Members of the Bruderhof community certainly view their lifestyle as the happiest and most fulfilling. Joining this community for many of them was marked by a search for meaning and purpose in their own lives. One of the members notes that he was willing to abandon his own ambitions, career, dreams, and prospects, sacrificing them for a new way of life (Inside the Bruderhof [34:40]). For these people, happiness consists of a sense of belonging and not of individual aspirations, which makes them happier. However, I do not think their lifestyle is better than ours, as it is not suitable for everyone. Many individuals find happiness in material possessions or the development of their social status, which makes the Bruderhof community philosophy not universal.
Members of the community certainly describe themselves as happier in their new way of life than they previously led in conventional society. Thus, it is safe to say that their individual lives have improved. However, their lives, in general, are no better than those of other people. Members of the Bruderhof community are happier than they were in the past, but this cannot be applied to other people. In other words, community members perceive themselves as happier and their lives better because their lifestyle matches their values. Nevertheless, for many people, happiness can consist of other aspirations and desires, in particular material ones. For many individuals, such a life, on the contrary, can make them more unhappy, so it all depends on personal perceptions and values. Thus, the lifestyle and lives of the members of the Bruderhof community are no better than ours. Additionally, they are just as happy as other people who have found what suits them in life.
Work Cited
Inside the Bruderhof. Directed by Emma Pentecost, CTVC, 2020.