In an initiative being spearheaded by Katharine Welby, daughter of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, churches across the country are set to start running special courses on happiness. Miss Welby, who recently spoke publicly about her own battle with depression, said it is part of the church’s “calling” to help tackle the often hidden causes of some of the most intractable problems in families and society. The so-called “Happiness Course” combines basic principles of secular popular psychology with ideas such as forgiveness and gratitude, promoted for centuries by Christianity. It is based on the principle that applying simple Biblical ideas such as “counting your blessings” or forgiving enemies could actively improve people’s psychological well-being. In its structure and style, it has parallels with the Alpha Course, the short introduction to Christianity which became a worldwide phenomenon, taken by more than 15 million people in churches, schools, workplaces and even prisons.

Pray: for those delivering this new course and that it will prove successful . (Ps.68:3)

More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/10064228/Archbishops-daughter-spearheads-drive-to-teach-happiness-in-churches.html