The Reason of Suffering (Earth, Buddhism, theist, eternal, Article)

[icy ghost]

Hi, I'm new to this forum so

Anyway, an interesting argument my friend has put forward, for suffering is that when you think about the world, suffering seems to have no reason, and is pointless to some people, but to some theists (like my friend) they see suffering as a sort of event that holds some deeper meaning. For example, deaths like the Tsunami may have a meaning such as that life on earth is not eternal, and that life is temporary.

What do others think of this?

(wow I typed that in one sentence )

[Sunstone]

Sounds like your friend might be arguing that it's necessary to have a disaster in order to prove that disasters are disasters. But that begs the question of why have disasters in the first place? Or, to put it differently, why would an intelligent deity have created death and suffering just to make the point that death and suffering happen?

BTW, Welcome to the Forum!

[Engyo]

Originally Posted by icy ghost

Hi, I'm new to this forum so

Anyway, an interesting argument my friend has put forward, for suffering is that when you think about the world, suffering seems to have no reason, and is pointless to some people, but to some theists (like my friend) they see suffering as a sort of event that holds some deeper meaning. For example, deaths like the Tsunami may have a meaning such as that life on earth is not eternal, and that life is temporary.

What do others think of this?

(wow I typed that in one sentence )

Welcome, Icy Ghost!

Buddhism postulates that suffering is inherent in life, and can only be eradicated by awakening to the true nature of reality and one's life. This is known as attaining enlightenment. Check out the Buddhism Overview in the Buddhist Forum here for more info.......

[Darkdale]

I believe suffering to be unnecessary. I don't view suffering as a natural state of human affairs, but rather as the state of someone who has become enslaved to some powerful event. Courage would have us overcome suffering with hard determination. After the vivacity of the natural pain has ceased, we owe it to ourselves and our loved ones to be strong and move on.

[icy ghost]

She might argue (not that she did) that the suffering is to show that we shouldn't get too attached to the world because there is a life after death. I'm not saying this is the only reason why suffering happens, but could it be one of the many reasons?

I will check out that Buddhism thing too

[ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT]

http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/...article_02.htm


This is all..

[jamaesi]

To me, asking for a reason of it is sort of asking for a reason for rocks or flowers or stars or just about anything else. It just is there.
And besides, if we didn't know suffering- would we really know joy?

[Green Gaia]

I cannot explain why people suffer. All I know is that we must try to help them when they do.

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by icy ghost

Hi, I'm new to this forum so

Anyway, an interesting argument my friend has put forward, for suffering is that when you think about the world, suffering seems to have no reason, and is pointless to some people, but to some theists (like my friend) they see suffering as a sort of event that holds some deeper meaning. For example, deaths like the Tsunami may have a meaning such as that life on earth is not eternal, and that life is temporary.

What do others think of this?

(wow I typed that in one sentence )

As trite as it may sound, I think that one of the major purposes of suffering is to build character. It's by overcoming hardships that we grow and progress. As much as we all hate them, most really strong people will admit (once the ordeal is over) that they are better for having experienced it.

[Buttons*]

Welcome to the forum!

A very dear, wise friend said to me once: "If we were perpetually happy, and could not experience pain or suffering, how would we know what happiness was?"