suffering, and the Love of God provides answers to some of life’s most vexing questions and dispels many popular misconceptions as it charts a fascinating course towards authentic and lasting happiness.

These two go together like ham and eggs. The workbook is designed for use with the videos. They will help with understanding and retention. In addition, they will become a resource for years to come.

Buy these together today and you will save 15%:

1. Video DVD Set: Happiness, Suffering, and the Love of God
2. The Workbook: Happiness, Suffering, and the Love of God

Many organizations have invested in the skills and structures of change but have forgotten the more intangible quality of spirit. As a result, their changes have been short-lived, their adaptability slow, and their ability to move to the “next level” nonexistent. Father Robert Spitzer, S.J., shows leaders how to instill this Spirit of Leadership and achieve both personal fulfillment and organizational success.

“Bob Spitzer has drawn a blueprint for ethical consideration and conduct within our organization at every level of activity.”
-Jim Sinegal, President and CEO, Costco Wholesale Corporation

This series of talks by Father Spitzer is based on his influential book of the same title. It provides an excellent overview of his life-changing philosophy and insights and is perfect for those who prefer to listen while driving or relaxing. The total running time is four hours, and the set is divided into four CD’s, each covering one key topic: Leadership in the 21st Century, Silver Rule Ethics, the Four Levels of Happiness®, and Optimizing Trust.

Much of Fr. Robert Spitzer’s teaching is rooted in the Four Levels of Happiness™. This single audio CD, taken from the Spirit of Leadership CD series, provides Fr. Spitzer’s overview of this life-changing insight and makes an ideal introduction to his philosophy. The 60-minute CD covers five topics:

• Why Is Happiness Key?
• The Lower Levels of Happiness
• The Higher Levels of Happiness
• The Four Levels – Issues and Advice
• The Remedy for the Comparison Game

Fr. Spitzer, former President of Gonzaga University, current President of The Spitzer Center for Ethical Leadership (Ann Arbor, MI), and the Magis Institute (Irvine, CA), is a highly regarded spiritual teacher and writer. This book presents a practical, yet rich guide for helping busy people develop a regular and deeper prayer life. Based on many successful retreats and seminars he has given to much acclaim over the years, this brilliant Jesuit priest presents five essential means through which the contemplative and active aspects of our lives can be fused together for a stronger spiritual life.

A Brief Philosophy of the Life Issues

In Ten Universal Principles: A Brief Philosophy of the Life Issues, Jesuit Father Robert Spitzer sets out, in a brief yet highly readable and lucid style, ten basic principles that must govern the reasonable person’s thinking and acting about life issues. A widely respected philosopher, Fr. Spitzer provides an intelligent outline for thinking and talking about human life.

This groundbreaking work addresses the connection between the culture’s view of everything from happiness and success, to self-worth, love, suffering, ethics, freedom and personhood, and shows how our notion of personhood holds the key not only to the concept of ourselves but also to the future of rights and the common good.

In the award winning book, New Proofs for the Existence of God,Fr. Robert Spitzer, S.J., Ph.D. examines the considerable evidence for God and creation that has come to light from physics and philosophy during the last forty years. An expert in diverse areas, including theology, physics, metaphysics, and ethics, Spitzer offers in this text the most contemporary, complete, and integrated approach to rational theism currently available.